The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-08-31
ON THE WINGS
OF THE STORM,
There Came a Change In Her
Views on the Question of Love.
~ PHILIP KEAN.

pestuous winds and the continuous
roll Of thunder.
To the unaccustomed eye 1t was ter
rifying, but Alexander gazed undis-
turbed. He was young and strong.
But something very like fear gripped
him now as he saw between the sway
ing trees a wraithlike figure running
toward the house.
He went to the door and opened it.
He dragged her over the thresholds
little, gasping. frightened girl.
"Pm so afraid" was all she could
say at first.
How does it happen that you are
out?" He put her in big chair by
the side of the fireplace. ITS so late
and such an awful night"
She looked at him with startled eyes
as she tried to pin up the thick brown
locks that had fallen about her shout
ders.
II was running away" she con-
fessed.
"Oh," Alexander said as he sat
down opposite her. You look a bit
old for that l was nine when | de-
cided to take to cave dwelling and a
man Friday"
A dimple showed in the corner OF her
mouth. "But-but | wasn't running
away to live in cave. l was running
away to get married"
But" Alexander said presently.
"you-you don't look quite old enough
for that"
Il sm eighteen" was the explana-
ton. land be is twenty -one."
"HeY' murmured Alexander. "Where
is hep
Her lip quivered 81 think the storm
must have kept him home. You
wouldn't think a storm would matter
to man. would your
mot a man who was going to marry
you" Alexander found himself say
ing.
"Oh"--the warmth in his tone
brought a rosy flush to her face-'of
course something may have kept him"
Where was he to meet youT Alex
ander asked.
lover there by the church. We are
stopping at one of the cottages just
beyond"
"And when you didn't find him
there you Ian to the nearest house?'
81 saw your light and ran toward
it."
And now" he told her. IF you are
rested a biz I'll take you home"
But | can't go backw she cried.
1.-THE door locks with a spring, and l
haven't key
Eye godsp' Alexander's brows were
knit
And then, because be could think Of
nothing else to say. he asked, Are you
hungryY
STARVED" she said.
He brought out crackers and cheese
and sardines and olives and marina
| lade and all the dainties that bach
| elor manager who elects to eat at
meals the coarse food that is given
his men keeps for private consump-
ton.
tiff / only knew where Bobbie
was" she said, II should be almost
happy"
so his mime is Bobbie? Alexander
asked.
She nodded. 1--WE went to school to-
gether, and be is at college now, and
he hasn't anything to marry on. and
that's why mother objected, and that's
why we ran away"
DO you love himT Alexander asked
slowly.
"Of course" she said quickly, "only
Pm not so cure right now. 1t seems as
If he couldn't have let me come out in
the storm alone-if he had loved me.
"He couldn't" said Alexander
briefly.
And then. after a moment. be said
slowly, Il wonder If you know what
love is really like-love for which one
suffers. for which one dies. II need
beY'
She caught her breath. mo one ever
said such things to me Of love before
she said. "Bobbie and just thought
Of fun--and of having our own way.
She was such little innocent thing
but with such purity in her eyes, such
foreshadowing in her face of the
woman that she might be, that Alex
ander said impulsively. Dear little
girl, wait until love-real love-comes
to you befC e you marry"
She held out her hand to him. u
WILL" she whispered. II will wait
And even as she promised there came
knock at the door.
Alexander opened it, and Bobbie
stumbled over the threshold.
"Why didn't you waltz he com
planned at once. "Why didn't you
wait. Mollie"
ut was such an awful storm, anc
you weren't there. Bobbie."
"You might have known I'd have
come" he fumed. II don't see why
you came here. looked everywhere fol-
YOU. and then | saw this light, and
came over and looked through the win
dow"
Alexander interposed. ''She could
not stay out In the night and storm
You were late"
The boy turned on him. "Wen. whs
If wasY be demanded. ''Is 1t any,
of your business"
"Yes"-the older mans tone wal
quier--"1t is always a mans bushes
to see that young and helpless girl 1
protected"
"But p
al think you should take her hom
at once" Alexander advised. "an'
wait until you and she are old enoug
to know your own minds"
"Oh. don't preach" the boy fun
out.
But Alexander's eyes were on tn
girl. "When a woman loves a man
Is such a wonderful thing that W
ought to give her all our chivalry
Wait until you are older, Bobbie, an
, you'll know"
"Oh. come on. Mollie." the boy In
terrupted rudely. I've got the horse
outside, and we can get away in
minute"
But she stood very still innthe mid
die of the room. mo" she said.
I "Why notT'
Because know now that II don
) love you as | ought to marry you. Bot
bie." she faltered. FL want to g
home"
"Well. you can't go home" Bobbi
told her-"not now. You haven't
, key"
; '.She shall go home" Alexander sal
, suddenly, ''if she wishes"
= They faced each other the boy an
> the man, and then before the ster
glance Of the other Bobbie dropped hi
: eyes.
q "Oh. we'll how will you manage it2