The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1909-06-16
TIT FOR TAT.
BY CLARA n. HOLMES.

Press.
The train from the west pulled into
the station, putting breathlessly from
its long race, and Ben Hildreth drop.
ped off the rear car and looked about
expectantly.
"Hilda~ he calculated joyfully,
STOPPING to kiss the slender young lady
who approached him with extended
hand.
Her naughty withdrawal and very
indignant look surprised him. and her
critical glance made him painfully
aware of his forty-three years and his
dusty and very ordinary dress.
Her glance said plainly. mercy. how
old he is, and look at his clothesr'
After FIVE years betrothal their
cherished love dream became ut once
intangible by reason of misfit coat
and plainly shown girlish contempt
for an accumulation Of years.
But when Ben clasped hands with
Hilda's mother lie forgot the bitter
tang Of disappointment She was I'M
changed. Her face wore the same con-
tented look, and the welcome he re-
ceived might have been leaf torn
from the book Of past happenings.
Even the hot biscuit at supper time
Ind tho well remembered relish Of for
mer days. And the thoughtful man
ner of saying, Now go and take your
smoke. Ben; know you are wanting
1t badly" seemed like the picking up
Of the raveled threads from the tan
gled skein of time.
Off after tho first few days-wheneve
she could forget the humiliation Of be-
ing kissed In public.
THE very Ideal Any one would
know he was from the westr, she con-
cluded wrathfuIly when telling It 10
her mother.
Mrs. Stevens laughed heartily. AFRO
people so different in the west2 l had
supposed that they were merely ener-
getic persons who needed elbow roomp
"Oh, you can laugh, but just look
at his clothesr'
Yes; clothing does make differ
ence in the flavor Of kiss
Whether 1t does or not, am not go
Ing out there to live with man old
enough to be my father" was the an
cry reply
Tell him so. not me. You knew
where he lived and his age. didn't you,
when you gave him your promisef'
IL suppose SO, but didn't have sense
enough to know what It meant" she
| orr n,I,I nd nd hnctdno h,ss -,
older than he was then. Why, IT'S Ave
years.
Eyes, he il Ave years older, and SO
are you Excuses are so easy to find
II we seek them"
II don't care he isn't one bit as he
used to ber
when pcopfc suy they don't care
they acknowledge that they are In
fault and know 1t. | think that the
change Is in you. Hllda."
As the days went by Hildas dislike
seemed TO Increase. She would FIRE
quently go out and let her mother en-
tertaln Ben for whole afternoon
without the courtesy of an apology.
Ben did not appear to be annoyed In
thf iNuSts Hc HlcETIly
with Mrs. Stevens and easily fell Into
the old time habit of calling her Lottie.
Occasionally he would regard Hilda so
teasingly that she would grow FESTIVE
under his gaze and fly out Of the room,
storming to her mother: ~ hate him!
/ hate him"
well, why not tell him 80 and end
| ha Ia, Ia
frame of mind for prospective bride"
To this Hilda made no reply.
The wedding day drew near. Ben
had been out Of town one afternoon,
and. being delayed by business, 1t was
late when he returned.
"Do you know where Hilda is?' he
questioned Of her mother.
"Why. yes" she replied. "She said
that she was going over to her cousin
Nettie's."
ooh she did, did shef" answered
Ben 10 quizzically that Mrs. Stevens
said nervously. What is wrongp"
There's nothing wrong" he replied
with a light laugh and settled himself
for smoke His laugh was too light
to be reassuring. Mrs. Stevens drum
med on the table restlessly.
"Its all right, Lottie," he assured
her, laying his hand over her fingers
to still their restless movement After
n moment he remarked, How home
like you make every place. Lottie! l
have been thinking Of the hills all day,
and-it makes me homesick. wish
you and were there" he finished
wistfully
at would be nice. I'd like to see the
mountains. When you and Hilda have
been married year or 80, I'll visit
you, perhaps" doubling hesitation in
her tone.
He regarded her with wrinkled eyes
for minute. Then he asked with
seeming irrelevance, do you know
Charlie Dupont"
"Why. yes. Why do you ask that?"
Just curiosity, ] suppose" with an-
other laugh.
"Ben, what Is the trouble between
you and HildaT' I'm n tone Of exaspera-
ton. "Shc isn't happy, and you are
tormenting. | do not believe she will
be at all happy out there. She hates
the west" Mrs. Stevens demonstrated
rather incoherently.
"She'd hate any place with me. I'm
the difficult problem, Lottie," replied
Ben calmly.
"You two are laying up an abun-
dance Of uDhappiness for yourselves"
was the grave reply.
Don't you fret over us little chill
dren, Lottie," said he, rubbing his
hand significantly over the very ap-
parent bald spot on the top Of his
head. "Sit down here and let me talk