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

CdTElukJO0 young uadli Vi Twenty.
But at the beginning Of the present
chapter, after having been finished
orr at very proper boarding school
Katherine had just returned from Q
winter In Europe with Darlington
married sister.
And Darlington as he sat In the twi
light on the luxuriously appointed
porch Of his out of town house was ex'
pectantly awaiting a promised after
dinner talk with her.
In accordance with a long and care
fully formulated plan he felt that the
time had now come for him to take
Katherine seriously In hand and tc
prepare her for the prominent part she
was sure to play in a world of admir-
ing but, alas, inconstant men.
Katherine, radiant In fuzzy glory
Of some soft, delicate STUFF beyond
mans comprehension, at length tripped
out through the easement door and
perched herself affectionately on the
arm Of her guardians easy chair. He
took her little white hand In his and
patted it gently as he would child's.
IT suppose you haven't begun to
think about marriage yet, little girlY'
he asked by way of tactful beginning.
Begun to think about it?' echoed
Katherine. why, I've always thought
about Railways and always"
Darlington looked up in Amusement
"H'm," he mused II haven't begun
q moment too soon, 1t seems" Then
aloud he added: $50 you've always
thought about marriage, my dear?
Well. well! And what have you thought
about itY'
Katherine threw her arms about his
neck and gave him an energetic hug
Then she placed cushion at his feet
and settled herself comfortably.
"I'n tell you," she began confidential
". 1--WE always adored fairy stories,
and of course there's glorious young
prince in every fairy story, you know.
Wen, it was always fun when was a
little girl to imagine myself the beau
tiful princess whom the prince was
looking for-and now I'm grown up,
guardy, dear, it's just as much fun"
she finished naively.
Darlington laughed heartily. He
was greatly relieved.
.Tmaginary princes are all very
harmless and proper, little Kit" he
commented indulgently, 'but pretty
soon you'll begin to think about real
everyday men,"
"Pretty soon7 she queried teasingly.
Dear meF' exclaimed Darlington,
with an unconcern he was far from
feeling. you've not thought about
real men already7"
You'd call Harvey Dunton a real
man, wouldn't your Katherine asked,
looking at him roguishly.
Carringtons jesting mood passed in
q fash. He shut his teeth with sud
den. vexation.
where did you meet Harvey Dun
ton?' he inquired searchingly.
ION the steamer coming back" an
swered Katherine. your sister intro
duced him. He's really very devoted
to me. He's coming around later this
evening. He sings, you know, and
i've promised to play his accompani-
ments. Don't you like him, guardy !
You don't look as though you do"
"Oh, Dunton's all right" he answer
ed good naturally, suddenly alive to
the fact that he must play his hand
cautiously. 'You evidently like him,
little grip he parted.
81 don't know really, guardy. But he
likes me. That's as far as we've got, "
was Katherine's ingenious reply. "Pm
not taking him very seriously because,
you see, somehow he isn't exactly like
the prince I've been expecting"
II should hope not" muttered Car
rington.
what did you sayT
81 said he's coming across the lawn
now" evaded Darlington. ''I'l stay
out here and listen to the music If you
don't mind, Kit"
"Just as you like, guardy, deaf"
laughed Kitty. "I'll come out again
after he's gone and tell you how we
got on
"Well?" asked Darlington an hour or
SO later as Katherine appeared sud
denly in the doorway.
She did not answer, but stood as II
spellbound. This was bad sigma
very bad sign, as Darlington interpret
ed It.
"Wen" he ventufed again, this time
a trife peremptorily.
"Guardy," exclaimed Katherine, her
rapt expression breaking into the mer-
REST of smiles, I'D forgotten you were
out here"
That's the way 1t seemed to me-" re-
turned Darlington dryly. "Dunton has
q very alluring voice. hasn't he? Come
over here, you mischievous kitten, and
confess, as you promised"
Katherine came slowly.
EN- tell you. guardy." she began
hesitatingly, perching herself, as usual
on the arm of bis chair-"that is, II |
can. hardly know myself how | feel
You see, when Mr.. Dunton isn't sing
ing | don't like him any better than |
do lots of other men, not nearly as well
as some. but
Lots OF other men, did l under
stand you to sayY' interrupted Caring
ton.
.sOh, well, three or four, guardy'
What do a half dozen, more or less
matterT
There's safety in numbers, to be
sure" replied Darlington tritely.
"But let's get back to Dunton. You
were going to tell me how you fee.
about him."
Immediately Katherine dropped her
frivolous mood and became thoughtful.
when he's talking, guardy, he
might just as well be any man. as
told you, but when he sings, well"-
"WellT
81 almost feel that my prince has
come.' breathed Katherine ecstatically.
"H'mI Very romantic" was Caring
toms chilling comment. when will
you see him again?"
mot for q week. He was to go up
to town on important business" sighed
Katherine.
well off to bed with you now, my
child" ordered the stern guardian,
land may some good fairy tell you how
to know the real prince when he
comes"
A week later to night Darlington
again sat listening to Dunton's full
magnetic voice as, with seductive ease,
Il glided through one love sing after
another to Katherine's sympathetic &C
Suddenly there came a pause in the
singing-a long pause. Darlington
waited for the sound of talking. but
the silence was unbroken.
Without stopping to weigh the JUS
lice Of motive or consequences, he
Jumped up determinedly and made
iramatic entree into the music room.
Dunton. startled, Strengthened him