The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-03-09
THE UNTOLD.
HALF.
By ARTHUR COTTONWOOD.
Copyrighted, 1903. by Associated
Literary Press.

There is no particular excitement
when one Of the numbering fruit boats
of the Yellow Star line comes into
port. There was no particular stir
along the water front that biting, fog
gy morning in December when the
Admiral Dart came wheeling up the
harbor, swung into her berth at the
Yellow Star docks with the aid Of
couple Of tugs-for the tide was rum
ming strongly-shot out her gangplank
and disembarked the four passengers
she carried.
She also disembarked Bobby Shack
lett But Bobby Shacklett did not
come to the wharf by way of the
gangplank. While the fussy little
donkey engines in the sheds were
putting valiantly and swinging briskly
out Of the Admiral Darts hold the
many punches Of green bananas Bob
by Shacklett, very thin, very pale and
very much unwashed, came up from
the stoke room, took long breath of
the misty air, shivered a bit-for his
clothes were painfully thin and shah
by-and then climbed over the rail
and dropped unostentatiously to the
wharf.
A couple Of carriages bearing the
/ steamers late passengers whisked
past him. Three rumbling drays went
humping past, one of the drivers
shouting fmpolitely to Bobby to get to
somewhere out of the way.
Bobby grinned 1t was not a pleas
ant grin. He was thinking Of his
Homecoming as he had planned it and
as 1t had actually turned out, and
comparisons, which are always odious
i things, were particularly so In this
case.
| He thrust his hand into the pocket
Of bis ragged trousers, drew out few
pieces Of silver, grinned once more,
shivered again and made his way to
the street
A solitary hanson was drawn up to
the curb, waiting for a chance fare.
Bobby stepped over to it. The cabby
surveyed him scowlingly, but Bobby,
quite oblivious apparently to the dubi-
GUS glances cast in his direction, climb
ed calmly in.
He gave an address on certain con-
sentative street uptown. The driver
stared at him. Bobby smiled.
~Don't blame me, old chap" be said,
noting the others hesitation. "But
want to go there, strange as 1t may
seem and incompatible as 1t may be
with my present appearance. What's
the row? Afraid 1 won't be good for
the fare? Here you CO."
He passed up the handful Of silver
through the trap. "Now, then, drive
on he commanded.
The whiplash sang through the air;
the stumbling horse lurched into
trot; the hanson rocked, and away
they went through the dingy, noisy
streets.
They drew up finally before an i'm
posing house on the conservative up
town street. Bobby climbed from the
hanson, and while the latter turned
and went Gathering away he shut his
teeth grimly and mounted the brown
stone steps with a light Of determine
ton in his eyes.
In response to his vigorous tug at
the bell the door was opened by
statuesque butler, whose dignity stood
out obtrusively all over him. He look
ed at the figure on the stoop and closed
the door halfway.
"Well?" he said, and the manner In
which he said it plainly babe the Wis
itor begone.
us Miss wadsworth IMP said Bob
by quietly.
eli think not, sir. In fact, Hi am
very sure she isn't" the butler replied.
A look came into Bobby's gray eyes
"a look that had made better men
than the butler quail many times be-
fore now.
IT rather think you are mistaken"
| said he "I'm sure she Is home, and,
what is more, am sure she will be
glad to receive me. If you don't be-
neve it, Just tell her, If you will, that
the general manager Of the Colona In
tercoast railway would like word
with her I'd advise you to do as !
say"
| The butler hesitated but second
longer. The man on the stoop was
looking at him with a most discomfort
ing determination in his bearing. The
butler. unwilling, it is true, opened the
| door.
"Step in, sir" said he Hi will see."
A fire cracked cheerfully in big
fireplace at one end of the warm, dark
hall. Bobby drew a chair close to 1t
and, sitting down, held out his stiff
ened fingers to the grateful blaze.
Up the wide stairs creaked the but
| Ter with as much haste as his ubiqui-
tous dignity allowed. Voices sounded
above. There was little gasp, cry,
the swish Of skirts, the patter Of light
footsteps hurrying down the stairs.
Bobby arose from his chair just as
Mary Wadsworth, more radiant, more
beautiful, than ever, came running to-
ward him.
Bobby she cried, both her hands
held out to him. Bobby, II can't be-
lieve that it is really you and that you
are back Pm glad-oh, so glad can't
tell you properly"
Bobby had stiffened His face was
very grave.
MARY, please sit down for mo
pent," said he. 81 shan't keep you
long. Just word Of explanation, and
perhaps even that is not needed" he
added, with lugubrious glance at his
tattered raiment 81 must apologize
1or coming here this way, but stocking
on a fruit steamer raises the very
deuce with ones appearance"
She was about to say something, but
he held out his hand
'Please let me talk first" said he.
81 must tell you before you say
word or else I shan't have the courage
| to. You see, it's all off-railroad gone
up, contracts unfulflled, and the for
| tune | went down there to stow away
! in my jeans some one else has walked
| off with, That's about all except that
came back in the fruit steamer to tell
you that I'm the largest, most mex
cusable fizzle extant."
"That is alp she asked suddenly.
"Are you sure that is all? Do you
mean to say in those few sentences
you have told me everythingT
"All that you should know" said he.
She looked at him steadily, and a
sudden light leaped to her eyes.
you are telling me only half" she
said
He was silent
Ill