Bridgeton pioneer., 1915-09-16

tricated her foot from the ruined hat
She noticed that it was not new hat
but a panama head covering of the
season before.
Sally had almost reached Aunt James
house when she murmured:
How white he was. He must have
frightful temper. And all about a
last years hatr'
But she dismissed the unpleasant in.
cident for the time because Aunt Jane
was frantically preparing for Agatha
Trent's wedding.
For several days Sally Birch evinced
an unusual restlessness. No longer
was she content to sit on the vine
draped piazza and read or embroider
To Jane Gray's disgust Sally took tc
walking.
"My dear" fused the little woman,
Il can'tfollow you about the country
over hill and dale, and it really isn't
safe for you to go alone"
II always take Caesar along" pro
tested Salls.
Caesar is all very WE'LL" retorted
Jane, patting the French bull pup,
but after this don't go any farther
than the pine woods"
Sally agreed, blushing hotly, for how
could she explain to Aunt Jane, mar.
row minded and prejudiced, that the
Havelock pine woods had been the
Mecca of her daily walk? Aunt Jane
could not be made to understand that
Sally felt that she owed James Worth,
the "miser of Havelock," an apology
for her rudeness.
So Sally and Caesar went to the pine
woods once more, and for the first
time since that May morning when she
had slipped through his hedge she met
the "miser of Havelock."
He was standing under the pines
listening to the song of wood thrush,
He was bareheaded, and Sally remem.
bered, with guilty pang, Aunt James
idle gossip that the "miser'' had taken
to going bareheaded about the coun.
tryside.
He heard Caesars pattering tread on
the pine needles and turned his head
just as Sally came to a pause, looking
like lovely picture in her pink frock.
The sunlight slanted down and touch.
ed her brown hair with golden lights
Her eyes were as blue as the uncloud.
ed sky.
Good afternoon" he said gravely,
and without waiting for an exchange
OF courtesies he looked up to the top.
most twtg of pine where the thrush
was silhouetted against the sky.
"Mr. Worth" began Sally timidly
I've been wanting to see you-to tell
you I'm sorry about the hat"
His eyes looked so surprised that
Sally's heart jumped oddly. just as If
he had said: "Why. this girl is much
nicer ttan thought. She isn't such a
barbarian, after all.''
He smiled, too, and ten years vanish.
ed. Surely he was not more than thir.
ty. He looked very boyish.
Pray don't trouble about the
wretched hat" he said. "I'm sorry
acted so panic stricken over it, but
he laughed outright-''it was very Sc
rious matter
II am sorry. / was very rude about
1t and about the flowers" she added.
would it bore you if told you why
I am called miser?" He hesitated.
A lovely look came into Sally's eyes.
Il would feel honored by your conf
dence," she said quite humbly.
He found seat for her on a fallen
log, and, sitting down ON the pine nee.
dies, he stuffed his pipe into his pock.
ct and began.
Sally listened, fascinated, to a story
Of how man, his father, had failed
In business, in the crash carrying to
ruin a number of his customers, men
of small means who had trusted him.
Almost Immediately he had died, and
on his deathbed his son had promised
to pay back every creditor and clear
his fathers name. To him 1t was a
sacred trust, and he had paid Up the
debts, denying himself frxrcles and
even Recessaries. Dick Haveiock lad
been his college chum, and last year
Dick had offered his friend the use of
the country house, with the privilege
Of selling fruits and flowers, while he
saw that the place was kept In re-
pair.
James Worth was a writer who was
struggling toward success. He had
just completed a novel, it had been ac-
cepted by publishers, and substantial
check was in his pocket.
Il am happy today" he concluded
frankly. ''This check will pay Off the
last indebtedness against my fathers
name" /
Il am so glad for you," said Sally
softly, "and thank you for telling me.
I wish every one knew that the .miser
OF Havelock' is a nobleman In dis
guise"
"Oh," he cried, in embarrassment. "I
only told you because II didn't want
you to misunderstood. Any decent
chap would have done the same thing,
"You will be going away? she asked
He nodded. Tomorrow. Wait a
moment, please" He disappeared
among the trees.