The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-06-08

81 HAVE SUCCEEDED" HE SAID QUIETLY.
pended from the walls, the statuary
lust where it had stood on the night
she went away.
With a deep drawn sigh Of relief
Marjorie threw herself into chair to
rest and collect herself before proceed
ing to her own room.
After all, she reflected, it was a
whole lot better to be at home with
ones own people than to be sticking
1t out alone somewhere else, whatever
the temptation or inducement. She
had stuck it out and won. Others had
tried the same thing and lost. The re-
suit was pretty near the same In any
event, she argued, flushed now with
the mere Joy Of her homecoming.
She wondered vaguely If her par
ents could by any possibility fail to
forgive the waywardness which had
taken her away to do battle, single
handed, in the great world Of need and
struggle? The parting had been very
bitter, so bitter that she tried not to
recall it any oftener than she was
forced to. The surprise, the trium-
plant results she was bringing home
to them, would they compensate for
her disobedience?
During the two months just passed
she had heard little or nothing from
either of them in her continued pas
sage from place to place. Had she con-
fded the real motive behind her des-
perate ambition things might have
been different, but there are some soul
secrets too dear and too sacred almost
to be held in communion with ones
own thoughts.
All at once a whole army of clocks
began to strike 6, and innumerable
whistles in every key shrieked per-
emptory warning Of the hour.
Marjorie started from her reveries in
alarm and, quietly crossing the length
of the hallway, moved up the deep
carved and carpeted staircase.
The door Of her sitting room stood
ajar, and she entered noiselessly, de-
posting her bag and parcel on the
familiar little spider legged table that
held the students lamp. Then she
threw herself down into the old fash
toned rocker that stood invitingly near
and began to draw off her gloves. For
the moment rush Of feeling dimmed
her eyes SO that she could not see.
But in little while she pulled herself
together and glanced about critically,
noting that nothing apparently had
been disturbed. Everything was just
as she was accustomed to have it
every picture, every book
She bent toward the reading table
with a sudden heart throb. There lay
a fresh supply of the current period
icals, newspaper or so, paper knife
she was sure she had never seen be-
fore and half smoked cigar.
poor, dear papa" sighed Marjorie,
with little tremulous smile, she will
forgive me, after all. He must have
cared very much to do this. I'm afraid
wounded him more deeply than
dreamed. She put forth her hand in
a mechanical fashion and lifted the
paper knife from the table, touching
it softly with caressing fingers. 1t was
Just common little affair of steel and
ivory, but two initials showed roughly
on the handle, as though carved there
in some absent moment-"R. L."
Richard Lassiterp' Marjorie's lips
unconsciously framed the words. She
looked up, half frightened, and glanc-
ed about her quickly.
Almost at the moment the door lead
ing into her room was pushed open
softly from the other side, and Richard
Lassiter himself stood on the thresh-
OLD.
"Miss Winthrop
Marjorie was on her feet In an in
slant, pale, embarrassed, bewildered.
For once in her life all self control had
abandoned her. She took an unsteady
step forward, cropping with one hand
before her for support.
'T'm awfully sorry" began Lassiter
apologetically. There has In all prob
ability been some mistake. I thought
you knew"
Marjorie regarded him half dazed.
my father and mother" she broke
In appealingly, what has become OF
them2''
'sThey are perfectly safe and well.
can assure you of that much. AS soon
as possible is practicable-I shall
send you to them. Your father specu-
lated heavily. He was unfortunate,
! but he did not lose everything" be
went on, answering the unspoken
question in her eyes. "A long expect
ed lift from fortune made me indie
pendent, placed me where 1 am
here"
When he looked down Marjorie was
crying softly, the tears slipping down
her cheeks and splashing unheeded on
her hands.
when / learned that the place was
for SALE" proceeded Lassiter after q
silence, II wanted more than anything
else in the world to come here to live.
1t seemed like-wel, like being nearer
to YOU. somehow. You don't mind me
saving this. Mar-Miss Winthrop
Marjorte's tears had ceased sudden
ly. An exquisite tint Of carnation had
crept up slowly under her skin, and the
lids closed over her eyes like pale
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