The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-04-06

business card and handed it to the
man with bill
Then, receiving his change, he walk
ed on, the scent of the lilacs still SEEM
ing to perfume the surging city street
"Hello, Berresfordr'
But the man addressed apparently
did not hear In this place Of blare
and hustle his thoughts had gone
astray. He was no longer walking
down the street of a western metropo-
lis.
He was walking with a girl in
gown of palest rose and green through
the changeful lights and shadows that
fiickered over Lilac lane.
Hold on, Alanl What is the mat
ter with you? You'll get run over the
first thing you know! Can't you speak
to an old friend?"
Berresford swung around. An old
friendi All the dreaminess went out OF
his eyes, His jaws were set-hard.
Yes. a Judas friend-one who could
and did betrayi And that now, just
now. In this crowded city street he
should loom up-he who had been re-
sponsible for such disillusion, such sor-
row, such loneliness!
RONALD" he cried in scorn. How
dare you speak to meY
Amusement was apparent on the face
of the man who had addressed him.
"Alan Berresford. have you gone clean
daft? Why should l not speak to you?
We who sat side by side in the same
school, went swimming in the same
creek. went sweathearting together
Berresford controlled himself with
an effort. Men were passing whom he
knew = whose salutations, deferential
and admiring, he mechanically ac-
knowledged. The necessity for self
control was obvious. I'VE must not
attract attention." he said. LET US
walk on"
And walk on in silence they did. 1t
was not until they had gone several
blocks that Beresford could control
himself sufficiently to explain his re-
pudiation of Ronald Dever.
ut is a queer coincidence" he said.
that you should have spoken to me
Just when ! was dreaming of the little
old town In which we both grew to
manhood" He had himself so well in
hand now that he spoke almost dream
lily.
"Of course l was thinking most Of
the Rivers home, where we both used
to visit. You probably know that l
was engaged to Elsie Rivers when that
fortune-which Is the cornerstone OF
my wealth today-was left me, and l
was obliged to go abroad to claim it"
The other gave startled glance.
mo; never knew thatr' he said
Berresford pressed his lips tightly
together before he spoke again. 1T
was midwinter when | left-spring-
time when returned. And, Of course.
l went at once to our old home town.
Elsie was out. her mother said, some
where around the grounds. | went I'M
mediately to our old trysting place in
Lilac lane There was the same famil-
lar walk, all odorous with bloom and
the moonlight falling In thousand
shifting lights and shadows, just as |
always loved to remember
His voice broke curiously. His com
panion. slight, dark man, younger
than he, looked at him with frank anx-
iety in his eyes.
"She was there" went on Berresford.
$50 was a man whose arm encircled
her as they walked. Her head almost
touched his shoulder. Her dropping
face could not see distinctly, but the
height and walk were those of Elsie.
whom | had called my Elsie. | be-
lieve," with a sudden chill change Of
tone, 'that is all need explain, De-
yerF'