The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-06-24
full. half inarticulate cry Mari claspet

home tongue upon her lips brought a
sob to Peters throat.
Il came" Mari went on breathlessly
ito you, beloved. Because you had
not been able to send me money. should
that then keep us apart? So worked
and worked" The words melted into
soft, little laugh. "Oh, you did not
know that could be so clever, Peter
could of myself earn 50 much money
enough to bring me to the far America
But me, alone-I did it." The trlum-
plant tone turned now to one Of deep
compassion. And you. my Peter
the girl said quickly-'they have made
you suffer. Because Of cruel, wicked
mistake they have placed you here
behind their great locked doors.
"'He Is married In this country, the
men tell me, but | ask them how can
that be. 1t is foolish. for ls not my
Peter my husband, and have not here
our printed records? But the interpret
er is very stupid, and he will not un-
derstand. and he tells me over and
over again, Peter Olaf is married. so
l come away angry"
The girl tossed her head. BE brave,
beloved" she said, land all will yet be
well.
do not grleve that / must go
back, for so they have ordered. Re
turn at once to your own country the
stern man said. as though that were
punishment to me. / am glad-glad
to go.
Here the people are so strange and
fine and grand; here no one cares"
Mari caught her breath sharply Tears
welled in the golden black eyes She
waited, wondering at his silence, and
then, with sudden hopeless gesture,
Peter stretched forth his arms.
Mari" he murmured brokenly, IF
could but touch your hand"
Have l not, then. the same long
ingY' she answered TREMENDOUSLY. "But
when they have learned their mistake,
Peter, when they know of their wrong,
then they will set you free, and you
will hasten back to our happy home
land.
There will be to welcome you and
see In the garden our fruits and flowers
are growing and upon the hills our
sheep. So you will be content and hap
by forevermore, so you will never care
again to wander"
Mari" the boy cried out In despair,
"how may l then come to you'll who
am so unworthy"
An attendant laid kindly hand upon
the girls shoulder Times up" he
reminded Mari looked back through
the screen with reproachful eyes.
you unworthy, Peter?" she said ten
derby. You Then obediently Mari
followed on up the stair. Outside be-
fore the jail dark faced Italian paus-
ed to adjust the golden harp which he
carried. At his side, in bizarre cos
tune, tripped red Tipped girl With
swift sidelong glance at the man she
6irted her beribboned tambourine.
Il go In there, Toni" she said 81 not
play on the boat today" The Italian
stood looking down upon her with a
sort Of logged devotion.
''You go to see him, Bianca," he said
he who was not your husband He
fool you and lie to you, yet you can for
gfve?" The girl shrugged her shout
ders.
What do / forgiven" she asked pert
ly. HE leave her for me. II he leave
me for her"-Bianca's eyes narrowed
but Petro he not do that" she said.
Halfway to the impressive entrance
she turned back to smile at him. "You
wait for me, Toni?" she called, and the
Italian answered with sad reslgna-
ton:
Always l wait for you, Blanca"
She smiled at Peter also, showing her
pretty white teeth. as he drew near the
forbidding screen
"Hello!" she greeted him gayly.
Hello, but cannot shake hands,"
would your" Peter asked her grave
ly. Would you If you couIdY
why not?" laughed Blanca. "You
will be Free" she added quickly. 81 ask
the man al the desk II they send you
to Jail, and he frown. and he say he
think not. They send you back per-
haps where you belong. But Petro,"
she whispered softly, when you are
free you will come back to me? Prom
Use. am your wife"
{ The boy leaned YEARLY against the
screen. Through 1t came the fragrant
breath of roses IN her hair.
Promise, Petro." the girl caressing-
ly implored him
Il will come back to you, Blanca"
he answered evenly. She laughed
little as she turned away.
"Goodby." she said And As she
came out again into the light and
found the Italian still waiting In pa
tient hopelessness Blanca anticipated
the burning question of his eyes
NO" she said, slowly shaking her
head; mo, Toni; he never come back
to me; never, any more" The man
leaned forward. unbelieving.
''He told you that?" he asked eagerly.
He not tell me-" Blanca replied,
with shrewd little smile He not
need to tell me; know"
"Belovedn the man entreated and
spoke no other word For a moment
the singing girl swayed her tambou-
rine teasingly before her hooking face;
then, suddenly serious, she gazed at
him across the tinkling bells.
Your kind, Toni" she said gently;
"the slow kind. 1t is the best"
And far out upon the pier another
girl sat, her appraised face glorifed In
the light of the setting sun. her dark
eyes filed with dreams. "Deported."
murmured plying voice. but the i'm
migrant girl was, smiling happily as
she followed the long line into the
great white ship. Mari had entered
upon the journey into her promised