The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-07-13

| tiny gold and white elevator leading
to her rooms Felice, her maid, would
be waiting to take her wraps and
hand bag and conduct her to the tire
some mysteries of another toilet.
The chauffeur and the footman per-
formed their expected duties, but the
program was varied when she stepped
from the elevator. Instead Of Felice,
Jack stood waiting for her.
Marcia's surprise died away when
she saw his face. That face, with its
look of haggard trouble, silenced her.
Without a word she swiftly followed
to her sitting room, and the door
closed behind them.
what is it?' she demanded breath
lessly, terror clutching her heart as
she looked at him.
Jack Weatherby had good stuff in
him and could dare much, but his
throat contracted as he took In her
beauty, her fragileness, her costly ar
ray. Helpless, sheltered-that was
what Marcia was. Then he spoke al
most CURLY.
'I'll make it short" he said Listen,
Marcia, and see If you can compre-
bend. 1t doesn't seem possible a man
could take fortune the size Of mine
and drop 1t into the middle of the
ocean, but that's what I've done.
Stocks. It's all gone. We haven't a
penny to our name. Even this house
is gone Maybe the grocer II trust
us, but likely not! How many meals
do your think your pearls would
buyY
He flung himself into chair, with a
laugh bitter and hopeless, and waited,
just what for he hardly knew-hyster-
les probably.
The woman before him bent for
ward with lips parted. Il can't quite
realize she gasped. Then she
Strengthened out and walked to the
window. gazing out over the lake.
When she turned and came to him she
was smiling. Besides the smile, there
was a look he had never seen on her
face before, an expression Of interest,
of energy.
"Jack," she said, slipping down be-
side him, her arms about him, 81 don't
know why. but somehow the only
thing I can feel is relief. I believe I'm
glad. Why, it leaves us-only each
other. Do you see? I'm SO deadly
tired of all this, Of this life! Do you
remember the Colorado ranch my ia
Their left me? How he held it when the
crash came I'm sure l don't know, but
he did Well, Wen go there"
Jack Weatherby laughed even as his
heart warmed with joy at the way
Marcia had met the blow. "You," he
cried. "on a ranch, and small, insig-
nifcant one at that-in a calico dress
possibly, and one servant maybe none,
and neighbors ten miles away! oh,
no, Marcia; you don't know what you
are talking about I'll begin again
herer'
Marcia Weatherby got to her feet,
with an excited little laugh. 1t was
novel to have something to do. "You
will not" she declared. at is the
ranch for usY'
And. much to his surprise, Jack
Weatherby found it was indeed the
Colorado ranch. Never had Marcia
been so animated. so busy. Her SYM
pathizing friends went away indignant
because she had laughed at their con-
dolences.
'This is the happiest day Of my
| life" she told her husband when the
train pulled out of the Chicago station
and they were bound for the west
with only a few hundred dollars to
their names. but with life and health
and work before them.
One year later Jack Weatherby, COM
ing home at gallop, swung from his
horse at the door to the rough but
comfortable house that was home. His
face was brown, his eye keen, his
dress negligee.
On the porch stood a woman 1.-THE,
graceful. In linen shirt waist suit