The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-05-14

courtship progressed very satisfacto-
several times came very near spelling
it all by attempting to go too fast
Then, too, there were the usual lovers
spats. Though more mature, Della was
just as sensitive as to the way she was
treated as during their previous affair.
and Rogers had the same difficulty in
bringing her around as before But
while he showed an experience of
years in the treatment of women she
seemed as hayward as when a girl.
This surprised her lover, but he at
tributed it to the fact that she had the
experience Of only one man, while he
had been thrown in with a great va
riety Of women.
Considering that they had been en-
gagged before, long courtship was re-
quired for Rogers to win the second
time. Indeed, several times he was
tempted to give up the struggle. Final
ly, thinking 1t would be well to as
sumo a more Independent attitude, he
said:
Il left my affairs in California in
other hands temporarily to come here
and renew a proposal which l made
years ago and which was rendered
null through no fault of mine | did
not count on winning you again, and
l did not count on your having, in the
meanwhile, given your heart to an
other. That connection, l see, has
broken the spell between US SO far as
you are concerned, and | question if
1t will ever be restored. | am obliged
to return to my affairs. Since you have
changed and cannot return to wha
you were in your feelings toward me
1 see no way but for me to leave you
as did before, only this time forever
This had the desired effect. The
lady asked for another day to make VI
her mind, and it was granted. Rogers
asked If he could not call for it that
evening, but was told that she would
be engaged examining her heart. He
went away, thinking that he had a
rival in the dead, but felt assured that
as a living being he had every ad-
vantage and the victory would be his
And he was right. When he calleu
again the lady, without speaking a
word, held out her arms to him. He
drew her to him and had won.
During this courtship Rogers was
Informed that Delia's mother, whom
he remembered well, had grown fee
BILE and kept to her room. He asked
to pay his respects to her, but was
told that she could not be induced to
see even him. AS soon as the affair
between him and her daughter had
come to a crisis he was informed that
the mother desired to offer her con
CALCULATIONS, and he was invited to her
boudoir.
He saw a woman much changed in
appearance from her he had known
twenty years before from having been
long Ill. She extended her hand with
a smile that reminded him of Della
when she was a girl, but which, as It
was then, he had not noticed in her
since his return. That smile sent
thrill through him such as her daugh-
ter had not occasloned.
IT wrote you," said the older lady,
"that If you would come here would
So everything in my power to con-
tribute to your happiness"
'YoG wrote me?'
eyes, 1. l am your former Della
this, my daughter, is your present one
In throwing you with her l have done
the only thing in my power for you
| am not only past middle age. but
am broken down by i'll health, You
are vigorous man, in the prime of
life. l can do nothing more than give
you my daughter"
Though the woman's beauty was
gone. a pang shot through her former
lover. Had he not stood between the
two women he would have chosen her
in preference to her daughter But
her forethought Of old came up to him
and told him that she was right He
bowed his head and said nothing.
Then, turning to look at the younger
Of his two loves. he saw an expression
on her face that warned him against
a blunder Taking the hand of the
mother. he kissed it, Then. turning to
the daughter he took her in his arms
and kissed her on the lips