The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-08-03
TIT FOR TAT.
ax CLARA 4. HOLMES.

BY CLARA H. HOLMES.
copyrighted, 1909 by Associated Literary
Press.l
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 clothesp'
After five years. betrothal their
cherished love dream became at once
intangible by reason of misf1t coat
and plainly shown girlish contempt
for an accumulation of years.
But when Ben clasped hands with
Hilda's mother he 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 a leaf torn
from the book of past happenings.
Even the hot biscuit at supper time
had the well remembered relish of for
mer days. And the thoughtful man.
ner Of saying, Nov go and take your
smoke, Ben; I know you are wanting
it badly" seemed like the picking up
Of the raveled threads from the tan
gled skein Of time
| Somewhat Of Hilda's aloofness wore
OF after the first few days-whenever
she could forget the humiliation Of be-
ing kissed in public.
1.-THE very idea! Any one would
know he was from the westT' she con-
cluded wrathfully when telling it to
her mother
Mrs. Stevens laughed heartily. Are
people so different in the west? had
supposed that they were merely ener-
getic persons who needed elbow room"
"Oh, you can laugh, but just look
at his clothesp'
Eyes; clothing does make differ
ence in the flavor Of KISS"
Whether it 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 promiseY
81 suppose so, but didn't have sense
enough to know what 1t meant" she
grumbled, land besides, he's so much
older than he was then. Why, it's five
yearsy'
Eyes, he is five years older, and SO
are you. Excuses are so easy to find
If we seek them"
81 don't care; he isn't one bit as he
used to ber'
when people say they don't care
they acknowledge that they are in
fault and know 1t. 1 think that the
change is in you, Hilda."
AS the days went by Hilda's dislike
seemed to increase. She would fire.
quently go out and let her mother en-
terrain Be- for a whole afternoon
without the courtesy of an apology.
Ben did not appear to be annoyed in
the least. Instead he chatted merrily
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: II hate him!
1 hate himr'
"Well, why not tell him so and end
the engagement? You are in a happy
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, it was
late when he returned.
do you know where Hilda ISL" 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 she?" answered
Ben so quizzically that Mrs. Stevens
said nervously. What is wrong"
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.
TITS all right, .Lottie." he assured
her. laying his hand over her fingers
to still theil restless movement. After
a moment lie remarked. How home
like you make every place, Lottie! l
have been thinking of the hills all day,
and-it makes me homesick l wish
you and l were there" he finished
wistfully
"It would be nice. I'd like to see the
mountains When you and Hilda have
been married a year or so, I'll visit
you, perhaps" doubling hesitation in
her tone
He regarded her with wrinkled eyes
for a 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.
tBen, what is the trouble between
you and HildaY' in tone Of exaspera-
ton. "She isn't happy, and you are
tormenting. l 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 unhappiness 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
to you," he said, pointing to a chair
| beside his own.
For fully an hour they conversed III
low tones, he persuading. she half re-
monstrating, occasionally both laugh
ing. until at last she said in tone of
yielding, II suppose it is all right, but
It does look ridiculous for
"Sh-sh! Here comes Hilda," eau
| toned he.
| Her mother was sewing busily and
| Ben was smoking very contentedly
when she entered AS neither made
remark of any kind, she seemed to feel
the urgent need of an explanation Of
something within her own mind and
commenced In the most voluble man
ner: "Did you think / was going to
stay all night, mother3 We had such
a lot of things to talk about, Nettie
and r.
"Who?" interrupted Ben. The tone
was so derisive that Hilda cried out