The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-08-26
WAS JUST FILLING IN
But the Substitute Guest Finds
Old Lover Is the Lion Of
the Hour.
BY KATHERINE HoPsoN.

BY KATHERINE HOPSON.
When he finished reading his wife's
letter. Herman Ingram looked up with
a puzzled expression on his genial.
middle-aged face. Il don't see how
can scare up an extra girl that Nina
wants at a moments notice." he re-
fiected.
The letter had told of the expected
return of his wife and daughter from
Atlantic City late that afternoon,
bringing with them as a guest a ia
nous engineer In whose honor they
wanted to give dinner. Mrs. In
gram had invited three other guests
but was short one girl to complete the
desired number
Telephone to Alice McNulty, or
any other of Bellies friends who can
come. have sent orders to the cook
about dinner, and hope things will
go all right. However, we can't ex-
pect to have perfectly appointed
party on such short notice" the letter
concluded
Ingram scratched his head thought
fully. He happened to know the Nc
Nulty's had started to Michigan the
day before.
Nina said to ask one of Bellies
friends but everybody can think of is
out of town here in midsummer.
wish she'd got home earlier-in time
to see about this invitation business
herself. Still, one girl ought not to
be hard to find"
He looked absent-mindedly around
the office, and then his glance fell on
Miss Barew, his secretary, working
at her desk Her tact and good sense
had helped him out OF dilemmas be-
fore.
Maybe she would know Of someone
+" then a second thought struck him
Why not ask Miss Barew herself?
For a moment Miss Barew looked
surprised. Then she quickly recov-
cred herself and graciously agreed to
come.
Its good of you to help us out /
think you'll enjoy meeting the people
they're an agreeable lot. / don't
know the man who is the guest of
honor. Nina didn't mention hts name.
But guess he'll be an interesting
chap" He smiled reminiscently at
some of the results of Mina's lion
hunting proclivities.
The matter of the invitation dis
posed of, they turned again to busi-
ness. But while her slim Egure flew
over the typewriter keys. Miss
Barew's thoughts, woman fashion,
we're on the subject of clothes. and
she wondered what she should wear.
IF I could go and feel well-dressed.
it would seem like bit Of the old
life come back"
Mr.. Ingram had given her permits
sion to leave the Office early, and
when she reached her room at the
boarding house, the problem of clothes
returned with double force
There is only one thing left from
the wreck of the old days that would
be suitable at ALL" She drew a box
from under the bed and took out from
it's tissue wrappings an evening gown
of mauve crepe de chine Though
slightly crushed it was in good condi-
ton, and the odor Of violets fingered
about its soft folds.
I've had it two years." she sighed,
land Of course it's antiquated. Still
it isn't SO bad. At any rate, it's the
only thing that will do"
When dressed in the soft clinging
evening gown, her bare arms and
shoulders cleaning from the creamy
lace, she studied her reflection anxi-
ously and was treasured by the lis
some grace which the mirror showed.
The women will all know this is
an old dress, but what does that mat
ter if the effect is all right?"
The memory of the last time she
had worn that dress came back to
her 1t had been at a dinner-dance
to which Horton Campbell had taken
,, her. At that time they were on the
perilous border-line between friend
ship and acknowledged love, and life
days later, Campbell was sent west
by his firm on business. Before start
ing he had telephoned her that II
would be only for a short time. but
the weeks slipped on into months
During that time her fathers bust
ness failure and death had occurred
and the map of her life wHs changed
Two years had passed since then
and she had left the old home town
and obtained position In New York
But in all that time she had heard
nothing from Campbell
"Oh, Horton, why did you treat me
so? Surely there was mistake
somewherel" Tears filed her eyes
and she buried her face in her arms
beside the dressing-table
This will never do she resolutely
told herself. She put on her wraps
She was just In time, for at that
moment came the sound of the motor
which the Ingrams had promised tC
send for her
The car had been delayed by ar
accident on the way. and she was the
last guest to arrive. Mr. and Mrs
Ingram greeted her cordially. The
former swept her an appraising, salts
! fed glance, this was the first time he
had ever seen her in evening clothes
Miss Barew was amused by the sur
prise and relief. which. with a wo
mans intuition, she read in her hos
tess face.
Il suppose she thought / would b<
some impossible somebody" she con
cluded. The once familiar atmosphere
of culture and luxury stimulated tbs
girl like wine.
She was introduced to the Ingram'i
daughter, Belle, and then the other
guests, Miss Gleason, Miss Bard. Dick
Walters, and the two Simon brothers
Then from the other end of the long
room Miss Ingram brought forward
the guest Of honor-a tall, distin
guished looking man whom she intro
duced as Mr.. Campbell, the noted en-
gineer.
For the first time since that fate
full dinner-dance two years age
Elizabeth Barew found herself looking
into the eyes Of Horton Campbell
For a moment everything seemed tG
whirl round and she saw him grow
white.
1T is a great pleasure to meet yor
again Miss Barew," she heard hin
say
Then dinner was announced. Mis-
Barew went in with Billy Simon, ant
sat across the table from Campbell
Covertly she glanced at his face. HI
looked older, and more serious thar
In the old days, yet about him was thu
indefnable air of one who has sue