The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-03-25
On the Long
Way Round
~
(copyright.)
BY A. JERRoLD TIETJE

AcaCld UuSueSs JdCh II OEu SldmlHSO
down his portmanteau, and began to
brush the dust from his new gray
trousers and russell shoes.
To have his arrival at an out-of-the-
way station in the AdirOndacks delay
ed by an accident, till the unheard-of
hour of 3 80 a. M; to have found no
conveyance, and to have been forced
to walk four miles along a billy road,
had not pleased the Adairs' new
chauffeur.
Nevertheless, as Ford's keen gray
eyes scanned the estate of his master
to-be, annoyance gave way to salts
faction.
The long, velvet lawns, edged with
geraniums and asters; the tennis
courts; the graveled walks sweeping
up to the porte-coshere of the Eliza
bethan house, on the chimneys of
which glimmered the first rays of the
sun-all these brought a CLEAN Of
pleasure to the chauffeur's features.
His lot had evidently fallen into a
sdmmer of eden.
Suddenly Fords glance, In its rapid
survey, lighted upon the veranda.
Even thus early, it seemed, someone
was stirring. There was a swish of
dainty white skirts and fiutter down
the steps. The girl was pretty. Ford,
no mean Judge, ventured that. The
brown hair, ripping in morning dis
array about the shoulders, the ten
derby oval face, the light step, promised
well.
Mentally as the figure drew nearer,
Ford found himself measuring the girl,
as he did all others, by Lucy.
He judged her twenty-five: that
would be Lucy's age. Ali If Lucy
had kept her word last summer, but
pshawl the rich girl had only played
with him. AS soon as she came upon
the ugly fact of his poverty she had
faded away. At the hotel, when he
had called the last morning, there had
i been merely a note with some cruel
! lines about the necessity of Injuries,
the scale she was accustomed to, etc.
! The near music in her laugh called
Ford back from his reveries. Lucy
had laughed like that-an enchanting,
i woodland note.
Eagerly he peered through a leafy
| crevice. The girl, her head slanted
back, was laughing at great bull pup
| tearing across from the kennels. In
its frantic haste the animal had tripped
and plowed up yard of turf.
"Poor Snipl" the girl said. "Come
on, thenP
AS she turned to continue her stroll,
the pup, bounding up and down, lick
ing her hands furiously. the girls face
came into full view.
Ford stiffened. The chin, the up
tilt of the nose-the straight, white
forehead, glimpsed between the waves
Of hair-above all, the deep hazel eyes
facing life so openly-these had been
I Lucy's. This-was Lucy.
Ford had half won girl at the sea-
shore ten months beforehand this was
the girl. He bounded through the
acacias, their delicate petals shower
ing about his head as a wood gods.
"Lucyl" The cry was sharp and
sudden. The girl paled and started.
But Ford would have swore her lips
shaped Jack"
If so, this girl, so like Lucy, gained
her balance rapidly.
"Down. Snipr she said to the growl-
ing dog.
Then turning to the man she went
On with an intense calmness: 'You are
mistaken, I think. My name is Adair
Ellen Adair."
But the man was not to be put off.
Lucy! you don't know" he began.
| The dog had ceased snarling.
.'T assure you," she repeated, my
name is not Lucy; there is no Lucy
here. Come, Snip"
In stupefaction Ford followed the
rustic of the white skirts over the
gravel. The girl, whoever she was,
was brave. The chin had not quiv-
cred; she was not quickening her
eteps. But-that she was not Lucy
Lucy's hair, voice, walk, eyes, and yet
not Lucyi 1t was monstrous. 1t
could not be.
And then, in a fash, truth dawned
upon him.
1t was Lucy.
But If chauffeurs have griefs they
also have duties.
Only three hours later, before the
porte-cochere stood the small, one-seat-,
ed automobile. Idly the new chauffeur,
still in his "gentlemen's" clothes, won
dered why this machine had been or
dered to convey guest to the train,
then allowed his thoughts to drift to
Lucy.
"Mr. Ford, the mistress says Miss
Lucy must be sure and make the
eight"
| Ford was lost In a maze of wonder
ment. For the face that was turning
pale beneath its mesh of lace, even as
he aided the girl to her seat, was the
one he had seen In the morning, the
face of Lucy.
For q short space the two watched
the white ribbon Of road unwinding be-
fore them.
But the mans chance had come.
$50 you are Lucy% he said.
The girls cheeks went dull red, but
the hazel eyes did not lift from the
road.
Eyes, am Lucy-here at the
Adairs'. lied this morning"
Lucy what2 Stin Van SAINT, as last
summer? Or Adair?" Into his tonee
th4re crept furtive snees.
The girls voice remained even.
| "Still Tucv Van CantU
II should like to tell you something"
Ford began finally. "Shall +" He
half-swerved the machine In the direc-
ton of a secluded road.
The girl seemed to hesitate. The
hazel eyes were flashing. "Why do
you worry me-now?' she questioned.
"Now2"
Eyes, now" the girl repeated. isn't
it too late? 1 asked the test of you,
and you-decllned."
The machine swerved erratically.
The mans voice was hoarse. 1.-THE
test?"
The girl nodded. Her calmness was
returning.
| But" the man hurried on, II don't
know what you mean by the test. No"
he waved aside her quick start-"let
me tell you my side Of the story.
Last summer at the beach / paraded
as Jack Rennell, a rich young fellow
from Helena. In reality was what