The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-05-23

then that low. delicious laugh broke
from her lips as her finger tips brush
ed his sleeve
Oliver, puzzled and quite as silent
as his fair pursuer. doubled and turn
ed and twisted and found difficulty in
evading the grasp of her hands.
There was no sound In the forest
save the ring Of their skates upon the
ice and the occasional fall of some
frost laden twig. In the distance blue
jays we're screaming, and occasionally
the call of crow came down from
some altitude.
All at once. when Oliver had again
slipped through her little fingers, the
girl stopped and pressed her hands
over her beating heart.
tits. not fair, Oliver" she pouted
you have decidedly the advantage
of me. If had not been handicapped
would have caught you long ago."
Oliver Ray caught his breath sharp
ly What was this girl saying, and
why did she call him Oliver?
Again she spoke. this time with an
acute note Of anxiety in her sweet
voice.
Don't tease, Oliver. Won't you
speak? Your silence frightens me-"
Again her head was bent in that lis
tening attitude. only the eyes turned
toward the young man were pitifully
eager
81 wonder If you have not made a
mistake"- began Oliver gently. when
the sound of his voice startled her
into a terror that carried her swiftly
to the other side Of the pond
ooh, who Is it? Where is OliverT
she walled
81 am Oliver Ray" said the owner
Of that name alphabetically. II am in
charge Of the surveying party, and
took the liberty of enjoying quiet
skate on this pond. l am sorry If I
frightened you. but l thought you
could see that was a stranger"
81 thought it was my brother Oliver.
He came down to skate. and l was
following him. Sometimes he tries to
tease me by keeping very quiet and
pretending that he Is not here. Have
I-have | been pursuing you around
this pond?" she asked in a horror
struck voice
81 rather enjoyed the exercise" ad-
mitted Oliver with smile
"And your name is Oliver alsoT' she
asked suspiciously.
"Here is my card. If you will look at
it." said Oliver. Juggling at his breast
pocket
"Oh, l couldn't read It: am blind"
she said simply.
"Blind! Good Lord, how could
guess thatY' gasped Oliver. why, II
1 had only known l might have saved
you all this trouble. Pardon me, but
it does not seem possible"
at is only too true" said the girl.
tinge of pathos in her voice. Then, az
II his own quiet tones had treasured
her. she went on: II was not born
blind. could see as well as anybody
until year ago. and then one day
fell through the ice in this pond and
contracted form of rheumatism that
the physicians say caused the loss of
my sight
but it is not incurable Surely you
must recover your sight some day."
protested Oliver.
A clear whistle sounded through the
woods, and. following the crash of
frozen branches. a youth of sixteen
came running toward them. "Oh,
there you are, Elsie! Are you all
ussrt,% h.
"Yes," she said severely. where
have you been, Oliver Lewis p
IL didn't think you would be down
so soon, Elsie. and | ran on to chin
little with the surveyors beyond here,
and forgot all about you. When l
did remember l didn't lose any time
getting here. you can betg" He looked
curiously at Oliver Ray. and the girl
introduced them with repetition of
that delicious laugh.
Il was afraid you might fall In"
said the boy after shaking hands with
the tall young man. "You don't want
another cold BATH"
Il escaped that" said the girl. BE
sides, Oliver, dear. the ice Is quite
firm, isn't it?"
Not over yonder Oh, l forgot Ell
sic, dear; you know the place between
the four poplarsT'
Yes; that deep hole"
TITS thin there. chucked stone
in yesterday and it went in kerplunk.
1t isn't growing any colder either. Be
sides, who wants to skate In there
anyhow"
II would" said the girl daringlZ-