The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-12-08

~ 6hR OAchs
py. She was always afraid that my
father would take me away from her
they were separated, you know. And
SO we were always hiding, always shut
in. And after she died l was sent to
a school in a big city and lived all OF
my girlhood behind high walls.
when l became my own mistress
bought a bungalow out here, and be
cause 1 had lived always under strict
rules said that would live without
any-that would not even enter the
bondage Of matrimony-a until you
came l was as free as Bird
"And now you are not freeg BE put
the question eagerly.
Her grave eyes met his steadily.
NO" she said; ''you-you have made
me question. l am very happy when
am with you, fishing or learning songs
or hearing you tell of your travels.
And sometimes it seems to me that is
the greater happiness.
But whel am alone think of the
city where you would take me and
that you would have right to say
whether l should go or come, and /
feel as If 1 were again behind high
( walls.'
Her eyes were dark with queer
kind Of terror.
'Poor little wild bird" said Leslie
tenderly; they kept you Gagged too
long"
He made her sit down beside him
while he led the conversation cheer
fully into other channels, and after
time he taught her more songs, and
their voices rang out melodiously IN
the still October air. And all about
them was the glory Of autumnal col
oring, the red and gold and green of
the mountain side, with a sapphire sky
above.
And when their song was finished
Leslie said, Tomorrow 1 am going
home"
She caught her breath quickly. ITO
morrow
eyes; at half past 10 at night. Will
you wave me FAREWELL"
'You go by the river road?"
eyes"
81 will be on my porch" she prom
ised. ''You can see me In the moon
light"
He took her hand and for moment
stood looking down at her. Then he
said softly; 81 shall not try to tell you
how hard it is for me to go without
some hope. Perhaps some day you viii
feel differently"
Again the frightened look came into
her eyes. ''No-no. If you knew how
unhappy my mother was-my father
was cruep'-
He dropped her hands. "And you
think" he began, shat might be-
"Oh. no, nor she protested. But
YOU would have the right to say what
/ should do. You would benny mas
ter"
Little child" he commanded, TOOK
at me-
And when her eyes met his won
deringly he said slowly: Love like
mine asks nothing but your happiness
AS my wife you would be free, for
after all, that woman is the freest who
lives within the circle of her husbands
love-"
But she shook her head. II CAM
feel that way" she murmured. =
| wish could"
The next night as Leslie's horse pick
ed its way carefully down the winding
road it reared a little when a white
figure came out Of the bushes.
81 couldn't bear to wave goodby 81
far away" the girl faltered as he dis
mounted and stood beside her. he
face was very pale in the moonlight
and her hair shone like gold. "AnC
then there is something that want t
say"
A light came into his eyes as III
bent over her. 'Tell me-" he whis
pered.
81 love you" she said simply, Du
shook her head at his eager exclama
ton. "But cannot marry you-no
now. It would not be right-not whil'
have this fear Of the city. But
want to ask if-if-soms day / fee
differently-if l should send for you
would you conner
..From the ends Of the earth" he dc
| aared, 'But If u could only b nov