The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-07-21

| { Copyrighted, 1908, by Associated
Literary Press.
| E>~~<~~~>~~~~
Margaret, with her eyes on the heavy
sky that hung over the stubbly fields,
sang softly:
Failing leaf and fading tree.
Lines of white on a sullen sea-
She stopped and turned to Meredith
with an impulsive gesture.
'.This is the end" she said.
His somber eyes met hers.
81 can't see it." he stormed. "We
love each other. Why shouldn't we be
happyY'
"Ah, but there is the other giriY' she
reminded him.
Eyes, the other girl" he said, and
for long time after that they were
silent
In front of them stretched the long
brown road. The goldenrod famed on
both sides of it now, but when these
two had first met there had been sweet
brier and other delicate flowers Of the
early summer.
Margaret had worn a bunch of wild
pink roses that first morning when she
had come to the big gate to get her
mail, and to Meredith, there on the
same errand, she had seemed as fresh
and perfect as the flowers she wore.
Since then they had waited every
morning on the old rustic bench under
the oaks, and life in that time had TAX
en- on new meaning.
Think Of it." Margaret said at last
tomorrow the little postman will come
here and there viii be no one to see
him and nothing will be changed, but
you and will be far away-you in the
west and in the east"
After another silence he asked.
What are you going to do with your
life?'
"IY' she hesitated. "Oh, go In for
something, suppose-settlement work
or society or literature. Perhaps III
write a novel"
"And you think that any of those
things win make you happyT
She stretched out her hands to him.
'Ah, happiness"- she began, and her
voice broke.
"Come with me-" be whispered as
he bent over her. eft must be you and
/ for all the future, Margaret"
she drew away from him. "No, no"
she told him; ~ shall get along. A
woman can find so many interests in
these days, and In using my brain
shah forget that have heart. And
you-you will marry the other girl
and this summer, this little time that
we have had together, win seem to-
you like dream or a strain of music
that heard once you can never forget"
His eyes followed her as she rose
and walked to the gate. She wore
loose tan coat and tan shoes, and her
brown hair was waved and pulled into
shining couture.
"Oh, you beauty" he whispered,
you beautyr'
"Hush" she warned, and they heard
the beat of horses hoofs.
The mail wagon of the rural deliv-
cry carrier was protected from sun
and rain by white umbrella, under
which the little man sat like a frog
under toadstool.
"You all goin' tomorrow he asked
as Meredith gave him directions for
forwarding the mail. Then he gave
a chuckling laugh. 81 reckon If you
all come next summer your mali will
come to the same name"
Margaret had a half dozen letters
and a paper. Meredith's mail was all
business matter except one square
white envelope addressed in delicate
feminine script.
Look here" the little postman said
to Margaret facetiously as he hand
ed the letter to Meredith; "Pd be jeal-
ous of that letter If were you. He
gets one every day"
A wave of scarlet swept over the
girls face. "Jealous! she stammered.
'Oh, nor
But when the little man had gone
she broke down and sobbed
81 am Jealous" she told Meredith.
81 am dreadfully, dreadfully jealous"
"And yet you won't marry me-"
mo"
"You want me to marry a woman !
don't care for, to whom l am engaged
simply because l had known her all
my life and had drifted into 1t, and
you want to make me miserable and
to make her miserable just because
you are afraid 1t will be dishonorable
for me to go back on my wordT'
But she loves You, and she isn't
strong"
His face softened
"No; she isn't strong, and she has
sweet nature If l had never met you
/ should have logged along with her
and there would have been no heights
Of happiness. should have dwelt al
ways in the plain.
He stopped abruptly. "But what Is
the use of thinking about thatf It's
our last day together, Margaret Let
US forget everything but that we are
together"
"Then we'll ride" she said. 'T'll go
back to the house and get my habit,
and we will go over the hills and far
away"
He stuffed his letters into bis pocket.
''You haven't read-hers," Margaret re-
minded him.
another time" he said briefly, and
they went to get ready.
Their ride that day was a thing to
live In mans memory. The hillsides
were glowing In russell and orange
and green. The lake as they passed It
was as blue as sapphire, and the
blackbirds were floeking in the golden
fields.
They talked little, but they lived in
tensely in those few hours. Now and
then she ventured little plan for bis
future or for hers. But he would stop
her always, and then he would urge
their horses on and on until they went
like the wind.
At last twilight came, and they stop
ped at a wayside inn for supper. They
ate little.
81 can't" Margaret whispered when
he insisted. II am thinking of tomor-
row."
When the waiter came with their bill
Meredith, reaching for his pocketbook.
brought out with it the unopened let
ter Of the morning. AS 1t lay on the
table Margaret studied the postmark.
How does it happen" she asked
suddenly, that she is in New York?
l thought you were to meet her in
Denver"
He caught the letter out OF her hand.
New York;? he repeated and tore
it open.
AS he read his face changed, whit
ened and was suddenly illumined.
Margaret" he said, with q quick
intaIrn Of k,roafh ssAEarrra rofin