The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-04-08

LrdcIeQ SHOULD De Laura daLen $ cOuS
In was merely another one of thos,
complications that life is always pre-
senting. Suppose he wanted to SET
more Of this girl, would her relation
ship to his former sweetheart make
any difference? Would 1t make any
difference to Laura-to the girl her
selfi But he was not sorry he had me
her.
you wish to go to the HazensT' H,
leaned forward
Eyes, please"
n may call and inquire after the in
juryf" he asked.
Certainly" she said cordially. 'It
b much better already"
he stepped back, lifted his hat ant
watched her depart with little sink
ing at the heart. This feeling was diff
ferent from any he had ever expert
enced before. He told himself that bis
engagement to Laura Hazen had beer
mere farce. Why, they had quarrel
ed every time they met, and their en-
gagement had merely been the outcome
Of desperate filtration. This was very
different. So he assured himself while
he waited for the return of the taxi
cab. He paid the man, dismissed him
and then went to his club for dinner.
After dinner he was chagrined to dis
cover that he could not send a box OF
roses to the girl he had met in the cor
ridor because he didn't even know hel
name. AS matter of fact he found
himself thinking entirely too much OF
his new acquaintance. The next day
as the time drew near when he might
call at the Hazen home and make in.
Quiry for the sprained foot he was
filed with sense of unfulhlled obIiga
ton toward Laura Hazen.
When he had met her fair cousin IL
the corridor he had had it on the tiI
Of his tongue to seek a reconciliation
with Laura; now he felt it his duty to
seek that reconciliation, and If Laura
really cared for him In spite Of her pro
tests to the contrary then their broken
engagement must be renewed. If, OF
the contrary, she refused to see him
then-then he must, he would, become
better acquainted with her cousin.
Miss Hazen is out, SIR" said the
servant when Jack called at the hand,
some residence
lis her cousin IMP asked Jack hope
fully.
Miss Tyson? win inquire, sir"
Jack sat In the reception room and
twiddled his hat on the end Of his stick
in more trepidation that he had ever
felt before. When he heard the slow,
dignified approach of the servant his
heart thumped noisily.
Miss Tyson will see you, sir. She is
in the library"
Jack found her In the familiar room
where he had once interviewed Laura's
father on matter Of great Importance
then. She was sitting In q big chair
near the table, and magazine lay
open before her. II she was lovely in
street clothes she was beautiful in the
soft white house frock she wore with q
string Of coral beads around her throat.
II am confined to my chair, you see.
she said. with gay little laugh. 'The
foot Is much better, but l must not
step upon it until tomorrow"
Jack sat and talked to Miss Tyson to
the very limit of time allowed a polite
call, and then he arose reluctantly. Be
fore he called again he must have a
final understanding with Laura. Efe
owed that to his own conscience. 1t
was Laura herself who solved this vex-
ing question.
Just as he arose to go the door opened,
and she entered, her hand tucked ia
mlliarly in the arm of Lester Blake,
one time Jacks dangerous rival and
now evidently successful one A big
diamond blazed on the third finger of
Laura's unglOved hand, and the sight
Of 1t loosened something that was tight
ening Jacks throat.
Laura stood Tiers an instant, taking
in the scene. her cousin sitting by the
table, Jacks gaze fixed on the girls
unconscious loneliness, and then the
light that leaped to his eyes when he
saw the engagement ring on Laura's
finger. If she felt pang Of wounded
vanity Laura's present happiness was
sufficient to Danish 1t.
II ask your congratulations, Jack"
she said saucily. "And you may have
mine some day"