The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-06-30

cd one Gay 10 MS TWO SISTERS, dDSOrDeu
by bonbons and new novels and wrap
ped in Indifference and silk negligees.
And the tone In which he spoke was
not entirely complimentary. In fact,
distinct note Of personal injury rang
through It, for how can man assume
an attitude Of protective chivalry to-
ward girl entirely capable of doing
for herself?
Beatrice never dropped her fan or
her handkerchief, nor came into the
drawing room with her glove unbut-
toned, nor gave opportunity for the lit
tie services which other women seem
ed to have demanded of Henry Dalton
since he had risen TO the dignity Of
knickerbockers
Yet withal Beatrice Craig was moth
ing II not feminine. She wore the
softest and most clinging of fabrics.
arms and tan. She wore tailored suits,
but she softened them with delicious
froufrou bows Of lace at her throat
She was ruffly and fluffy, but she never
tore her ruffies and then asked for q
pin to make repairs.
And IL all these things she was be-
fore her fathers failure and death she
was doubly inaccessible and impregna-
BILE after reverses overlook her. Be
fore. that she had simply fenced with
Dalton. Now she donned an armor
that seemed well nigh invulnerable.
Directly the estate was settled up
and the smallness OF their inheritance
was made known to her Beatrice Craig
had turned breadwinner, investing the
pitiful little heritage In smart shop
where layettes Of the most superlative
hneness and beauty were sold.
In the front room, with its exquisite
fittings and scented presses, she exhib-
tied wares selected to suit the matrons
among whom she had grown from girl
hood to w0manhood. In the rear room
she gathered the most expert needle
women her purse could command, and
all work was done under her direct SUI
pervision
Her delighted clientele said that her
success was founded on this personal
oversight. Her doctor said that nerv-
GUS prostration would inevitably result
from her persistent close confinement
to business. Her mother wept In sheer
loneliness at first and later drifted
from their tiny apartment back into
the old bridge playing, novel reading
circle Of gray haired friends. And
what Henry Dalton said Is not for
repetition here. for. having no nieces
hon 1<. do
cent excuse for haunting a layette
shop? And only at her shop was Bea-
trice to be found-save the cruelty few
hours when outraged nature demanded
rest and refreshment
And now today, with Henry Dalton
thrust into the dim background of the
life when her mother made all things
lovely for her well shod feet to walk
upon, she was standing before her
cheval mirror preparing for return
just brief return glimpse-to the old
life.
Her mother had wept to some pur-
pose. The doctor had said certain
sharp things that were more effective
than maternal tears, and 30 Beatrice
had accepted the De Haven Smiths
warm invitation to spend the week end
and perhaps few days more at their
lodge In the Catskills.
Beatrice surveyed with critical eye
her smartly tailored travelling suit and
then cast smiling glance at the suit
case where rested delightful matinee,
product of her own workroom. 1t
would be good to lie abed mornings
and drink her chocolate in love of a
matinee like that And she should
read couple Of new books and wear
the white crepe de chine, newly made
over for the trip, to dinner. Old times
yes, she was strong enough now to
stand an occasional dip back into old
times.
Beatrice, here's G. o. D. parcel
from Mason's. I picked up love of
waist for 1878. Have you any mon
eyT
Beatrice readjusted her veil to
more fetching angle and murmured as
well as the pins In her mouth would
permit:
Eyes, mother, there's a roll Of bills
in my bag, the large pocket. Take
what you think viii last you until |
come back"
An hour later Beatrice leaned back
luxuriously In the parlor car, her I'M
seeing eyes fixed on the Hudson piano.
rama. 1t was good-just to do nothing.
And when the call for luncheon came
she felt hungry-and smiled. The doc
tor had said change was all she need
ed, and here she was hungry already
for the first time in weeks.
The obsequious darby In charge OF
her table gave her the perfection OF
service, with one eye perhaps on the
beautiful pigskin hand bag that rested
against the window. That bag had
been one of Dalton's gifts. and at that
very moment the gtver himself was
sitting at a table behind Beatrice,
watching her every move with hungry
eyes. He knew that she was going to
the De Haven Smith lodge. Mrs. Smith
Fad boldly held this out as bait in his
invitation, but somehow he felt that
the psychological moment for making
his presence known had not yet ar
rived. He noted sometimes new
droop in her shoulders. Occasionally,
too. she leaned her head on her hand
between courses. This was the reac-
non which the doctor had predicted.
but Henry Dalton did not know this
He thought only that she was slowly
but surely killing herself by reason OF
her pride, and he must stand idly
dumbly by simply because he was SC
disgustingly rich that she would not
listen.
And upon these bitter thoughts rush.
ed the psychological moment
Miss Beatrice Craig, the independent
and competent, opened her hand bag,
the darby keenly observant, and slip
ped her hand into the large pocket
Her finger tips touched naught but pol
ished leather. She tried the small peck
ct and drew forth some cards. She sat
up very straight and dipped into her
change purse to find a dime, quarter
and an old German coin, souvenir OF
Henry Dalton's student days in Ber-
lin.
Her face turned scarlet, then white.
A horrible nervous tremor swept owe
her. Frantically she turned everything
out Of the bag to find almost anything
4 businesslike yet distinctly feminine
person might own except money.
Like a fash she remembered her
request. She had kept 1t all.
every penny Of the fatty folded bills.
'aTake what you think win last you
until come back"
Fateful w0rdsl
Beatrice sent for the dining car con-
iuctor and explained the situation He
vas polite, but behind the mask OF
courtesy she read amusement or was