The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-03-18
When a Maid
Laughs
N0
Copyright, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndicatel
By BERTHA R. MCDONALD

eettiHS, SEEMED great POT OF gOlQ, al
the end of his days rainbow, beckon-
ing him on toward everlasting happi.
ness. Lillith had given him to under.
stand that afternoon that she really
cared-Lillith, who had coquetted with
him ever since she began going away
to school. There could be no mistake
about her attitude this time, her open
encouragement permitting but one in
depreciation.
May come-tonight? ?" he had wills.
pered as he was leaving her.
''Try and see," she answered coyly
waiting him a butterfly kiss from the
tips of her fingers. And he was going
to her now. He had determined to set.
tie the future that very evening, come
what may, and he was thinking with
honest pride, as he walked along, of
the comfortable nestegg in the savings
bank which he could offer Lillith
When he was almost in front of the
house he heard a sound of laughter
and merrymaking from within, like a
discordant note in the song his heart
was singing.
Bother take it !" he muttered "Why
couldn't she have been alone tonight,
of all times?"
Here he isp' shouted Lillith gayly,
answering his ring; Tets make him
stir the fudge"
He was dragged piayfully into the
living room, Invested of outer gar
ments and adorned with huge ging-
ham apron, which Lillith tied under
his arms
Domestic roles are very becoming"
she whispered with a blushing smile
which set his heart to beating brisk
tattoo. Here's the spoon, and don't you
dare stop beating until give you per-
mission"
She closed his fingers over the spoon
with an affectionate pat, turned the
blaze a trifie higher under the chatting
dish, and then left him to play duet
with Hugh Birch. Still John had no
thought save that of being in Lillith's
home for just one purpose, which he
meant to accomplish in spite of Wis
itors
''Why all the hilarity here this eve
ning?" he inquired casually of Nell
Blakesly, who had taken place be-
side him at the table.
Nothing special that know of. Lii
18th just telephoned late this afternoon
that she. thought chafing-dlsh party
would be fun, so we all came over"
Lillith Anderson had resorted to her
old trick of playing with fire once too
often. John was confident she must
have known what he was coming fol-
and, with the courage born of despera-
ton. he decided there was no time like
the present.
'Lillith, come here,' he called.
The new note of determination in
his sudden command startled the girl
into obeying at once, thing she was
not in the habit of doing.
"At your service, captain" she
Knocked, saluting, soldier fashion, as
she slipped into the chair vacated by
Nell. Fudge ready?"
81 don't know a thing about it, and
neither do l care q rapr' he answered
doggedly. 81 came here to see you
alone and you deliberately planned
this"
Love is like the red, red rose,' y
she sang, iRterrupting him, while she
took the spoon from his hand, turned
out the blaze and began beating the
steaming mass as though her very life
depended upon it. Nov, fellow cit
zens," she called out, well soon have
something delectable to please your
sweet teeth, if John will carry it GU
to COOL"
She poured the fudge upon a platter
and held it out to him in such a half
frightened, pleading way that, as usual
full eyes and found himself carrying
the candy obediently to the back porch
But dash of the bracing night air re-
established his determination and he
tore off the apron as he strobe angrily
into the hall. Must you go, John?'
Lillith asked timidly,s with faint
note of concern in her voice.
81 shall not stay here and have you
mock me for one more second Yor
knew-you must have known-I was
coming here tonight to ask you to be
my wife, and you've played with me
just as long as you're going to What:
your answerY'
He led her into the vestibule and
shut the door, just as the rest of the
party adjourned to the back porch tc
examine the candy, so they were alone
''Will you marry me?' he went on
raising her eyes to the level of his
own. Answer me-will you"
A peal of hysterieal, mocking laugh
ter was her only reply, and John Law
renee left her, going out without an
other word. AS he walked along the
railroad track, taking the short cut
home, his heart was heavy. LillitI
had deliberately laughed in his face
after boldly encouraging him to speak
There was only one other thought in
his mind. and that was to get away
from her as far and as fast as he
could.
he was dimly conscious that the
whistle of the night express had sound
ed around the curve the other side OF
tue bridge. but he was too deeply occu
pied with his own thoughts to notice
the misplaced rail in the track toward
which the heavy train was whirline
with increasing speed from the down
grade behind. He had just time enough
to jump aside when the engine crashed
through one end of the little bridge
and derailed the two or three cars be
hind it.
Almost instantly the night air was
filled with cries of hysterical women
frightened children and the means Of
the Injured, and John Lawrence. for
getting himself and his troubles com
pletely, rushed forward to offer as
sistance. In an incredibly short time
most of the town had fiocked to thu
scene of the wreck. John worked hard
pulling away pieces of wreckage, put
ting out fires which started in man,
places and carrying the injured t.
places of safety.
With a little child in his arms HI
was passing beneath the glare of
brakeman's lantern when two hand
! grasped his arm and frightened vote
cried out:
: ''Thank God, you are safe watched
you start home this way and wa
afraid you might have been killed"
He placed the child upon heap 0
nearby blankets and gathered the sob
bling girl in his arms.
would you have cared, Lillithf'
-should--have-die sh
whispered. "And, John, dear, I'll neve