The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-10-01
to the keen eyed little woman in the

/
rocking chair
you will understand the situation
readily" she said sedately "Ther,
are plenty of people In the world VIII,
have met with sorrow of some sor
which they want to fight out alone
The very proximity of their deares
friends only adds to their pain and bit
| terness, and as peace is to be foun(
next to nature / decided to build {
lonely house here in the woods as
rest cure for hearts," She paused anC
looked at his handsome face with un
concealed interest.
For heartsT he echoed, faint col
or surging his cheeks as he recollecteC
how the advertisement had appealed
to his own smitten organ.
"For lonely hearts," went on Mrs
/ Nook, smoothing down the soft folds
of her gown. 81 have a public dining
room where all who care to may eat
together, or, If they prefer, they take
their meals in their rooms They have
perfect freedom and need not speak
to soul from morning till night. II
is understood that there is no breach
of courtesy If guests do not speak to
one another when they meet 1t is
optional with their moods. They may
each scatter to the limits of the forest
or they may gather in twos or threes,
as they choose. 1t is singular fact
that almost every guest who has come
to me has suffered some grief which
he wants to fight out alone. Very
often hearts are caught on the rebound,
as you know, and that accounts for
the marriages which have resulted
from the establishment of Lonely
House.
"You ought to call it Cupid's bower
said Paul, with an attempt at raillery.
She shook her head THAT would
never do. Now, if you will come with
me l will show you to your room"
Paul went and discovered a delight
fully cool green and white room, in
which delicious dinner was shortly
served to him. He had expressed a
wish to take his meals in solitude for
awhile. but after the first two days he
fairly longed for human companion
ship
Occasionally he met his fellow guests
In the hall or on the veranda or wan
dering about the glen, but he had lit
tie or no communication with them.
Most of them seemed to be in morose
condition of mind and quite as willing
to be let alone as he was
AT the end of the second day he was
desperately in need of human compan-
ionship, and he wandered down to the
glen, hoping to find some convalescent
who would talk to him about the fish
ing or discuss the weather. On this
evening the glen seemed deserted. The
sun was sending a golden filtering LIGHT
through the green branches, and the
waterfall was turned to LIQUID gold.
1t was not until he stood beside the
moss trimmed pool below and his daz-
zled eyes became accustomed to the
light that he discovered he was not
alone.
girl stood near him gazing at the
waterfall intently. The noise of the
water had hushed his footsteps, and
she seemed unaware of his presence.
All at once she lifted a little hand and
pressed a handkerchief to her eyes.
Then he saw that it was Nancy Bel
thorpe. Why was she here? What
heart grief had she? He would find
out.
Nancy" he said gently, and, al
though she could not have heard his
voice. she must have felt his presence,
for she turned and saw him. Her blue
eyes were drowned in tears. care
they for me, Nancy, darling?" he whis-
pered
yes" she sobbed II couldn't stay
there after I sent you away. After
you went Grace Adds told me that she
knew you thought it was me, but
was so horribly jealous and"-
How long have you been here in the
Lonely HouseT' asked Paul after
awhile.
81 arrived this morning. And your"
He told her. and then he added: LET
US go and find Mrs Nook and tell her
we are cured. She may want to use
our pictures as an advertisement"
They did not have to tell Mrs. Nook.
for she read the secret in their happy
faces as they came MP the path