The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-11-09

ner of his heavy suit cases.
"Poor PortyY' he soothed whimsical
ly II marked you from the window
and saw that the usual thing allied you.
send you to work on case, and you
return with girl writ large on your
plump, fair countenance Was it so
bad as all that? l know what she did
to you, for you're easy. poor boy, but
who was she this timer? He pushed
forward the biggest chair and thrust
cigar between Porter's willing teeth.
The two men smoked.
Never mind, son; you always re-
cover Some worthy tobacco, little
time and another girl, and history will
repeat itself. How about the case"
Dispositions all straight and fine;
good stuff" Porter answered briefly as
he wistfully scrutinized his partners
fine, high bred face "Confound you
and your commiseration, Kingi l need
the commiseration, however; that's
sure But 1 just live to see you meet
your Waterloo. You're vulnerable
somewhere And you have not met
Rose Law yet. Fate is bringing her
here tomorrow to spend the summer
with her aunt, Mrs. Morton. I OBJ
serve your finish. It's been due you
these three years"
mo, not till l have something better
than a pumpkin shell to keep the lady
In, Porty. Dismiss me- But tell me
what she's like. I'll have to hear your
rawlings sooner or later. / see she did
a thorough job with you. Proceed"
Porter nodded an affirmation. He
launched into his subject with whole
heart. The lady's list Of charms and
their effect was long. King was pa
tient. Finally, as all things have an
end, Porter paused for breath, which
he needed, being short and fat.
''Is that all? Finish at this sitting.
I'm not always complacent with the
maunderings Of a lunatic. What else?
1 can't think of another single charm
myself"
1.-TWO more She's rolling in dollars
her grandmother's. And-I'm no dog
In the manger-any one could see she
is just the girl for you, little and fair
and
"Shut up, Portyy' he commanded In
elegantly. II hate that sort Of thing
even from you I'm not in the market.
And, you know, I'd hang myself be
fore I'd destroy my self respect by
marrying a rich girl The dollars in
themselves put her out of my class;
that's ALL"
But it was not all, for Rose Law
came, was seen and conquered. Porty
had not exaggerated. And Frederic
King, with the quick knowledge Of
the man who has not desensitized his
heart by constant exposure, knew his
queen at sight. The Waterloo had
come.
That summer a silent battle was
fought. Choosing the discretionary
part Of valor, King carefully treated
Rose Law, accustomed to alteration,
as he did every woman-with gay,
perfect, impersonal courtesy. 1t was
hard, especially as society, like nature,
knows a pair when she sees it. She
was always his partner at dinners and
dances, at picnics and frolics, till in
sheer self defense he began to devote
himself to little Sallie Grey, who had
always openly fiouted him. Then this
refuge was taken from him-a fash,
too warm, in the childs eyes babe him
protect her from herself.
Rising to his lead. Rose played a per-
feet support Then she became lead
ing lady in his own play of friendly
Indifference. They were friends, while
the world wondered, for to women like
Rose men are lovers first. Afterward
they choose between friendship and
the outer darkness. The girls vanity
was hurt, her pride wounded. She
was first amazed, then angry. Then
her heart was touched. She began to
suffer. Real love never plays with its
object. Her skill deserted her. She
became a silent, sensitive thing, regis
tering each day some new impression
of Frederic Kings fine face and voice,
his little tricks Of mind and body, his
strength and ability, his lovableness.
She became very miserable, waking
at night to see no good, no charm, In
herself. to suffe- what she had made
others suffer She had not known that
love awakened and denied really hurts
She regretted her cruelties and became
so unwontedly gentle that before she
knew it she had three more hearts laid
at her small feet She wondered what
others saw in her when she was pow
erless to draw the one.
AS for King, the thought Of the girl
gave him no peace. He tried vainly to
fight her out of his consciousness. He
did not know that she cared for him,
but he had an overwhelming impulse
to ask her If she could and would care
every time he came before her. He
would hate her "wretched money" and
devised wild plans by which she might
lose every cent, so that he might storm
her heart, toll for her and finally win
for her her every wish. His common
sense fed. The fortune became
nightmare and life an emptiness.
One night he went early from the
Mortons, knowing that when the party
should go out on the moonlit lawns he
should seek her and say that which he
intended never to say. He no longer
trusted himself. He sat In the dark
consuming cigarettes and hating him
self for doing It. 1t was not his way
to ruin his health Intentionally. Then
Porter came putting in and flung him.
self into chair. He knew he was not
wanted and did not care. He began
to talk.
king, you precious donkey. I've
cooked your goose"
"And mixed your metaphors shame
lessly. Get out and let me alone"
"You precious IDIOT" persisted Por-
ter. don't stick your stubborn head
into the sand and imagine the world is
blind. You're selfish past words. You
think only of yourself and don't mind
whom you hurt. OF course nobody
cares IL you want to suffer, but how
about-her? You chase after her, your
eyes like the moon following the sun,
in this fool friendship game which de-
ceives no one. What business have
you to punish an innocent girl because
her grandmother willed her fortunef
How could she know your COMPOUNDED
pride would shy at It'll You needn't
try to shut me up; I'm talking for
once! l can't see why a man can
coolly take a woman's beauty and
youth, every quality Of heart and mind,
all the real things she has to give, and
use them like water or daylight and
then balk at the paltry money she Is
not to blame for having and which Is
less to her than-well, Infinitely less
than a single kissl What If she has
dollars? You have sense-or used to