The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-11-12
Wondered What It Meant.

message for you either, sir" She had
shut the door very unceremoniously be-
fore he could question her.
Morton stood on the veranda and
wondered what it meant Caroline
had never done a thing like that be-
fore. He wondered If she had received
his flowers and the note enclosed. She
could not have done so, or she would
have waited, no matter how late he
was. Unconsciously he glanced down
10 the veranda floor where the light
from the street was shining, and there,
as If in answer to his question he saw
the green ribbon he had seen the for
list tie around the box of roses. He
picked the ribbon up and looked at it
closely. The light was poor, but he
could distinguish the florists name
printed on the ribbon. So Caroline
had taken the flowers from the deliv-
eryman herself The evidence was in
his hands. She would tell him why
she hadn't waited when he arrived at
the dance. He hurried away, eager
for an explanation.
The minute he arrived at the ball
room he caught sight Of Caroline. She
was dancing with some man whose
face he couldn't see. He secured a
partner and went out on the floor. He
chatted idly to the girl he was dancing
with, but his mind and eyes were on
the girl he loved. AS her partner
whirled her past him, Morton caught
sight of Caroline's bouquet. 1t was Of
white roses. That wasn't the only sur
prise either. Her partner was Jimmy
Dale, the man she had been engaged to
before she knew Morton. Morton could
hardly wait for the one-step to be over.
Caroline had caught sight of him and
smiled at him, but he did not smile
back. When she smiled up into the
face of Jimmy, Morton felt like going
over and snatching her from him. No
sooner did the music stop than he led
his partner to seat and made for the
clOakroom. He could not stand it an
other minute. He banged the door as
he left, but Of course Caroline did not
hear that.
When he answered Caroline at the
telephone the next morning he was
ready for her.
weren't you well last night, Nor
TOM" she began in her same natural
sweet tone.
ut does not interest you, does it?"
he asked as gruffly as he could. 1t was
not what he had planned to say, but
1t fitted In.
"Oh" 1t was just a quick note of
pain from the other end of the line.
and then the receiver was hung up.
Perhaps he had been little too
brutal, he reflected, but anyway, it
would teach Caroline a lesson. AS far
as he was concerned, he was through
with her. A girl so tickle was I'M
worthy of his affection. He would
show her how easy it was TO forget
her.
A month later found Morton still try
Ing to forget. 1t was not such an easy
operation as he had imagined. He
was coming home late from the office
one evening when he heard a familiar
little voice call out: "Mawton, take
me home to Callie. Use lost" 1t was
Caroline's three-year-old brother, Sam
my.
why, Sammy" Morton exclaimed,
as he picked him up. "What are you
doing here? Don't cry; that's a good
fellow"
"A naughty, bad boy stole my twain
OF tars an Pm looking for him." Sam
my sobbed. The tears started again,
and Morton had to comfort him all
over again. There was nothing for 1t
but to take him, he could see, but he
wished there was some other way out
of it. What If he had to meet Caro-
line?
On the homeward journey Sammy
told him all about it. Morton trans
lated from the queer little story that
a boy had stolen Sammys train Of cars
and the little codger had gone 10
search of them and wandered too far
from home.
Sammy" came the glad cry from
the yeranda as Morton and his little
charge started up the walk. 1t was
Caroline's voice, and it was too late
for Morton to turn back. He had to
stand there first on one foot and then
on the other, until she almost smoth-
cred her little brother with kisses.
where did sou find Sammy?' she