The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-05-29

On my return from g. | resumed my
geographic chat with her, ENJOYING It
Tar more than before from having
maze her acquaintance. 1t was very
amusing to talk with her, having seen
her' While l was still unknown to her
except through Sam Atkins photo
graph. She continued to complain of
the dullness of G., so concluded TO
ask her to come to town and 90 with
me to the theater. This would LET her
into the secret of my having sent her
another mans photograph, but 1 must
let that out some time, and there was
no especial reason for delay.
She accepted the invitation with a1ac.
r1ty and appointed a night. 1 procured
couple Of seats and wrote her that |
would meet her at the station and take
her from there to the theater; she
would know me by bit of orange rib
bon worn In my buttonhole To keep
up the fraud till her arrival l asked her
to carry few violets In her left hand
When Miss Miller alignted from the
train and saw me, whom she had met
before, with the orange ribbon in nv
buttonhole she stood still for a mo-
ment; then, simply remarking that we
had met before and had deceived her
about the photograph, we left the sta
ton, and, since it was a summer even
ing and an hour must elapse before
the play would begin, we walked to a
park or central square and sat down on
one of the benches. She then reproved
me mildly for sending her the wrong
photograph, but said she didn't mind
that since she had made my acquaint-
ance at G.
When we entered the theater and
took our seats but few people had ar
rived. We enjoyed ourselves chatting
about our telegraphic correspondence
and watching the audience come in.
Suddenly my heart stood still.
Who should enter and take the two
seat In the next row in front of us but
Sam Atkins and Miss Miller's friend.
whom had met at G., Ellen Ormsby.
The expression on their faces was, to
say the least, peculiar Smiles were
struggling to assert themselves which
the three were endeavoring to sup
press. cast hasty glance at my COM
panion and saw her eyes fairly dance
with a mingled delight, mischief and
triumph.
l knew at once that the game / had
been playing had not only been discov-
cred, but had been turned against me.
Sam, you rascal!' 1 exclaimed.
oY0II'ro q traitor. 70 x,o,1r. oxr,,,
My remaRk occasioned a burst of
laughter from the whole party except
myself.
Come" said, explain the matter"
At this moment the orchestra struck
up the overture, and In ten minutes
more the curtain rose. My tormentors
forced me to wait till the end of the
first act before giving me an explana-
ton; then my companion said:
Nellie Ormsby is telegraph opera
tor at the G. station and has been your
correspondent. She sent you my pho
tograph with my consent instead of
her own and, having no more conf
dence In you in such matter than her
self, did not believe the likeness YOU
sent her was your own. She went to
M, taking the photograph with her,
and mutual friend of hers and Mr..
Atkins there told her that it was his
picture. Before leaving town she saw
you at work at your instrument and
knew that you were her correspondent.
Then Mr.. Atkins returned from the
war. She went again to NJ, made his
acquaintance and told him the secret.
Meanwhile you had gone to G., and
the moment you entered the ballroom
Nellie recognized you. She saw your
attention fixed on me and introduced
you. Your enjoyment In the part you
were playing gave us double what was
evident in you. When your invitation
came we decided to spring the joke on
you here at the theater We wrote Mr.
Atkins to find out If possible where our
seats were and get two more near
them. This he learned through you.
$50 you see that when a man sets
himself up to outwit a girl he must
sharpen his own wits on a MILESTONE"
It was all plain enough now. 1 ac-
knOwledged myself beaten and after
the play invited the party to the best
supper that could be obtained.
There is a sequel to this story, but
not to be given here. The gist Of it is
that paired of with Miss Miller and
Sam with Miss Ormsby.