The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-05-31

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With a quick movement Esther arose
and was gone from the room.
Father Lane" exclaimed Agatha in
a stage whisper, dts just come to he
who this man looks like! He looks
enough like Robert Webb to be bis
1 own brother!'
They cast startled glances at one an
other. 81 declare if he doesn'tp' gasp
ed Mrs. Lane at last. 81 hope Esther
won't notice it. 1t would upset her
terribly, pa
"That may be-" returned Mr.. Lane
decidedly. "Esther's mourned over
Rob Webb jest two years longer than
he was worth If he'd cared anything
for her he'd stayed behind and mad
a home for her instead OF running on
and joining the army as if he had no
responsibilities at home. Essie bet
ter get used to seeing this new chap
around. She's got to get cured of this
grieving business, by Georgep'
The large brown fist struck the table
with a force that startled the three
women. They watched Mr.. Lane
march from the room with angry
strides, and when the door had closed
with an echoing slam their heads bent
together in whispered consultation.
Memorial day was holiday, and the
Lanes usually spent it with relatives
in an adjoining village. This day was
no exception, and so it was quite ear
ly in the morning that they drive
away in the comfortable surrey, leav-
ing Robert Munson standing bare
headed by the wide white gate.
Esther had said nothing about going
to the cemetery to place flowers on
Roberts grave She would wait until
their return, and when the crowd had
left the graveyard she would climb
the hill and place her offering there,
alone in the sunset.
| When the long day was closing they
| came home again, Esther with her
arms full of white blossoms CLEANED
from her aunt's garden. The new
farm hand had taken advantage of the
| AO4iOdl was AO W llC1C W OC fcCCA,
so Farmer Lane put up the horses and
| the others went indoors.
'I'll be back presently, mother
said Esther, tossing her hat on the ia
BILE and gathering up her flowers. I'm
going to the cemetery now. Lion
will come with me-"
Every well, dear" said Mrs. Lane.
Esther whistled to the dog and walk
| ed through the orchard to the pasture.
Robert Munson was leaning on the
fence, looking at the reflected lights
on the distant hills.
II am going up on the hill, Robert.
VIII you come along and carry my
flowers" asked Esther bravely.
Certainly, Miss Esther" he said
pleasantly, and so together they cross
ed the pasture and climbed the hill to
the place where the tall white shaft
made memorial for the fallen soldier
boy. All about the base beautiful
| flowers were strewn, and some one
had placed a little flag In the green
| turf. Robert Munson was looking curl
ously at the inscription when Esther
| gently took the flowers from his grasp
and dropped them on the ground at
his feet. Then she placed her hands
on his shoulders and looked into his
eyes.
Robert, Robertr' she cried tragical-
ly. Don't you know me-won't you
ever recognize me againY
Very tenderly Robert Munson took
her cold hands in his warm ones, and
the firm pressure of his grasp seemed
to give her wavering strength more
courage.
Miss Esther" he said gently, whom
do you take me for? Who do you
think l amT
you are Robert Webbv' she cried
eagerly. "See-this stone was erected
for you. Your father died of a broken
heart when you were killed, and your
mother went away to live with her SIS
ter. am here. l have not forgotten.
See-I have kept your picture all these
years. 1 have worn it always here "
| She drew away her hands and pulled
chain from her neck and opened a
round lOcket. The picture therein was
| that of a young man, much younger
than Robert Munson, and, while there
was resemblance, it might have been
more in expression than in actual fea-
lures.
you have made a great mistake,
Miss Esther" said Munson at last. 81
am so sorry. l wish l knew what to
say to you. l suppose you think the
report of Webb's death was an error
| and that l am he, but 1t is not Sc"
He stretched out a hand to support
her wavering figure, but she leaned
for support against the white marble.
81 have seen service in the Philippines.
and did know Bob Webb for short
| time, and know he was killed. i am
sorry to have to tell you this. AS for
| myself, / wanted a season in the coun-
! try at hard work to recover my health.
! 1t is sheer chance that l came to Little
| River and was directed to your IA
| theirs farm. l have parents and broth
| ers and sisters in Boston-in fact, am
afraid l can prove only too well that
| l am not Robert Webb" He looked
down at her with infinite pity in his
| fine eyes-a pity that was so akin to
something warmer that she seemed to
feel it infold her like a comforting
| garment
81 am SO sorry l have annoyed you.
What must you think Of me? You
| see"- Esther broke down and sobbed
bitterly, and Robert Munson stood be-
side her with friendly hand pressing
her shoulder 1t was with his hand
kerchief that Esther wiped away her
tears, while he knelt down and deity
| strewed the flowers she had brought
| about the foot of the shaft Then he
rose to his tall height and held out his
/ hand.
Come, Miss Esther; let us go back
home again. There are light and life
beyond as well as here. We who are
left behind have our work to do in
the world. I'm a clumsy fellow at ex-
pressing myself, but try to look on
the bright side of things"
| It was a quiet walk home again
across the pasture and through the
orchard, and it proved to be many a
long day before Esther took the same
route again. There seemed to be a
veil lifted after that day Life was
brighter, better, and love seemed not
to be the hopeless thing she had one
time believed.
When another later day came and
another Robert told his love by the
orchard fence the swallows dipped in
the pale light, and the bats darted
from the shadows, and the song that
the whippoorwin sang seemed a paean