The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-06-18
A Misunder-
standing
o0
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate)
"But Won are moi listening.n
By WILLIAM ANGRY

But you are not listening"
Helen Fairfax turned her eyes back
to her lover with a murmured "For-
give me-" They were earnest eyes,
shining with a tremulous love-light,
and she was q clever girl, with keen
mind and keener intuition, and he had
grown into the habit of talking to her
freely of his life, his profession, in
way that surprised himself.
But tonight her attention wandered.
Tonight of all nightsl Tomorrow he
was to sum up his great case. Surely
a woman should share the self-denial
of mans destiny. Was Helen, after
all, like other women-given to moods,
absorbed in the subjectiye-when the
veil was lifted? They had been en-
gagged six months; each day had been
fuller revelation of her nature. Was
this the nearer view7 All, no-banish
the thought Helen was Helen-there
was no more to be said.
He took up the lines of the srgu-
ment of his case and stated them to
her, clearly, concisely, as though she
we're a man.. This time her eyes did
not wander from his face; they deep
ened. their pupils growing larger as
she gazed How splendid he looked
How alert; how alivel
How could she keep at this wide dis
lance How incidental and how futi.r
sounded all that rapid flow of words :,
When would he have done, that she
might throw herself upon his breastf
Don't you think so?" he asked her.
suddenly.
"Oh, Harold, did not hear what
you we're saying"
"Not hear what l was saying2
Haven't you been following? l never
needed your cooperation more. your in
tcllectual sympathy more, than | do
tonight. You know how hard have
been working on this case; you know
what notable case 1t is. You know
also, that the eyes of the legal world
are upon me. My summing up tomor-
row will be a crisis In the beginning
of my career. Could you not follow
me-help me by your sympathy-your
interest2-
He waited to see the flash of pro-
test in her eyes, for some little lance
that she would thrust to cross his own,
/ but instead she nestled her head into
the curve of his shoulder and whisp-
cred: Forgive me, / am moody to-
night; very moody and absent-mind-
ed"
1--WE have no right to be moody nor
absent-minded, DEAR" he answered
seriously, where another's interests
are involved. 1t is a sign of weakness
And there is something besides love.
A strong woman should keep even love
at bay when a man has work to do
I do not like to say it, sweetheart, but
Il love you-and the wounds of a
friend are faithful. l am disappoint-
ed at your failure to sympathize with
my work tonight"
Two big tears welled in her eyes, but
| she said no word Had Harold Ford
been a hero. a knight of chivalry, he
would not have stopped in his quest
until he had found the source. of those
two tears; he was, however, only q
very busy man Of today. Not that the
| two are altogether incompatible, but
that the combination is rare. and Har
old did not happen to be both in the
| fullest sense; furthermore, he was
deeply absorbed In an immediate prac
| teal affair 1t was striking II, and
time for him to leave her. Though he
said no more, and his goodnight salu
tation lacked nothing outwardly, there
was a mental reservation which, tc
the psychic sense of Helen, robbed II
| of it's fullest bliss.
| "Six o'clock tomorrow, dear" he re
peated as he went out the door. "Si1
| o'clock tomorrow" she answered.
Did her voice CULVER, or was it fan
cy? He was conscious of saying Il
himself as he passed down the steps
Are all women alike. l wonder-af
ter all-tears and moods?"
The following afternoon, in the gath
ering dusk. he mounted the step:
again. His attitude had changed. The
stress and Irritation of an absorbing
effort had given place to bouyant re
| action. He had won his case, and woI
| it in so brilliant way that the trl
! umph was the smallest part of his self
congratulation? Even the Judge hat
said words to make a young lawyer
heart take courage. But what wer,
the words. what was the triumph, wha
was anything. until he had shared I
| with Helen? He could see her in TIL,
gathering dusk. as he waited. her eye
glistening delight He could hear he
vibrant "Harold" Poor child. had h,
been harsh last night? All. no. onl!
impatient for molnent-and frank
to make her the utmost that she wa,
capable of being. IF he had unintep
tionally hurt her. he knew pntcD
balm to heal with. to make her rejolcc
Why was the servant so eternally SLOW
(! in opening the door? How long tho,
were making him wait He ran.
! again.
TELL Miss Fairfax | am here"
Eyes, sir" The servant stood siler.
and awkward
Harold wanted to quicken him witt
| shove; what was the matter with tn,