The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-02-25
6beReturn.
%. By.
Martha Cobb Sanford.
Copyrighted, 1908, by M. M. Cunningham.

fancied she could see her hair turning
gray and the color fading from her
cheeks, though for that it must have
taken very big stretch of the imagi-
nation indeed.
And what return was life making
her for all the effort that she was put
ting into it? A negative reciprocation
at best. She was not compelled to
marry. She had proved herself capable
of independence. 1t was five years
since she had entered upon her bust
ness career. Her vim and optimism
had made for success even beyond
her most sanguine anticipations.
Only a month ago she had accepted
at practically her own terms position
that hundreds of women might well
envy her and probably did. Surely it
was an unreasonable time for her to
feel blue and discouraged. There must
be some definite cause for her unrest.
Ruth set herself the task Of discover
ing it.
Finally, with a somewhat shame
faced yet wistful little smile, she was
forced to admit that the disturbing
undercurrent began to ruff1e her
thoughts about the moment that she
had stood by her Office window that
morning and from the height Of many
stories watched young man clad in
a fur lined overcoat step out of his re-
splendent motor car and enter the
building.
Who the man was did not matter,
nor that he was wealthy. 1t was the
woman in the car who stirred old
yearnings in Ruth's heart. She had
with her for comfort and inspiration
through the day the memory Of
mans farewell kiss.
This pretty and refreshing bit of
sentiment In the midst of a hustling
workaday world Ruth had witnessed
nearly every morning, to be sure, since
she had been in her new position. But
never before had 1t plunged her into
such an implacable mood of discomfort.
"WeI," she commented to herself as
she pinned on her little tailor made
hat, with a gesture of wholesome de-
termination, ''this will never do at all.
It's my own fault. / refused him, and
that's all there is about it. At the time
matrimony seemed such an obvious.
commonplace transaction in COMPARE
son with the allurement of independ-
ence-and now, well, it's no use think
ing about it. I may bump into ro-
nance any day."
The wind on the night in question
was blowing a hurricane. When Ruth
tried to open the outside door of the
building, she found the resistance too
much for her strength and was obliged
to fall back moment.
As she made second attempt the
door yielded with a suddenness that
almost upset her equilibrium. She
heard some one Immediately behind
her say, ..sAllow me-" and was aware
Of masculine coat sleeve, fur lined,
holding back the door for her to pass.
Ruth thanked the auxiliary arm me-
chanically, half conscious of tinge of
resentment in her gratitude that she
should be In any way beholden to the
man upon whom that woman, whom
she envied, also depended. But the
next moment, with characteristic I'M
pulsiyeness, Ruth found herself chas-
ing a derby hat down the sidewalk.
Just as she was about to rescue it
from an imminent mud puddle at the
corner something struck her fearful
blow. and she lost consciousness.
In the days of delirium that followed
Ruth sometimes imagined that heavy
door was swinging back upon her; that
a man stood by and would not rescue
her. And again she would shrink In
fear from plunging automobile that
bore down upon her, while the man
and woman within the car laughed
and kissed each other. And always
the man wore a fur lined overcoat.
When Ruth had recovered suffi-
GENTLY to be interested in her sur
roundings, she noticed first the tall
fragrant American Beauties by her
bedside.
.sWho sent them2' she asked the
nurse languidly.
"A gentleman, Miss Ruth"
"What gentleman"
Faint and weak though Ruth's voice
was, the nurse detected in it note Of
suspicion.
HE did not leave his card, Miss
Ruth" replied the nurse, blushing at
her own subterfuge. but Ruth did not
observe her confusion.
WHY Mr.. Mcdonald did not wish his
identity disclosed in connection with
the roses the nurse did not know. But
he had insisted upon being an anony-
nous benefactor, and it was not her
concern to demand his reason for it.
"What does he look like?" Ruth per
sisted.
Hes young and very distinguished
looking, asserted the nurse, both her
manner and words bespeaking unshak-
able conviction.
And then came the crucial question.
"Does he wear fur lined overcoat?"
''Not always" admitted the nurse In
a pathetic attempt to save the situa-
ton.
'T thought So" returned Ruth. 81
hate him."
THAT'S only natural, suppose, dear.
But you must remember that he isn't
really to blame If 1t was his car that
ran into you. After the accident he
held YOU In his arms all the way home
40 that the motion of the car would
not jar you. He did everything he
could do for you. / never saw man
more broken up over anything. He's
been here at least once day ever
since"
"H'mp' commented Ruth. "His mo-
tive is obvious. He's afraid I'll sue
him for damages. l despise him
When did he send these rosesY
Every day-today, mean. He's
had fresh ones sent every morning.
It's very romantic, Miss Ruth, to my
way of thinking" ventured the nurse,
casting sly glance at her patient
"Romanticr' repeated Ruth. tits
lucky you were not the one run over.
That man would have had you thank
ing him for the privilege, but he can't
bride me with daily visits and floral
contributions. You see there isn't the
ghost of a chance for anything ro-
mantle in the situation. He's married"
"Ohr' exclaimed the nurse, with I'M
mistakable disappointment. Il didn't
know, Miss Ruth. beg your pardon"
So that was why he presented roses
anonymously and why her patient
hated him. Possibly before he was
married-it was thus the nurse allowed
her Imagination to put two and two to-
gether.
Don't keep any more of his old