The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-02-03

: becoming frills of white lace and q
knot Of violet ribbon. Her glance was
quite friendly. 1--WE got the quarter
dozen yet Folks seem to be sur.
prised at my having them; and one
old lady said l was too high-priced
So they're on the shelf yet. l guess
i I'll keep them till Christmas and give
| them away.
He sat down and stayed over an
hour. He seemed to have something
on his mind, and finally he spoke seri-
ousiy.
you won't see me again in Wollas-
ton for a while; l don't know how
long. Seems to me it's time / was
on that social list of yours. I've
known you some time now. and I've
thought OF you a lot Miss Lacey,
if I should invite you to dinner
now"
She raised a warning hand.
oh, II you're not incorr1gible!" she
exclaimed. Why do you persist in
Offering me dinner, Mr.. McCall?'
I'll tell you. | like you. Miss
Lacey and l want to get you away
from the store-from business; some
place where we can get better ac-
quainted Dinners lonesome affair
for me. fancied you sitting there
opposite me. and I thought-well.
maybe you'd rather go to a show +?
I'd like to entertain you somehow be-
fore I go. It's my last chance"
What do you mean?''
Her voice had sharpened. and she
lifted her head in a startled way.
why, it's just this way" he an
swered. I'm going to give up trav-
cling. and take charge Of the Glover
bloom branch in Boston. So this is
my last trip"
Miss Lacey opened a box mechan-
ically, and fumbled with the contents
She looked across the counter, started
to speak, and hesitated The man in
the chair sighed deeply as he watched
her S -
4 understand You don't like me.
You won't CO."
She leaned toward him and her
eyes met his. dark and misty.
1T isn't that" she said softly. "Mr.
Mccall Wollaston is a small place.
and l am in position where must
observe its least social law. cannot
dine with you at the hotel; but
but" she appeared charmingly con-
fused. and he sprang from his chair
and came eagerly to the counter-sif
you are going to be here tomorrow
Sunday would like" her smile
was bewilderingly encouraging-.T
would like to have you take dinner
with me. at my home"
AT your home!" He seemed amaz-
ingly overjoyed. why. real home
dinner-and with you Say. it'll beat
the feasts of Lucullus!"
What else he would have said then
was checked by the appearance of a
customer-but Sunday was close at
hand.
The next week wollaston learned
that Maybelle Lacey was ready to sell
out. Bidders were Forthcoming for
the little shop had been prosperous.
And she's going away-going to
marry stranger! remarked femi-
nine Wollaston why, he never
called to see her but once. The idea
of taking such a sudden notion after
all these years!" ~ '''
Indifferent to the various conjec-
lures and criticisms, the retired shon.
keeper made her preparations happily
Her wedding day was only two weeks
away A sparkling ring graced her
left hand. Her fiance's nearest rela-
tives had sent her affectionate mes.
sages. Her trousseau was nearly com
pleted; It included three silk petit
coats. one black, one white. and one
green, all bearing the valuable Clover
bloom label e" nt
In Boston, Porter Mccall was tell.
ing his friends that he was going to
marry woman who could cook "ft
for king" and then he gave them
all invitations to dinner In the near
future, f@
Copyright. 1918. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.) etH