The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-02-24
BY LESLIE DAVIS.


Miss Curtis returned his gaze with
indignant surprise.
"Escaped?" she echoed. Weren't
you expecting a secretary? Why
should you think me a lunatic?"
L didn't; I thought you were a
primrose" answered Professor Har.
row, confusedly. Then he remem-
bered his manners and sprang up to
give her a chair.
Excuse me, Miss Curtis, please, y
he apologized. 81 was puzzled for a
moment. You see, | expected a man
to be sent. Can you see well there
Is the chair comfortable?"
Chloe affirmed that all was to her
liking. She sat down, produced her
pencil in a most businesslike manner
and awaited orders, but the professor
could see that she was regarding him
curiously from the corner of her eye
as though she thought him a very
queer creature indeed.
IF you are ready, we will begin.
he declared with dignity 81 will read
and you may make notes. Primrose.
Variety No. Z. Rare. Pink and white.
Fragrant. Sometimes found in unex-
pected places when 1t has escaped
from gardens.
"Oh-h," broke from the lips of the
new assistant, her cheeks growing
pinker as his meaning came to her.
"Oh, see!"
You do, do your" retorted the pro-
lessor; then they looked at each 9TH
er and laughed.
ut was perfectly plain" explained
Professor Harrow, that you had es-
capped from some garden or other.
The city varieties are likely to be
white"
I've escaped from East Wilton"
announced the girl, blithely.
I've come to the city to make my
fortune. I'm the luckiest girl in the
world"
Lucky to leave the glorious coun-
try? The natural world was a pas
sion with Professor Harrow Lucky
to exchange birds and flowers and free
air spaces for pavements and dust and
noise?'
Il am the oldest of seven children"
returned Miss Curtis, gravely. Il
mean to take care of myself and East
Wilton is not good place to make
fortune Shall we go on with the
work."
Does not flourish with transplant
alton, resumed the professor. "Ah,
Miss Chloe. there's your warning!"
Perhaps the plants that have tried
being transplanted have not been SUI
ficiently narrowed" remarked Miss
Curtis. calmly. do you suppose that
could be it?"
The startled professor gazed at her
suspiciously. Her face was very bland,
very demure. but the twinkle In her
eye could not be suppressed
Variety No 81" cried the profess
sor, and the writing went on.
Miss Curtis proved to be valuable
assistant. She loved the work and
her enthusiasm and faithfulness sent
Professor Harrows lectures speeding
on their way She seemed to be pros
pering too.
I've sent ten dollars home to moth
er as present" she conf1ded in him
gleefully at Thanksgiving time. And
have twenty-five dollars saved be-
sides Who says transplanting isn't
the road to fortune?"
Good" the professor rejoiced with
her. He knew she was working hard
for the hours with him in the morning
were only part of what she had under
taken AS for himself, he tried to think
that his extreme content with life
came from the fact that his work was
marching along SO satisfactorily, but
when, during the Christmas holidays,
he had spent one restless lonely morn
ing working alone in his study, the
truth came suddenly upon him.
1T isn't the work at ALL" he cried.
It's Chloe! l love her and l want
her, l want her, l want heri"
He rose and paced the study. filed
with a hunger for her sweet face. a
longing to gather her in his arms and
tell her how he loved her, how he
wanted her all for himself. to keep
and to cherish like the dainty flower
which she had always seemed.
And then came blow: he had to
leave her! Those in authority decid-
ed to send him south to study certain
specimens of flora at first hand and
for two weary, dreary months he trav.
eled about, working hard but with his
primrose in the north,
his only comfort the gay little notes
that came in answer to his longer
ones.
In these missives she seemed SO
biithe that when he first saw her. af-
ter his return. her paleness startled
him However, his greeting sent a
quick color back to her cheeks and
her sweet, rather shy welcome filed
his soul with joy. She seemed so
pleased to have him back that
1t gave him courage to propose a lit
tie festivity.
Miss Curtis he began, won't
you help me celebrate my home com
ing? Let me come for you this after
noon and we'll have dinner. | know
a delightful little place. And then
Wen go to play; what would you
like best to see?"
Miss Curtis turned and looked out
the window. Il am sorry" she an
swered, coldly. But have an engage
ment for tonight
For a minute Professor Harrow was
too downcast to speak.
I see." he said, presently. well.
good morning" and with bow he left
the study and walked blindly down
the hall
/ was mistaken" he kept whisper
ing to himself She doesn't care at
ALL"
1t was not until he reached the
street that he realized he had forgot
ten the notes for his lecture that az
ternoon. He must go back and me-
he retraced his steps.
He pushed open the study door ex-
pecting to find the room empty.
There in his chair sat Chloe Curtis
crying as though her heart would
break.
Chloe, dearl" he sprang to her.