The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-02-09
On the Edge.
By BARRY PRESTON.
Copyrighted, 1903. by Associated
Literary Press.

| hint that such possibly might not De
the case.
The girl who stood by the window,
looking out at the uneven pavefnents
of the Roman street, turned slowly
and smiled. In that smile were weari-
ness and subtle understanding and pa
tient resignation.
Eyes, 1, am very much In love with
him, Aunt Elinor," she said in col
orless voice, as If she were saying the
words more because they were expect
ed of her than for any other reason.
Mrs. Brevort smiled her open ap-
prevail The little frown of doubt
which for the past few moments had
wrinkled her brow suddenly disap-
peared She crossed the room to the
girls side and threw an arm about
her.
"Of course, dearie," she cooed, your
happiness is my first, I might almost
say my only, concern. No one realizes
better than the portent of this step
that all your future, all your lifelong
happiness depends upon it. No one, /
think you'll admit, too, Is more averse
to the majority Of these marriages
than l am, but the duke is so utterly
different from all the other eligible
men we have met. He is not seeking
your money, dear, for he is immensely
wealthy in his own right. He is an
upright, honest, splendid type Of an
more like our own men In America, /
think, than any one we have seen.
Isn't that your impression of him?'
Eyes" said the girl in the same col
orless voice.
Mrs Brevort's pale face grew rather
eager. Somehow 1 have felt from the
first that your destinies were linked
yours and his" said she. 'but when
he talked with me this afternoon /
gave him no definite answer. let him
understand that the matter rested pri-
marily with you; that it was your hap
piness that was at stake.
HE didn't seem quite to understand
my attitude at first, but he was per-
fectly charming about it, as he is in
everything. He said was to speak to
you and that he would call for me this
afternoon at In the road car, and
while we went out to the aqueduct
could give him my final decision, or,
rather, yours"
The girl had turned again to the
window She was looking distracted
ly at the passing crowd In the street
below. her brow was furrowed by
little dish.guring frown. Her lips were
set tightly together. Her eyes were
troubled
$50 suppose am to give him IA
vorable answer, am notY' Mrs Bre-
wort suggested tentatively.
The girl was silent The troubled
look in her eyes grew more pronounc-
ed. Her aunt watched her narrowly
and with growing Impotence.
Peggy, dear, / asked you ques-
ton" she reminded her niece. Us 1t
favorable answer am to giveY
The girl shrugged her dainty shout
derss Yes, yes; oh, yes!" she said
hurliedly- ut doesn't matter" Her
voice suddenly choked. Nothing mat
tersy'
Mrs. Brevort elevated her brows.
Really, Peggy" she began chidingly
But the girl turned swiftly and left
the room, waving back the older WON
an, who started to follow her. Some
thing like a smothered sob sounded as
the door closed behind her.
Mrs. Brevort looked rather angry for
a moment. Then she recovered her
usual conaposure and smiled. But there
was something distinctly unpleasant in
that smile.
She glanced at the bronze clock tick
ing unobtrusively OF the mantel. 1t
pointed to half after 8. She went to
desk near the front window and from
a drawer drew out bundle of letters.
They were all directed in the same
hand-Peggy's hand. And they were
all addressed to Mr.. William Hale, at
some outlandish Spanish sounding
town in Ecuador, South America.
Mrs. Brevort smiled again. 1t had
cost her pretty penny to circumvent
the mailing of those letters, but there
are many itching palms in Rome, and
what good money will not accomplish.
If it is judiciously placed, is not worth
accomplishing.
An open fire burned duly In the
CRATE beneath the mantel. Mrs. Bre-
wort stepped briskly over to it and fed
the bundle Of letters to the flames.
She watched grimly until there was
nothing left Of them save a few gray
white ashes.
Then from another drawer she took
out another bundle of letters. They
were thick letters, all Of them. The
sprawling superscriptions were all for
Peggy, and they were postmarked with
the name of the Spanish town in Ecua
dor.
Other itching Roman palms had been
soothed In the conventional way to
bring those epistles into Mrs. Brevort's
possession.
These, too, she consigned to the
CRATE, watched them burn and then
arrayed herself for her appointment
with the duke.
At precisely he came In the road
car. She descended the stairs, greeted
MIN effusively, and together they whiri-
ed of toward the aqueduct.
Scarcely had Mrs. Brevort taken her
departure when there came to the no.
tel brisk, broad shouldered young
man. Enthusiastically he was American,
and Enthusiastically he had been endur-
ing recently all the discomforts of
continental travel when such travel
necessitates haste.
He glanced at the register, saw
thereon a certain name and heaved
mighty sigh of relief. but even as he
searched his pockets for his cardcase
the owner of the name that had caus-
ed his recent sigh came tripping down
the stairs arrayed for walk through
the autumn streets, and, turning
around, the young man stood staring
open mouthed at Peggy In all her
glory.
The girls eyes, too, lighted suddenly.
She gave a little gasp of surprise. In
an instant the young man was beside
her. and both her hands were in his
own.
Peggy, Peggy~ he was saying
breathlessly.
Billy" she was saying In a low,
shaken voice, where on earth did you
come from2'
In masterful manner he led her to
the street. Once outside they both be-
gan talking as fast as they could.
mot word from you all this time"
he declared, mot one single, solitary
word. | couldn't stand it any longer.
| left the bridge building down there
and my chances for eternal fame and
fortune with 1t, all in the hands OF
Johnson and came over here to learn