The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-05-12
'sAliaSthe
Plumber -
By Olive Roberts Barton.
Copyrighted, 1908, by the Associated
Literary Press.

By Olive Roberts Barton. +
+ !
T. Copyrighted, 1908, by the Associated I
z Literary Press. Z
My Dear Mr.. Van Norton-Perhaps my
fnexperience will account for the fact that
i do not know how much-or how little
to expect of my f1ance. have been here
at my aunts for three days, as inform
ed you in my letter before ] left home,
and you have not given the slightest sign
of my existence.
1t may be that I expect too much Of
the man whom i have promised to marry
but If such is the case I am satisfied that
my unreasonable demands on your time
and attention would make us both miser-
able.
/ beg to return your ring, with many
thanks for the honor; also your letters
the scarab and the set Of coral you sent
me from Naples Very cordially yours,
NINA DORRINGTON.
Nina threw down her pen and walk
ed to the window Of the darkening
room. The library was frigid, and the
girl shivered as she pulled aside the
curtain. 1t was showing hard, and the
wind had piled the feathery stun in
huge mounds, obliterating steps and
curbstones. II small boy headed his
way through the storm, looking in vain
for the numbers on the houses.
Nina opened the door herself and
called him. Then, giving him careful
directions about the package and let
ter, she paid him handsomely and
watched the tot in blue uniform trudge
down the avenue with the remnants of
her happiness under his arm.
She stood an instant in the hallway.
Then, realizing that her chill was most
ly physical, she rang for lights and
went upstairs. The door of her aunts
room was partly open, and the rudy
glow OF the log fire tempted her to
enter. The mound Of shawls and rugs
on the couch in the corner indicated
that the worthy lady had not Weakened
from her afternoon nap.
Nina sat down on a hassock and
gased into the fire. Now that she had
taken such radical step, doubts be-
gan to torment her. Had she been i'm
patient? Should she have waited
little longer? Indignation gradually
gave way to self pity, and tears rolled
down her cheeks.
nina, is that you? What is the
matter, dear? Are you sick"
She jumped up quickly and dashed
the tears from her eyes, but the room
was dark, and her aunt could not see
her face.
mo, indeed. Not sick, only cold,
dear. The house is like ice, and 1t
looked SO warm and coy In here
came In to dream for a few minutes
before dressing for dinner"
ooh, dear, 1t must be the new fur
mace, Nina! 1t has not worked prop
erly since your uncle had It put in.
Would you mind calling them up now
before you dressf There's a dear.
Leave word for them to send some one
the first thing in the morningT
"What is the name of the firmT
'sLet me see. Van Norton & Hemp
hill, believe. Yes, that Is 1t, / am
sure"
.swhy. that is Towards frm." said
Nina unsteadily.
'Is that so? Mercy, child, that draft
is unbearablel Please hurry and close
the door,"
Hello"
"Hello. Is that Van Norton & Hemp
hill'sT
Eyes"
Her heart leaped. The voice was
Towards, she was sure. So she had
been right, after all. He was back
His only possible excuse was nil. But
he would find her note and package
when he got home.
"This is the residence Of Mr.. ]. Lam
bert Brown, Fiftieth street."
every well. / have it. thank you"
Yes, it was Howard. She could
scarcely speak.
"The house-that is-the furnace is
that is to say-ohi" She shivered
and started determinedly all over
again. Hello. Is that Van Norton &
Hemphill's?"
eyes. this is the same place." In an
amused tone. sis there anything can
do for you, madam?
1.-THE house is freezing. The new fur
mace is not working right at all. Please
send man the first thing In the morn
ing to fix 1t. I-we-I am so Geld now
can hardly talk"
Hearing a subdued laugh, she snap
ned up the receiver. The ideal Then 1t
occurred to her that he likely would
not dream 1t was she. There were 30
many Browns In town; besides, she
thought bitterly, he had evidently for
gotten all about the address she had
seat him.
The small lace handkerchief refused
to absorb any more moisture, and a
great stamping In the vestibule an
nounced the arrival of her uncle. Nina
few to the icy solitude of her room
and after doctoring- her tear stained
features with cold water and talcum
managed to get into some evening
clothes plus a warm opera cloak In
time for dinner.
That night she slept very little. One
minute she blamed herself for being so
the next she reproached
him for his seeming Indifference. She
had been so sure he would hurry to her
the minute he got her letter, but his
boat had been in three days and still
no sign from him.
At last she fell asleep. 1t seemed to
her that she had been DOING just a
minute when she was awakened by a
violent hammering In her room. She
sat up in bed and shivered. The win
dow pane above the shutters was still
L. nd 0vuff0hnd
cd the electric light. 1t was not
o'clock.
Again that awful hammering, then
scraping in the direction OF
the register. She made face and COW
cred her ears. Then all was quiet for
awhile, and Nina snuggled under the
covers. All at once a metallic voice
came up through the tube from the
cellar
Nov, you see, O'Brien, 1t will all
have to come out The underfeed is
not right" Nina sat bolt upright again,
her eyes staring wildly in the darkness.
1t was Towards voice. Then followed
q few orders about valves, drafts and
gauges, which she did not understand
In the least, but it was a voice she
could listen to forever. She forgot
about the cold.
Nov, O'Brien, you go and get the
tools and bring Mason along with you.
I am going TO stay here a minute and
look things over. 1t has to be done
right this time. This is a nice condi-
ton to find things In the very day
get home. First thing heard when
got to the Office How many more
Jobs like this are there?"
Nina did not listen to the explana-
ion that followed Her heart was In