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

DIDN'T YOU ENJOY IT ALL, TooP"
the same time with a pile of school
books under her arm They walked
on together. but 1t didn't occur to
Forman to offer to carry her books
for her till she remarked that they
were very heavy. When he left her
at a corner and returned them she
gave him look of gratitude.
Blanche at recess informed her bosom
friend. a girl about her own age that
she had had grown man to walk to
school with her. She had pretended
that her books were heavy because she
wished to be treated like young lady.
She was not sure whether she would
fall in love with her escort or not.
He certainly seemed very nice. True
he was little old for her, but for
tune teller had told her that she would
marry a man twice her age.
The next evening Mr.. Forman came
in rather early-1O o'clock-being tired
and sleepy He found the schoolgirl
with a pack of cards before her play
Ing solitaire. With a pout on her
young lips and a knitting of her
smooth brows she said:
"Oh. | can't work this out. Won't
you help me. Mr.. Forman?"
Forman sat down opposite her.
From that moment she ceased to be
interested in the cards. except for a
pretext. prattling to him and endeav-
oring to appear like young lady.
"How old would you take me for.
Mr.. Fornan?"
"Fourteen-perhaps year older"
"Oh. dear. you are far out of the
way. I'll be seventeen next month"
you don't mean it,"
Are you believer in platonic af-
lection. Mr.. FormanY
81 never thought about it.. Are your
"It's dangerous The least thing is
liable to break down the platonic and
bring about the true love"
what do you mean by the least
thing?"
"Well. an act of kindness or of sac
rifice; touch of the hand a kiss"
Good gracious! You talk very queer
for a.
"Oh. yes; know you consider me a
kid. You forget I'll be seventeen next
month. and eighteen is legal age for
a woman"
Forman remembered time when
he had considered girl of eighteen
in her prime and one of twenty-five
passe Then he thought how nice 1t
would seem TO be back in those youth
full days Flow much he had lost by
coming TO middle age. And here was
a girl who was plainly indicating that
she wished to be considered a com
panionable person for him. Wouldn't
1t be fine II he could go back a dozen
years and she could go forward a few
years. and he could love her and she
could love him, and he could get rid
of his wretched club life and all that?
The next evening Forman, who had
received a letter from Fisk, made q
pretext of 1t to go to the house to
tell Blanche that he had heard from
her father. Take good care of my
little girl was the injunction, and For
man made himself believe that 1t was
incumbent upon him to afford her
some amusement, so he asked her
aunt IL he might take Blanche to the
theater. Permission was given and
tickets secured for a Friday night.
when the girl would not be obliged
to go to school the next day and could
therefore sleep late.
Blanche wore the dress with the
longest skirt in her possession and put
on all her flnery. including number
of gold and silver bangles She look
ed very pretty and. more than that,
wore on her face a youthful expecta-
ton that was fast fading from her
escort. She had been to theater but
once or twice In her life. while the
drama was an old story with him.
But in his companions enjoyment he
found a new sensation. The theater.
the players. many OF them mouth
ing their words" and overacting, were
to her real persons, their joys and sor-
rows real emotions, while the hero and
heroine seemed to be enacting her own
feelings
Forman, blaze himself, sat regard
ing his companion with infinite salts
faction. When he felt her arm against
his own a thrill ran through him
When she turned her face toward his,