The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-02-02

bitually smoked fat perfectos with
red and gold sashes. Tonight AL
phonse's elaborate politeness was ig-
nored by the usually genial Sheldon.
Nov for the news" he began as the
waiter headed for the bar. II couldn't
wait for Saturday to tell you. though
it is only two days off,"
"Isn't it funny that we always fall
back on Saturday nightf" commented
Bess. 81 don't know when we have
been out to dinner in the middle of
the week"
Never. / guess" agreed Sheldon.
"You see, Saturday is sort of holi
Gay. / get my salary, and you get your
check from the publishers, and we're
both happy and content, even if not in
agreement"
eve would be in agreement if you
would only stop considering proposal
as an essential feature Of the Satur-
day celebration" reminded Bess, with
a show Of severity. you must go and
spoil it all by proposing, Fred, when
I've told you long ago that to marry
| would spoil my career. | am making
a little name for myself in the art
world, and can't keep house and
paint too
"And I've told you" retorted Fred
'that / would not stop asking you to
marry me until you said Yes | guess
I'VE proposed to you sixty times IN
the last sixty weeks, Bess, and Tn
good for sixty times sixty if have to
hold out that long"
"Did you ask me out to dinner to
propose to me?" demanded Bess.
mot primarily" he admitted. what
l wanted to tell you was that my big
chance has come at last. Benny Groll
has made a good contract and he
needs man to put little money and
lot of time into the business. have
more experience than money, but Ben
wants me; and he'll give me half In
terest il I'll come in. It's what I've
been working and waiting for ever
since l came to town, Bess, and this
is to celebrate my good luck"
A slender hand was stretched across
the table and grasped his own.
Dear boy, l am so glad" she said
sincerely. sYou have worked hard,
and you are entitled to your reward"
(which is why 1 am going to ask
for it," retorted Sheldon Il am go
ing to break my usual custom and
propose on Thursday instead Of Satur-
day. Bess. want you to work for,
dear. 1t viii be pretty hard camping
out with the construction gang and
working on the job with the field
corps. / want to come back to camp
every night and feel that | have done
another good days work for you"
work, like virtue, should be its
own reward" paraphrased Bess. Shell
don shook his head impatiently.
Il know all that" he said, "but that
sounds better than it works out.
want to feel that when the job is
done and Groll & Sheldon become a
Arm Of Importance Mrs. Sheldon Is
proud Of what her husband has done"
81 shall always be proud of what
you do, Fred" reminded Bess. Eve
two are the only ones from the old
town IN all this big city We have al
ways been chums, and of course !
shall be proud of your great achieve
ments."
sThat's not what. want" said Fred
impatiently. "Of course I am going
after this chance, no matter what. and
ri work as hard without your prom
Use as with it, but it win lend sweet
ness to the labor, Bess, If you tell me
that may work for you.
won't you take q career by proxy.
dear? Do you want to work to the end
Of your days and live the loveless life?
Aren't there times when you want to
give 1t all up and just stop worrying
about checks that the publishers do
not send and canvases that don't sell.
though you know that they are as
good as some that bring big money:
Don't you tire Of your career some
times and don't you feel as though il
would be nice to let some one else do
the worrying?"
"And if / do?" she asked. with an
odd little note in her voice.
"Then let me carry the burden" he
pleaded. 'Iet me do the planning for
you. In six months from now | shall
be at the top Of the heap and making
money, but you can make those six
months Of toll very pleasant, dear, If
you will only listen to your heart-and
me-"
81 have listened to you,' she remind
ed. with light laugh. why. Freddy,
there has not been Saturday night In
more than a year that you have not
urged me to marry you. I'd like to.
dear. but there is my career"
'Does it all pay?' he demanded. rs
it worth all the worry and the con.
triving?'
Perhaps" she said uncertainty. and
Sheldon pressed the advantage.
wouldn't 1t be nice If you didn't
have to scrimp and scrape and plan
the spending of every penny? he de
manded. wouldn't 1t be nice to have
real home instead of three room
dat, to eat regular meals instead Of
chatting dish messes and towel, to
have me across the table every night
3