The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-03-17

twenty-five IN december. She
smiled wistfully. TITS pretty we'll
grown up, isn't it?'
Not to thirty-four." he came back.
I'm going away because I'm lone
some up at the house, and there's
nothing to do there now"
Nothing to do?" she repeated.
quickly. why, what a queer thing
for you of all men to say. the most
active that l ever knew"
well, there isn't. All my plans
have been upset just the way you'd
break a cobweb down."
Pm awfully sorry" she began, i'm
pulsively, her big blue eyes search
ing his for some clue to the trouble.
mo, you're not, not a single bit.
Though l don't think you've done 1t
purposely mind" He was still smil-
ing. She had always felt a queer, un-
steady little thrill when he bent his
bead and looked at her so, and had
been angry with herself for 1t. He was
Kenneth Gavin, the one citizen her
little home town was proud of. 1t had
tried to send him into the legislature
and make him serve on committees,
but he had evaded the efforts as boy
svades lessons. She knew he loved
travel and books, and his big estate
up in the hills. Once in awhile he
would come down to see them. driving
his big car alone, CHEEKY and full Of
news for her father, ever courteous
and amusing to her mother, but rarely
talking to her. He had seemed like
some one who had arrived at all
things attainable. And now he sat be-
side her on this midnight local, tell
ing her he was lonely and that some
how she was to blame.
Pm sorry" she said again, lawfully
sorry. Why on earth are you going to
Topeka?"
ITO look after you." he said, prompt
ly. You see, I was down at the sta
ton waiting for them to come after
me. There had been a late meeting
at the club. Your father was there,
too. by the way You probably took
advantage of his absence to run away.
now didn't your"
Slowly, against her will, the tell
tale tears filled her eyes.
you don't know what life is like to
me-" she said, tensely. You don't
know anything about it."
Don't II" he replied, warmly, but
with a humorous CLEAN in his eyes.
After knowing your father for years?
I've watched you grow up, Miss Kit
ty, for the past seven years, ever since
came back from my first trip around
the world. You were fifteen then. and
I heard you play on your violin out in
the garden one afternoon, remem-
ber?"
The Nocturne in fiat" she fash
ed back at him. 81 know. Then
what?"
Nothing. l just waited around.
There seemed to be many who filed
your life in a way l could not hope
to-"
You mean Walter" She had en-
tirely forgotten Walter in her eager
ness to escape from her home bound
aries, and yet. there certainly had
been Walter as a conspicuous figure
in her life. 1t had never occurred to.
her that anyone could regard him as
a serious person. Don't you know.
that he's going to be a naval engineer,
and has gone for four years to San
Francisco? He went two weeks ago.
and | never, never even dreamt any
-that-that way"
Brentwood Junction" called out the
brakeman at the door.
Gavin rose, and picked up her suit
case and violin.
I'VE get the down train here" he
said. IT'S due in about ten min
utes"
But I'm not going back. Pm"
Yes, you are" he smiled down at
her reassuringly, compellingly. "Of
course you are. Now, If you had told
me that you were running away to
marry Walter, l should probably have
gone with you, delivered you safely
into his keeping, and come back. home.
But now" he leaned over until she
shrank a little from the fire in his
eyes. now you are going back home
tonight, and will see your father my
self. You don't want to fight your
own way in the world, dear heart.
You just want to be loved and petted
up bit. and given chance to
breathe in an atmosphere that is con
genial. Isn't my atmosphere con-
genial, Kit; honest, now?"
The train had slackened speed
katherine gave a little unsteady
laugh.
Pm trying to make up my mind"
you know you're not. You're fix
ing your hat on straight. and are all
ready to follow me, aren't your"