The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-07-15

How narrow 1t was down here, and
how like canyons, with the great dull
gray walls towering so closely to-
gether on each side Of her. She Won
6ered how on earth Truesdale could
spend half his life in such place.
Yet in way he was like it, deter
mined and silent Even before her
father died, when she was only twelve,
she remembered him as a young man
who rarely smiled. Her aunt had al
ways said he was so reliable and
steady-qualities which had never rec
commended him to Barbara's favor.
She went up in the elevator now with
a feeling Of relief that she was twenty
one and his guardianship was ended at
last.
Allan was alone in his inner Office
waiting for her, the clerk said. She
glanced around it curiously as she
sank down in the leather armchair he
drew forward. 1t was tall and narrow
and somber like the street outside
Only a flat-topped desk seemed to
show any human interest. In a copper
urn was a bunch of arbutus, and a
little squat silver figure of a Chinese
mandarin perpetually made obeisance
On an inkstand.
I've been planning to do so many
things that never dared even to men
ton before" she told nim happily Il
want to go somewhere and build my
self a wonderful mountain bungalow
and have horses and a sort of play
ranch. And then want to give AuM
Cecilia a solid annuity so she won't feel
IS if her whole life was to be spent
leeping one eye on me. And I'd like to
Just sell out the whole business so
Won't have to look after anything at
all. ard l thought I'd love to found an
cr9hanage or something like that"
Allan listened attentively, but with
no smile on his close lips. He was
marking star shapes on his blotter and
watching the clock above her head now
sad then. 1t was nearly four. He Won
dered If he would have time to tell
her before Yates arrived.
when Mr.. Curtis died his affairs
we're in very tangled state" he said.
"FIe always suspected lawyers and his
death came so suddenly there was no
chance for him to attend to anything
or to explain anything"
What was there to explain2" asked
Tarbara, with a touch of her. fathers
quick pride.
Much" answered Allan tersely.
'de had been persuaded to tie up his
money in lot of unsafe speculation,
and had borrowed heavily to cover his
own outstanding liabilities. These OBJ
legations to banks and friends had to
be paid out of the estate. A few Of
US who had been close to him carried
ours under interest"
did father even owe you money!"
"Some. I was very glad to help
him"
He turned his attention to a mass
of papers at his elbow, sorting and
arranging them for her perusal, while
barbara was undergoing a mental re-
adjustment. 1t had never occurred to
her that Tom Curtis, her father could
possibly be under obligations to any
one. He had seemed to rule that end
Of the state politically, and there had
been his railroad, and-oh, 1t was alb
surd to talk so. She looked at Allan
aggressively.
II don't see how It could be true"
you will find everything here" he
told her bit YEARLY. "There is moth
ing for you to worry over, Barbara.
You may not be able to found your
orphanage, but you could still have a
bungalow. Another thing should tell
yoI before we part as ward and guar
dian. Paulton Yates has told me you
are engaged to be married"
Barbara did not look at him this
time. Only from his voice she could
tell that he did not care one single
bit. He went on talking to her in the
same impersonal, aloof way he had
always used ever since he had found
her on the veranda with Paulton. And
it had been so perfectly silly to imag
inc she cared for him seriously. He
always took things for granted. There
came call for him In the outer Office
and he left her alone just as Yates
arrived. Allan told him he would find
Barbara within. But 1t was a different
Barbara who faced him from the girl
he had danced with, ridden with, dirt
ed with for the past year.
She was not engaged to him at ALL
she told him Indignantly. He had had
no right to tell her guardian that she
was. And Paulton, stung by her tone
and manner, laughed at her faith in
Truesdale.
Everybody knows he's played fast
and loose with your money, Bah. What
have you got left now2 I've always
cared for you. you know that, and 1t
doesn't matte about money with me-
only 1 want you to drop Truesdale."
Allan, on the threshold of the outer
door, heard her answer, and caught
Yates muttered curse as he left her
II was like him to do Is that way he
thought, lose his temper and accuse
him of wrongdoing.
And he was really a very decent
solid sort of fellow who wouldn't make
her a bad husband at all, since she
wanted money and society. He tried to
tell Barbara as much, when suddenly
he became aware that the tears were
falling down her cheeks as she stared
across the table at him.
q think you're perfectly abomin
able, Allan. to try and marry me off
like this after telling me haven't any
fortune or anything. You act as If you
were tickled to death to get rid Of me
and the whole trouble of looking after
me. You've let Paulton talk you into
this, make you ehink was engaged
and everything. never thought law
yers could be so credulous."
She was completely on her dignity
somewhat difficult when one is only
feet 2, and Ailan's eyes dwelt on
her amusedly. He had seen her cry
before, often. In fact, she always did
when she was specially provoked at
him.
II had not thought you would take
1t so much to heart" he said, quietly.
You will still have a fairly good in
come left. There is nothing to worry
over. And, frankly, owe everything
/ am to your father. It was great
privilege that was able to help him."
Tin not worrying over that" Bar
bara faltered "And I know father
trusted you absolutely"
II wish you did one-half as much"
said Allan. He waited for her to
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