The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-05-09
Suddenly She Stopped Dead.

had even wondered whether she would
accept him; but when he spoke she
felt rush of tenderness in her heart
and knew that she loved Arnold with
all her soul.
He had been Just the same since
that evening, and yet-Lucy wondered
whether she had really OWNED that
the old passion for Dorothy had been
stirred again. Or whether it was
| Imagination.
She left the house and walked down
the leafy street, still musing. Arnold
was to call that night, and they were
to make the arrangements. There
were two hours, and sense of the
irrevocable nature Of the impending
meeting came strongly over the wom-
an. Mingled with this, and with the
wonder about Dorothy, came q vague
sense Of futility. She had been en-
gagged twice before, In girlhood, and
each time it had been broken of by
her. When Arnold asked her to marry
him she had felt instinctively that it
would come to nothing.
Suddenly she stopped dead. Arnold
was speaking. my dear" he had be-
gun. She thought that he had come
upon her unaware, that he was speak
ing to her.
But he was hidden behind q laurel
shrubbery. and the sobbing answer to
his words showed her that she was I'M
der a delusion.
MY dear, know" he said.
The woman spoke, and 1t was Dor
othy. Her voice was torn with grief.
IF we had not been too proud for
reconciliation, Arnold! II only you
had let me know where you were, l
would have written to you. But you
didn't care!"
Il did care, for a long time, Doro-
thy" he replied. But / thought you
knew where was"
did you think l would ask any.
one?" demanded the girl. 81 have some
pride Arnold"
I'VE both had too much" he said
quietly. The tone of hopeless despair
in his voice came like revelation to
Lucy. She clasped her hands against
her breast.
do you love herr" resumed Doro-
thy. Tell me that, Arnold"
Il did love her. l had never forgot
ten you, Dorothy, but you had come to
occupy place"
"A forgotten place!"
Never forgotten, but still put aside
] thought there was no chance for the
future. was sure you had married
happily. So I came back. I did mot
meet you, and, like you, would not
inquire about you. I thought you had
left the town. Then / met Lucy Lane
and fell in love with her. Not as l had
loved you, but still. loved her. At
our age love is different"
Yes, 1t is different" murmured
Lucy, with a sense of guilt at listen
ing, and yet she knew that the knowl-
edge she had gained was priceless.
But loved her." the man resumed.
Then met you, and knew that the
old love held fast"
mat was all l wanted to know"
said Dorothy. 81 would not for the
world come between you. Poor Lucy!
You must never let her know, Arnold. !"
She shall never know" answered
the man.
"And you win be devoted to her all
your life," said Dorothy. "And 1 shall
be happy too, thinking that I have
your love all the while. Arnold, dear
est"
In spite of all that had been said
the sound of the kiss startled the lis
tener. With a shuddering sob Lucy
Lane turned and hurried noiselessly
down the street homeward.
She could not blame the man. She
realized that as she sat in her parlor,
waiting for him to come. Nor Doro-
thy. One cannot blame love, who
shoots where he pleases. But she
ought to have known. She should have
known. How foolish she had been!
She made up her mind In the few
minutes before his coming. And in
her strength, new-found, she grew
strangely calm. She saw the long,
empty years that awaited her, q lonely
woman in the little gossipy town. Peo-
pie would shake their heads at the