The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-02-27

/ Phyllis read sympathetic understand
ing and wondered vaguely that his un
known presence should bring to hel
this comforting sense Of protection
Several minor articles being hastily
disposed of. the auctioneer now drew
forth the little cid spinet, while the rose
color deepened in Miss Phyllis cheeks
Teddy's wife started the bidding by
an offer of 800. to which the must
clan added $50.
1.-TWO hundred" cried Clarissa.
"And fifty" added the musician. A
ripple of laughter ran around the room.
Three hundred" said CIarissa
again.
"And fifty" persisted the quiet voice.
Teddy's wife paused to make a hur-
ried mental calculation. -Four hun
dred," she called sharply.
And fifty" echoed the musician.
For moment there was no sound as
the auctioneer hesitated undecidedly;
then with little rush Miss Phyllis
came forward. her clear tones ringing
out triumphantly. Five hundred"
cried Miss Phyllis
The auctioneer smiled into her glow
ing face, and down came the gavel.
sold to Miss Wentworth for $5O0r'
he shouted.
Phyllis walked dazedly over and
dropped on the lowest step Of a lad
der. Her brothers face. Clarissa's and
the musicians seemed to float con-
fusedly before her.
why did you not inform me of your
wish to keep the spinetf' the must
clan asked reproachfully
I'VE did not know" Ter sister-in-
law interrupted. that you had 5000
to spare
Then Miss Phyllis laughed gleefully,
girlishly, and nodded to the musician
''You tell them about it." she said
There was responsive twinkle in the
mans eyes.
You may not know" he said. that
your sister possesses unusual talent as
q composer of music. Last night
was fortunate in purchasing from her
the exclusive right to use one of her
compositions upon a coming concert
tour, and its value to me cannot be
reekoned by dollars and cents"
Il sold It," Phyllis stated calmly.
"for $500"
Clarissa stared do you mean to
tell me- she said, ''that you spent
every penny you have in the world to
buy back wretched old spinetT"
Every penny Phyllis answered
cheerfully. But as her relatives moved
away in dignified disapproval she look
ed up at the musician with a tremu-
lous smile:
Il am wondering now" she conhded,
lust where | shall keep my spinetr'
The man bent over her compassion
ately. you have had enough Of all
this he said. Come out into the gar
den. l should like to speak to you
there"
The hollyhocks which Phyllis had
planted nodded upon either side as she
followed him down the path. She
stopped to pluck a rose, to fasten a
fallen vine; then his eyes met hers
earnest, compelling.
81 fear" he said slowly, that you
may doubt a love which is spoken SO
quickly. VIII you try to bear with
me-to understand Years ago |
hoped with young mans longing to
meet the one woman who could be
my wife, but time passed. bringing
disappointment. for | failed to find
her. Then last night. when you stood
before me in the doorway, when the
moonlight shone white upon your face,
| recognized in you that woman, and
knew that | would love you always,
irrevocably, just as l realized at once
the beauty of your song, and now l
beg for your promise to let me care for
and protect you That would be hap
piness beyond all belief Later perhaps
you, too, may learn the lesson of low
ing. Until then I shall be patient.
shall wait"
Birds called to each other across the
silence of the garden. while Miss Phyl-
lis sat with her face buried in her
hands; then at last she looked up, smil-
ing through her tear bright eyes.
81 do not think you will have to wait
long," she said haltingly. ut is all
very strange and wonderful, but the
love for you is here now-in my heart
like the song that was locked in the
gpinet"