The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-06-02


where the little dancer Of the glaring
programme had appeared. Now, Nell
in Rome had seen the same act and
had remembered their last night to-
gether Was she homesick?
1t was several moments before Eliza
beth opened the newspaper, the old
home paper and "as good as letter, "
SO Jack Hardy had often declared
Not an item of news worth the telling
escaped publication in the Blairsyille
Beacon, for even with detailed infor-
nation as to newly painted fences the
editor found 1t difficult to fill his yawn-
ing columns.
The Beacon was Hardy's compro-
mise with his conscience, for he had
declared when Elizabeth had deter
mined to leave Blalrsville for the
greater opportunities of the city that
he would not write. He had not writ
ten, but after the first week the Bea-
con came regularly, addressed in his
strong, masculine handwriting. and
Elizabeth always smiled a softly tri-
umphant smile whenever the copy ar
rived
There had been an understanding
with Jack Hardy until the stories she
loved to write had so frequently found
publication as to awaken In Elizabeth
an ambition to get in personal touch
with the editors.
Hardy had frowned upon the sug-
gestion Of removal to New York. He
could not leave Blairsville because
his own and his mothers incomes
were derived from the lumber bust
ness which his father had left, and
Hardy knew that to go to the city
meant beginning all over again the
fight for competence.
There had been heated words over
Elizabeth's determination to leave, and
she had been given her choice OF ca
reer or marriage. She had elected In
favor of the career She had prosper
ed In the great city. She had told her
self over and over again that she had
done the only sensible thing, and yet
Today there was an Enclosure with
the Beacon, playful announcing in
dam boyant language a weeks engage
ment at the opera house of the Rice &
Bennett Empire stock company.
Elizabeth smiled as she read the ia
miliar repertoire. The Rice & Bennett
company was almost an institution In
Blairsville. Twice a year they played
for a week in the town hall, and every
vae who could afford 1t attended all
their performances. 1t was the one
real dramatic treat of the season. for
the few other attractions that made
Blairsville were travelling magicians.
Uncle Toms Cabin" companies and
an occasional medicine show" Tue
Rice & Bennett company was to Blairs
VILE what grand opera is to the cities.
Last year she and Jack had ATTENDED
the spring performances together. bu
In the fall she was gone. How TIM
had flown! The Rice & Bennett com
pany would open their spring engage
ment the following week, and Jack hat
sent her a hanger. An odd lump cam'
In her throat as she returned to tn
table and her neglected coffee.
When she started to tidy up after tn
meal she thumb tackled the Italian
poster to the wall of her tiny privat
hall. The wall was bare. and the vel
low poster with Its foreign lettering
gave a smart touch to the hall, lik
hotel labels on a steamer trunk or sui
case
Elizabeth sat down to the typewriter
but presently there came an insisten
ring at the hall door Tony, the ros.
faced italian. who supplied the ten
ants of the house with ice. displaye'
two rows of cleaning teeth as he ex
plosively announced "Icew Elizabeth
held open the door for him while b
lifted the cake from the dumb waite
and placed 1t in her refrigerator.
But the smile faded from Tony
face as he turned to leave. With a
inarticulate cry he sprang at the post
er, lingering II lovingly and scannin
every word Of the beloved Italian
1T is from the home" he explained
blushing, when the first shock Of SUI
prise had passed. 1T is to there that
take-a what you call-sweetheart
All. to the Salone Margherita. me an
my Marie Marie she cannot leav-a d
pop-da fard'. l come-a to America {
make-a mon. 1t is YER lonely, signora
Scus-a mi"
He shuffied haltingly from the apart
ment. his jovial face drawn With homf