The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-08-15

That girl won't stay long in the choir,
let me tell you, If she comes-Ill fix y
"Why, Jane, what doyou mean?"
"Just let me alone now, and don't
you say word to anybody. I've got
to think it all over. / shall have some
thing to say about this thing"
During the afternoon Jane Prescott
sat alone in the small, prim parlor, sat
bolt upright in the highest chair. One
curtain was drawn up, half way, that
she might see anyone who passed
along the road There were few who
went by, however; people were busy
with their haying. The weather was
hot and dry; little swarms of flies
danced up and down in the air; the
sides of the road were lively with grass
hoppers; the bees buzzed about the
marigolds.
James face looked wicked as she sat
musing, and she felt wicked. The
longer she unused the hotter burned
the fire in her heart. She was aston
ished at herself, at this rush of bitter
ness which was sweeping over her, for
she had soft, warm side to her ma.
ture; but now she felt as much of an
ger and hate toward the girl who was
to take her sisters place as ever filled
the adamantine organ of Mary Of
England when planning the fate OF
her Protestant subjects; and her
thought progressed like a virulent
acid, eating its rapid way through al
the tissues of sentiment 1t is proba
IL u. n,.A <x&k he
Greek proverb which teaches: ''ln the
morning of life, work; in the midday,
give counsel; in the evening, pray
and il she had she would have felt that
she had not yet reached that helpless
evening. She must work now for al
object; and when, after two hours Oh
solitary communion, she came out into
the kitchen where her sister was sit.
ting by the window trying to crochet
in spite of red, smarting eyelids, hel
mouth was set hard and firm. She
seldom referred to the contemplated
change in the choir, to the surprise Of
everyone; for what had been dreaded
above everything else by Squire Pages
immediate supporters was the tongue
of Jane Prescott. you might as well
try to race with locomotive" said
one of the deacons, ''as to attempt to
reason with her or explain anything"
Edith Wayne, as have said, had nc
conception Of the feeling against her.
She knew nothing of the choir's history
and regarded the matter of her engage
ment in the light only of a business
transaction. 1t had been arranged that
she should come to Pagetown each Sat
urday remaining at the house Of
Squire Page until the Monday follow.
ing.
She was in splendid voice on this first
Sunday of her appearance in the choir
her full, round tones had a charming
ly sympathetic quality-and those even
who could not say word on the sub
ject of music felt that such voice had
never before been heard in Pagetown.
The following Wednesday was the
day for the monthly meeting of the
sewing circle, which was to meet on
this occasion at the house of Deacon
Perkins.
There was much larger attendance
than usual-for all felt that it would
be an opportunity to get together, and
talk over the affair which was in the
mind of every one in the parish. There
was considerable curiosity as to whether
the Prescott sisters would be present.
1t was soon satisfied. Jane entered
alone. She took q piece of work and
seated herself, saying but little to any
one for awhile.
When asked why her sister had not
come, she replied that she had gone
away for few weeks to pay q visit to
friend.
''She has pretty well lost her inter
est in the church work, and reason
enough, too"
''Now,'' said Mr.. Fairchild, plunging
at once in medals res, 81 don't think
Matilda ought to feel just so, Jane
don't like changes, myself, and
thought we were getting along well
enough when the old choir-but we
can't all view things alike, you know.
IF they'd only got good, respect
able girl, wouldn't have said word. .
why, you don't know anything
against Miss Wayne, do you? Thought
she seemed a sweet, innocent little
thing as ever was, myself
swell. if you call StoplVter an limo
cont little thing, I've no more to say
"a what?" shuddered Mrs. Fairchild-
in stifed, husky whisper, her very
amazement sitting her power to articu-
late audibly.
THAT'S what she is" said Jane, nip
ping her lips together. 81 saw her in a
store in Boston one day last spring, as
plain as l see you now. She was stand
ing right by me at the ribbon counter,
and she deliberately took up roll of
pink ribbon and put it under her cape.
But the floor walker happened to be
close by, and saw what she had done,
and he took her by the arm and
marched her off"
''Where tor" faltered Mrs Fairchild,
in another frightened whisper.
81 can't tell you that never saw
her afterwards, until she walked into
church last Sunday. But ! wouldn't
have her in aly house, that's all"
Can it be, as George Eliot asserts,
with the terrible psychological analy-
sis, that there are moments when our
passions speak and decide for us, and
we seem to stand by and wonder?"
Certain it was that to Jane Prescott
had come an inspiration OF crime. !"
She had not premeditated this, but she
had given the demon within her the
heartiest welcome, and had hidden him
crush this young interloper by any
means in his power, and now she was
hurried along to this definite charge in
spite of herself She was not cogni-
zant of much that passed around her
the rest of that afternoon. She was
one of the first to leave, and reached
her home dizzy and sick, and in a COM
plete palsy Of terror.
The poisoned arrow did its work. Be-
fore the evening of the next day the
charge against Edith Wayne was known
all over the village.
SQUIRE Page himself, enthusiastic as
he had been in favor of the young sing
er, began to feel that perhaps he had
been too hasty in selecting person of
whom he knew absolutely nothing.
The girl was charmingly modest in
manner, 1t was true, and seemed hon
est and sincere-but it was so easy for
imposters to assume such ways. He
had known Jane Prescott all his life
so had many others of the townspeople
land the one thing that never once oc-
Cured to any of them was to doubt this
womans word.
Friday had come, the girl must be
notified; it would never do to have her
come again among them.
1t was a cloudy day and nearing
dusk. Jane had been informed that
the squire intended going up to town
In the early evening, and for what pur
pose.
He must pass her house on the way to
the station. Already had Jane Pres
colt returned to her normal condition.
lraadv xvaa eha rapantinn what she