The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-01-28
Wartime
Speed
G>0
By CATHERINE PARSONS
light, 1918, by Mcclure N
Syndicate.)

lightful task of painting Amy Rolands
portrait. If you had seen Amy you
would have really envied him, for
she was truly lovely.
On this particular day Amy left the
studio somewhat later than usual for
the picture was just at an interesting
stage and Gardner could not bear to
stop work till the last bit of daylight
had vanished. Mrs. Roland, who al
ways came with her daughter. had left
early to keep an appointment and
Amy had promised to meet her at
five.
Gardner had kept her till the last
possible moment and she was hurry
ing toward the front door, when she
ran directly into a young man who
was coming in the opposite direction.
Il beg pardon" exclaimed Amy, as
she bounced back in surprise. 'Why,
Billy Lane" she added, as she recog-
nized him. where in the world did
you come from? l haven't laid eyes
on you for over two years.
"Just got here. Amy. I've been out
in Colorado working hard. But even
an obscure farmer has right to a
vacation now and then, so I'm taking
two weeks this time. Maybe it isn't
good to see you again-you haven't
changed much except to grow up more.
suppose you'd forgotten all about me,
though"
Amy blushed slightly, but 1t was too
dark to see.
Il hadn't, really; but of course two
years is long time. In another one
might forget whether your hair was
red or brown. It's hard to remember
much when you're kept pretty busy
Billy laughed ruefully.
Amy held out her hand with frank
and engaging smile. In another mo-
ment she was gone.
"For heavens sake" cried Gardner,
spying his brother from the floor
above. when did you get here? Well,
maybe it isn't good to see you again
tool Is this a pleasure trip?"
mot exactly. The truth of the mat
ter is I'm enlisting in about two weeks
and | wanted to see the old town be-
fore I went over"
Great Scott, you don't say so! l
would myself but I'm beyond the draft
age and l hate to leave my work
Pm really needed here. Could they
spare you all right?"
well, you see, I'm my own boss, SO
just sold out and came along. ]
couldn't stay out of it any longer and
I'd nothing to hold me back, either y
''I'm single, too, but l may not be
long-that's one reason why / don't
want to enlist"
'sWho is it-LouiseW
Gardner laughed. 81 should say
not! I've had a dozen since Louise
It's Amy this time. l haven't told her
yet, but I'm going to marry her."
Two days later Amy went for an.
other sitting for her portrait and again
she found Billy in the hall ON her way
home.
''Hello, Mr.. Hermit" she scoffed
you're not wasting time on your OLD
friends this trip, are your"
Most of them seem to be pretty
busy themselves"
"Well, I'm not for one, and to prove
it I'll invite you to go for walk with
me now.
isn't it lovely out today?" cried
Amy enthusiastically.
"Yes, but you'd never call this beau
tiful if you could see it out where
live. Mountains and hills and valleys
everywhere you look. And the sun
sets-you'd love those sunsets, Amy
They just make the whole world q
blaze Of glory and put peace into your
soul. l can't explain how it is out
1 there-it's too big for that. But can
! tell you it impresses one. Maybe Tn
daffy on the subject, but it's simply
life out there to me. l feel like oul
/ poet friend who said: 4 want to &C
back, and l willr You'd love it out
there, Amy"
"Oh, would love It'll" she agreed
and almost surprised herself by hel
own fervor.
''Will you visit me some day then
you and your husbandT
well be elighted-provided have
one by that time"
''In the meantime will you consider
an invitation to dine with me this eve
ning"
"Pm sorry, Billy, but I'm going t.
dinner at the Seatons' with Gardner
they asked me ages ago. But I've ha6
lovely walk with you"
$50 have l, too. Good night"
"Billyl"
what can / do for your
Don't you ever want to walk home
with me again? have three more sit
tings"
"Of course want to. But mar
doesn't do all the things he wants to-
worse luckI I'll see you before long
though. Good-by."
81 think you're the limit, and yor
make me cross" flared Amy, and re
fused to notice his proffered hand
Whereupon Billy pondered long OF
the vagaries of women and kept our
of Amy's way for the next two days
But on the day that she came for he
last sitting she found him standing be
fore her picture in the studio with {
strange look on his face.
Don't look so sad. Billy-Pm mo-
dead yet"
Hello Amy; didn't expect you to
day. Gardner went to New York, bu
he sent you message at the last min
ute-you must have left before thu
messenger arrived at your hom'
II did. You don't seem overjoye
to see me yourself-don't let me kee
you. What have | done to you, Bill!
that you should be so horrid to me
Don't you dare say you're not-yo
arel"
I'm sorry, AMY told you
wasn't cut out for society In the frs
place, and l always make mess {
things"
Gardner came back from New Yor
the next morning and In the afternoo
he took Amy to tea at the most fasl
ionable hotel in town. Gardner like
to be seen at smart places-especiall
in company with a good-looking cir
'Billy's sailing tomorrow" he sal
casually, In the course of conversation
"Where to?" asked Amy, with a.
parent Indifference.
France. Hes going in aviatiC
over there. That's really why he can
east, you know. I've got to go dow
town and fix up some things for hi
as soon as we leave here-you won
mind if l send you home in the CT
alone, will your"
"Of course not, Gardner" Amy WI
trying hard not to choke on the d