The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-03-29

IN ANOTHER INSTANT SHE WAS LYING UN-
CONSCIOUS IN HIS EMBRACE.
business, and when l returned to my
office l found an envoy from Lung
Web, bearing many friendly messages
and this gift for you"
Mrs. Hoffman held out her hand for
the package There, JeremyI | told
you the mandarin entertained the
kindliest sentiment toward you. He
was perfectly charming and warm in
his praise Of YOU"
Il could not help feeling that he sus-
pected my mission. He's a sharp old
beggar, and Sheldon has always been
very lenient with him. Still. one can't
refuse a gift in China"
mot one like this said his wife
breathlessly. Look. Jeremy! Is it not
beautiful?"
The sticks were Of richly carved ivory
covered with lustrous green silk, gay
with embroidered flowers in various
colors. The fan was connected by a
chain of ivory links with a bracelet
of the carved ivory.
How exquisitew sighed Mrs. Hoff-
man, slipping the bracelet on her wrist
and tanning herself gently with the
toy.
Late in the evening she was chat
ting with that polished Chinese cour-
tier, who, ample OF figure, with serene
countenance and watchful eyes, was
one of several of his countrymen
whose gorgeous apparel made splen-
did dashes OF barbaric color among
the simpler clad Europeans and Amer
leans at the brilliant public reception.
II am sure this fan has a history"
suggested Nell Hoffman, after she had
thanked the dignitary for his gift.
pray tell it to me-"
Lung Web smiled inscrutably and
shook his sleek head. Madam must
contrive her own history for the FAM"
he said. Perhaps the mission of
madam's husband might form the ba-
sis for romance"
Mrs. Hoffman paled and turned
away. A wave Of repulsion swept
over her, and for a brief instant she
was prompted to return the fan to
the mandarin, quite reckless of the
breach of politeness. The cold, deadly
glitter of the little black eyes threat
ened harm to something one
she loved, and Jeremy's mission was
a delicate one and dangerous, indeed.
Her husbands work might become
thn fhnr1ao a tro Hu
nance.
At that moment Jeremy Hoffman
appeared and carried her away, with
parting apologies to the great man.
DARN.
you are looking CHASTITY, Nell
What is the matter? Do you feel i'll,
dearP'
AS he asked the question Jeremy's
arm was outstretched to catch his
wife's swaying form, and in another
instant she was lying unconscious In
his embrace.
''Too much dancing-playing too
hard-nerves uns,rung-verge of pros
tration," snapped out the wiry little
English doctor as he left the Hoffman
bungalow in the pale dawn.
Jeremy went back into the sickroom
and looked down at the white face on
the pillow. He bitterly reproached
himself for letting his fragile wife
dance her way SO merrily into an Ill
ness. But they had been married only
a brief three months, and his impor-
tant mission had carried them directly
to Shanghai, his sole thought outside
OF business had been to make her hap
py and keep her amused, and now IL
anything happened. If Nell should die,
he would leave the cursed country
forever, career or no career.
He recollected with a sudden mis-.
giving that his predecessor had thrown
over the task because his wife had
died-Elwin had returned to America
and chucked the service forever.
Several days afterward Nell had re-
recovered sufficiently to be brought out
into the cool, matted sitting room.
Her illness had taken the form of a
strange inertia. Hour after hour she
would lie with dark lashes fringed
against her white cheeks, her bosom
scarcely stirring with each feeble
breath.
The little English doctor was plainlr
puzzled. He fetched a clever French
physician, and together the two men
consulted over the case. The French
man went away without offering an
opinion, but the next day he came
back and ordered Jeremy to take his
wife away
1T is poison-so insidious-so subtitle
to linger here is to die. Take her
away"
Where can l take herr demanded
Jeremy, wild with fear and anxiety.
"Anywhere-down to Hongkong If
you like. 1t will be a change"
So Jeremy gave up the bungalow
and discharged all the servants, even
the faithful old nurse, whom Nell
had learned to love- After them he
tossed the medicine bottles and pills
and powders. If secret enemy Turk
ed In his household, one whose object
was to destroy his beautiful bride, the
general clearing out would include
him.
The sea voyage and the arrival at
the picturesque island, with IT'S de-
lightful points Of interest and its
~, orx,,f,,c, EnoyIfch x,npuIo ffor1 ala Nall