The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1893-03-14

| tndb fOOSOct up tudO way nc COuAun Y
get away If he wanted to, over those
brick walls"
II don't know. Billie only got him
yesterday. The old thing woke me up
at daylight"
'He woke me up, too" she said, with
weary sigh.
breakfasts ready; they're all at
the table. Mamma sent me to look for
you"
81 didn't suppose it was so late"
They went out to the table in the
large dining-room, where the others
were waiting A servant was bringing
| in the breakfast This was always a
happy meal in this happy family.
| Matte and her husband talked of their
own interests and the three boys kept
up steady little stream of converse
tion.
They were all very kind and thought
full of her, and she condemned herself
for her feelings of separation and lone.
illness. She tried to believe that she
was beginning to find her place in this
home which was not her own.
After breakfast she wandered rest
lessly about the house for some time.
and at last put on her bonnet and
shawl, and said she was going out for
little walk.
Matte offered to go with her. or send
one of the boys.
mo, / want to go alone. l don't
want to be dependent for every step
take. There don't seem to be anything
for me to do in the house. I've got to
get out and breathe or I'll chafe."
81 wish you'd let me send Mary with
you, anyway, mother. I'll worry ali
the time about you"
Mrs. Allen turned toward her daugh-
ter, the tears springing to her eyes.
ssWell, Matte, / amt so helpless need
nurse to trundle me around yet"
why, mother, / didn't mean you
were, but you know, it isn't like going
out into the country alone"
mo, it amt" Mrs. Allen said, turn
ing away.
She went on out of the front door.
and down into the noisy street. Thers
was freedom in it's strangeness THAI
size had not found in the big house.
She walked straight on for some dis
lance, until she came out into one Of
the main business streets of the city.
| 1t was only one of our small western
cities, but it lost none Of its Importance
to her in not being London.
The crowd jostling past had the
} bright activity and untried interest OF
the morning, A stream of shoppers
was already beginning to pour into ths
stores. The street was full of cars and
carts and farm wagons.
She had driven In from the farm with
| Thomas and reached the city at just
this hour many times. 1t was all famii
lar to her in that way. They had
| brought in butter and eggs or load OF
grain, and done their shopping, or
spent the day with Matte, and driven
! home in the cool of the evening Al.
ways when she was on the street she
was watching the farm wagons III
hopes of seeing some one that came
from near the old home.
THAT looks for all the world like
Henning's wagon hitched down there
in front of that store. 1t isl Why, !
/ declare, it isl Those are our old horsesi'
| AS she came nearer, one of the horses
turned his head and looked at her, and
then she was sure that she was no.
10 istaken. "You know me, don't you?
l do believe he knew my walk, She
said, as she came up to them. The
| o. her horse gave low whinny. $50
d. you, don't you, old Billy? l don'f
forget you, either" The horse put his
head down against her, with quiet
rub. 81 know; you want sugar. Thomas
fought you that" She put one arm
over the horses neck and patted his
| face. ut makes me more homesiclf
than ever to see you, and believe you
| feel about the same"
People passing looked at the little
old WON an and smiled, and hurried on
1t was only one of the queer sights one
sees every day on tho city streets.
Mr.. Henning came across the side
walk from the store door.
"Avell hellol Where did you drop
from?" he shouted. in surprise. The ut
ter Inconsistencies of every one and
I everything else around him was on his
broad hearty face He shook her hand
hard. 'Well, I'd as soon thought of
finding a needle in haystack as look
ing to meet you this way"
81 saw these horses, and had to
speak to them. They looked just like
Thomas to me-" she said, looking at
him with glistening eyes.
well, l should think they would,
long as you rid behind them with him. :"
"How are all the folks out our wayf
Is there any news?"
II suppose you know about our old
| place, don't you?"
| I-,,or.v toe ao11 I rot fha f1afarn
| Yesterday" She took out her handker-
chief and wiped her eyes.
''Yes; but have you heard what
great improvements he's going to
make?'
"No; amt seen nobody from out
there since the funeral till now"
ssWhy, he's going to move way the
old house and build big new one
biggest one anywhere around, they
say"
She put out one of her hands as If to
find support. ''Going to move away the
old houser'
ssYes; suppose he'll use it to make
| moro shed room. TIN brighten up the
j old place considerable, won't it?'
eyes, it will brighten up the old
place considerable, she repeated after
him. "Are you going out home nowP'
'Well, in about an hour or so. have
| some flour and things to get; then Pm
ready Any word you'd like to send2'
81 was thinking If you'd take me out
with YOU, I'd like to go and see the old
place again. I'd like to see it before
it's moved away"
s'Why, yes. I'll be glad to take you,
and Mrs. Henning will be glad to have
YOU make us a visit, know. I'll stop
around for you on my way out. shall I?''
ayes. I'll be all ready when you
come by"
1t was the middle of May, and the
cherry-trees were in full bloom, and
the apple buds were pink Out into the
spring sweetness, thrusting her poor
old heart into the past, she went, much
against Mates desire and her own
better Judgment.
1t had been only such short time
since, in the happiness of long con-
tentment, she had driven over that
same road with Thomas And now
she was going out to the old home for
the last time. She would never go
again. Perhaps after this things
would begin to seem different, and she
would begin to be thankful. There
was SO much for which she should be
thankful.
1t was long ride and she was very
tired 1t was dark when they finally
came out into an opening beyond a
half-circle of woods.
Mr. Henning pointed oil across