The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-09-14
"HE WILL NOT BE BACK FOR SOME TIME,
SHE INTERPosED HURRIEDLY.

picture postcard was responsible for
the correspondence, which had its be-
ginning more than two years before,
when Barton. in a spirit of fun, had
answered a request in the Postcard
Exchange" of an illustrated weekly for
views of his state.
The response had been prompt and
was accompanied by so many ingen-
ious questions that Barton, in order to
do Justice to his native state, had
found it necessary to write letter
1t was strange how soon he came to
watch for the weekly letter which be-
came an established custom, but only
he himself knew how far the simple
faith, the unconscious hero worship.
that breathed in every line Of John
Quilts letters were responsible for
Barton's escape from the many temp
tations that surround young man
alone in a western town.
He had reached the end of the vii
lage before his eyes found the little
brown cottage, with its big honey
suckle on each side of the gate and its
square porch overgrown with the
same vine Everything looked as John
had once described it to be.
He knocked firmly on the front door
of the cottage. 1t was quickly opened,
and Barton found himself gazing into
the prettiest face he had ever seen.
He asked. rs this where John Quill
lives? I'm Charles Barton" offering
his card. She put out her hand some
what hesitatingly, he thought, and the
bit of pasteboard huttered to their
feet. With a muttered apology, he
stopped to pick it up. When his eyes
again sought the girls face there was
a confusion in it which the slight ac-
cident hardly warranted.
"Pd like to see your brother" he
suggested politely.
He was not prepared for the sudden
terror which flashed into her face. and.
with a view to putting her at her ease.
he continued smilingly: "You see, I'm
taking the relationship for granted. The
likeness to a picture Of himself, which
John once sent me, is too great to ad-
NIT of a doubt"
The girl flushed and at the same
time looked relieved. "Yes," she
breathed softly, I'm his sister. And
Pm sorry. but my-John is away at
present"
Barton's face fell. 81, too, am
sorry" he said simply and fingered.
The girl eyed him doubtfully. She
seemed to be undecided, but finally
asked slowly, "Will you come in?"
But he had seen the effort which the
words cost her, so he prevaricated
slightly.
"No, thanks. l have my train to
make. When will your brother be
back? is a quick after thought. Il
could stop of again if
"He will not be back for some time, :"
she interposed hurriedly. do not ash
me where he is" appealingly, "for /
cannot tell you"
A suspicion was dawning In Barton's
mind. Excuse me-" he begged gently.
"Perhaps your brother is in some diff
guilty. some trouble, and could hell
Aim"
"No, no; you cannot help him-I
mean, he is in no trouble" she cor
rected herself hastily.
There's something wrong there" he
reflected as he retraced his steps to-
ward the station. why didn't the
boy tell me in his last letter that he
was going away2 Is it possible that
the young cub has managed to dis
grace himself and left his sweet little
sister to bear the burden? But, OH!
Pm sure he's not that kind. A few
inquiries in the village might-but
Charles Barton is no spy. I'll let the
matter drop for a few days; then I'll
try again to gain the shrinking con-
fdence of John Quilts sister. And
woe to those who are at the bottom of
the troubled!
But when, four days later, he mount
ed the hill that led to the village he
was forced to confess that the interest
which he felt in John Quilts sister far
exceeded any he had ever entertained
in respect to the youth. The girls
sweet face was ever before him.
AS he entered the village he came
face to face with the girl of his
thoughts. She was coming out Of
big house. and she carried huge bum
dle--sewing. he rightly judged as he
FASTENED to relieve her Of it. The ra-
diant blush with which she thanked
him Barton took as favorable sign.
'L've come back" he said eagerly.
'T'm so glad-I mean as she de-
tected the look that leaped into his
eyes, "I'm glad of this chance to con-
fess in person something that has been
worrying me greatly. l was going to
write She was interrupted by the
postmistress. who, taking advantage
Of her position to crafty very natu-
raj curiosity, came running out on her
porch
@Hey! she shouted. Here's a let