The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-03-03
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
ONLY A LOVERS WAY
BY JAMES n. HULL.

I
red and gold, and the sumach crowd
ed Its luxuriant foliage and rich ma
hogany tinted blooms until there was
scarcely room for lovers to walk.
Dorothy Penfield hurried through
the Way one autumn day with eyes
that would not see the beauty of the
tinted foliage on either side. There
was scared look in her face and her
little hand clenched letter tightly.
Out of the Way was the broad drive
that led up to the big mansion on the
hill. Old Cato, driving the carriage
horses for exercise. stared after his
young mistress with rolling eyes.
Miss Dolly done got a scare,
reckon!" he muttered clucking to the
lazy sorrels. Her am de creates
young lady fer gettin' scairt at little
er nothin'.-
But Dorothy thought she had ex-
cellent reason to be disturbed this
afternoon. She hurried into the
where there was a hickory fire on the
wide hearth. Curled In her favorite
chair before the fire was her dearest
friend, Lisa Mason.
"Dear!" cried Lisa in her pretty
gushing way. I've been waiting an
age for you"
Dorothy frowned. Il came right
back, Lisa. 1 haven't been gone fiji.
teen minutee."
Lisa was quite unabashed. We'll,
I've been waiting all of five minutes,
anyway"
Dorothy tossed aside her red felt
hat and curled herself on the hearth
rug with her round white chin cupped
in one pink palm Suddenly as If just
aware of the letter she carried, she
tossed 1t into the fire and resumed
her former position
Lisa gazed curiously at the letter
and to Dorothy's keen disgust the
flames licked the envelope open and
spread the sheets wide for anyone to
read. Dorothy wished she had not
possessed such splashing handwrit-
ing. Certain words of the burning
missive stood out strongly before they
turned black and shriveled away.
Dearest Phil" "The day has been
SO long" you can read your an
swer-." Ever yours, Dolly,
There were many sentences-dozens
of them-in between the first and the
last that no one could read except the
hungry flames, for there were several
sheets of paper thickly covered with
the loving words that had dripped
from Dorothy's hasty pen
Lisa Mason read the words shame
lessly and then turned round eyes
upon her friend. Dorothy's head was
bent in deep detection
well. Dolly girl" said Lisa briskly,
slipping down beside her friend, 81 re-
ceived your note asking me to come
over and consult about the wedding
f1xin's-here I am and here you are
glum as can be. Let's talk about pref
ties" she coaxed.
There's nothing to talk about"
said Dolly turning sad eyes on her
friend. There isn't to be any we'd
ding"
mo wedding!" shrieked Lisa. mo
trousseau? No fixin's?"
mo. nothing!" returned Dolly with
an air of f1nality.
But, you said this morning that
you wanted to see me about the we'd
ding plans, and I've got my brides
maids dress half made and"
"Oh, keep still" snapped Dorothy,
with tears brimming her hazel eyes.
Lisa stared; her pretty mouth
trembled as II speech would not be
confined, but by a supreme effort the
little fair-haired girl regained her con-
troll and her natural keenness.
It's quarrel, l suppose?" she
asked tentatively.
Dolly shook her head.
There is no quarrel-only I've sim
ply found him QUIT"
Found out about Phil Waring?"
Eyes"
well, what about him? I thought
he was perfect dear, and If 1t hadn't
been that his brother Ralph was ten
times dearer in my estimation, you
would never have won Doctor Philip.
my dear"
Dolly shrugged her Indifferent
shoulders.
But you are still wearing his
ring" reminded Lisa with a curious
glance at the diamonds on Dorothy's
finger.
Il had forgotten" said Dorothy,
slipping of the ring and tossing it
into the waste paper basket so tempt
ingly near at hand
my, but we're recklessi" muttered
Lisa Love letters in the flames and
diamond rings in the waste paper
basket for the servants to find! 1
heard that Phil Waring half-starved
himself to buy that ring for you"
Dorothy's winsome face went very
white 81 don't believe word of it."
she declared. But it's waste of
money for him to buy a ring like that
for girl he doesn't care for"
Doesn't care for?" shrieked Lisa.
losing all patience. "Why Dolly Pen
field, everyone knows he's the most
devoted idiot in Franklin county-so
therei"
Devoted to some other grit" fared
Dorothy.
Lisa suddenly wilted.
Another girl? Who is it,"
Il don't know anything about her
save that he meets her in-Lover's
Way-and | hate him--the cowardly
deceiveri" choked Dorothy.
Lovers Way" echoed Lisa with q
dazed expression.
Lisa Masoni" cried the exasperat-
ed Dorothy turning on her friend with
sudden fury, Il wish you would stop
echoing my words like a wretched
poll parrot"
Miss Mason regarded her friend
with plying eyes.
''Why you poor thing, you're just
green with jealousy" she said with
cruel elaboration.
Don't you dare pity mel" cried
Dorothy fiercely IF you had been
there-if you had seem him-if you
had seen herr" Her voice broke sud
denly.
Tell me about 1t, dear" urged Lisa
with sudden change of tone.
Dorothy turned her head away and
looked into the fire.
you cannot know that half way
down Lovers Way there is a hole In
hollow tree that Phil and l call our
postofice. Sometimes he leaves
note for me when he cannot come up
because of some sudden call-and
again, when l know that his patients
need every moment Of his time l
write him a letter and leave IT there
so he can get It when he passes the
end of the way.
This morning I had q special mes