The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-04-25

walls and strays from the world
He asked after one and another OF
old friends. AT last he spoke hesitat-
ingly. Elsie Dearb3rD-what has be-
come of her. motheTf1
Her hand pressed his. Gust the
same as ever. She has been like dear
daughter to US. Why, Raymond, she
is in the house this very moment.
forgot" She sat up In sudden excite
ment
"Elsie herein this house? l must
go away, mother" he said, In a panic.
mo, mol You will stay. You must
stay till your father returns. thought
you had come home for good" she
walled tearfully.
81 have. l have-if dad win let me-
after he has heard my story. But I
can't see Elsie-not yet. Don't ask me
to-" He hid his face in her breast,
and she soothed him gently. "Harkl
! believe | hear your fathers step.
Stay and meet him here" she pleaded
Il cannot, mother, dear. must tell
him something first, and then If he
wants me to stay l win never leave
you again. shall come back before
| leave the house, don't fear. I'll go
down now and get it over"
He laid her gently down on the pill
lows and, slipping from the room,
closed the door softly behind him. He
blinked in the red light that suddenly
flooded the upper hall, and then he
stood stunned and silent before small
slim girl clad In dressing gown and
slippers.
"Elsiep' he said after long silence,
during which her beautiful gray eyes
had never left his face.
Raymond, it is you'll" she whispered.
why, l thought it was your ghost-I--
l have looked for you SO long" Her
voice Quavered into silence, and she
dropped her lips against her clasped
hands.
He started down the stairs. his head
bent dejectedly.
"Raymondw the girl breathed sharp
ly.
'eYesT He turned toward her.
Cant go down with you-stand be-
side you when you tell him-shoulder
when he were childrenT
Don't! You cannot understand You
wouldn't have anything to do with
me-" he groaned.
SIS 1t SO bad as that7' she asked In
an awed tone.
Eyes"
"Then you need me all the more"
Cho soft
close behind him as he made his slow
progress down the long hall to the Ii
brary door, where long finger Of light
shot through the crack In the doorway.
The elderly white haired man stand
ing by the table looked up as the door
pushed open. His dim eyes brighten
ed, and he raised a hand to his heart.
Raymond, my son" he said. holding
out his arms.
But the young man hung back mot
yet dad-not until have told you
something" He looked pleadiEgly at
the girl, but she shook her head.
II ought to know. too, Judge Ely
she said, with quiet dignity.
The judge nodded his head. 'sTcll
US, Raymond. and be done with it. /
want to embrace my son." His voice
broke.
Raymond's head lowered. and his
face Redeemed to scarlet ut is soon
told" he said despondently 'rve
gone from bad to worse, and didn't
know this was your house-and came
here this morning Iookw He drew
from his pocket the black mask and
the electric lamp and laid them on the
table. Mother heard me and came
down. She sprained her ankle. and l
carried her upstairs, and she recog-
nized me. will go away Perhaps
/ can come back when have done bet
ter" He turned toward the door
Elsie was crying softly against his
shoulder. His fathers arms closed
about them both. From above stairs
he heard the loving voice of his moth
er calling to him. After that moment
no one could shake Raymond Ely's be-
Lief In Gods unutterable love.
Think OF how entered your house.
father!7 he protested.
''The only thing that matters Is that
you came. How you came does not
count" said his father Joyfully.