The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-01-07

II ne were ashamed TO 2cKE0WlAng'
MS old-time friend mere, before then
all, Jack Gordon had changed
She had still quite few dollars lef
she counted them over regretfully
her spirit of holiday had flown.
was, as she passed down the mair
street the following morning, that Jan,
came face to face with the picture
She did not need to lean forward
discerning his name upon the can
vas; the work was so truly his own
In an art room 1t stood displayed, witt
a ticket, For Sale"
Breathless, eager, Jane fastened into
the store. Il wish to buy that pic
ture," she said, with a fine disregard
for price.
Fifty dollars" announced the dealer
"and remarkably cheap for Mr.. Cor
don's work"
Jane closed her eyes in quick men
tai calculation. "rll take It," she said
"Where tor" asked the dealer. eve
box them carefully" And Jane gave
, her Hillcrest address.
Out again in the street she stopped
dazedly, counting the change in hel
bag. She had just money enough to
take her to lower Hillcrest-she would
. have to walk home from there. But
hope, like the berries, again forced its
bright way.
HE must have remembered" she
murmured joyously. The placing OF
the picture required much care. Jane,
standing upon a chair the following
evening, seriously studied the ques-
ton. After all, it was good to be back
In the old familiar room. And then
came ringing Of the bell. off" an
ticipated Jane; then, smiled at the
folly of her thought. She waited a
moment, nevertheless, to loosen softly
the waves of her hair; it was so she
had worn it ten years ago. Then she
opened the door.
John Gordon did not speak until he
had entered the room, until his quick
glance had Travelled from James face
back to the picture.
"You-stilI live hereY' he asked alb
ruptly.
She nodded dumbly. From the
suite you were registered in at the ho-
TEL" he said, "as saw you last night,
from the price you paid for my very
small picture, l fancied," he waved an
arm about, that you had grown away
from this, that you had perhaps in
herited money"
Jane spoke slowly. 81 have no
money" she told him.
"Then," he said, and bitterness was
in his tone, you bought the painting
out of pity for me. You have heard
of my failure. For all these discour-
aging years I've pressed doggedly on,
refusing to give in. Persisting in my
foolish dream of success. When l
ceased writing to you it was because
l could not bear to have you know of
my failure, to sacrifice your life to
a useless promise. When the great OPP
portunity should come, and with it
success, then l would return worth
lily to you" The man paused. 1T
did not come" he added quietly. But
stronger than myself was the yearn-
ing to see, and learn of you again. SO
l came back. The picture was offered
as last hope, to defray present ex-
penses.
"When found your name to be that
of the purchaser, 1 realized fully the
humility of my failure. Last night
wished to shrink away in my shabbi-
ness, from your recognition" The
mans voice broke huskily
"Ohl Jane Rose, Jane Rose" he
whispered, "how l deceived you with
my dreams of long ago."
And Jane raised her face to his;
wildly her heart, was singing; forgot
ten were the long years of absence and
neglect. What mattered poverty, or
the shabby clothes of his humiliation?
What mattered success or worldly fall
ure? Love was here-love that forced
its way through SHOWS of disappoint-
ment and fallen leaves of change, love
that triumphed.
Jack" she cried tenderly and held
out her arms And 1t was a long time
after that the man, with a light of new
purpose in his eyes, and the woman,
smiling, radiant, moved forward to-
gether, to hanw anew the picture of
Hope