The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1895-12-03
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no." she said, "that's Jesuitical p
"Well, now, here's an example, I sug-
gested. "You are anxious to sell the
contents of this stall, aren't your" sob,
yes'' responded Miss Hewitt. ''And
you would be delighted if some one
were to come and buy it all upf 1t
would be of such use to the charity. "
Certainly" said Miss Hewitt prompt
ly. "And would vex Miss Chudleigh
over the way?" added. Miss Hewitt
looked at me with suspicion, but I'm
sure was very demure. "Oh, it Would
be nice, of course, to be successful, - she
assented. ''It would mean $50. " MAY
l trouble you for another ice?" said /,
feeling that / was bound to do some
thing after that. ''Thank you-straw-
berry Well, as I was saying, if you
could find means of getting rid of all
this, and thereby benefiting the charity
by SO much, you would feel disposed to
take it, even if it wasn't quite-well
quite, you know. 81 wouldn' t do
anything dishonest, put in Miss Hewitt
quickly. "Oh, I wasn't talking of any
thing dishonest, protested. 81 was
only thinking that there might be other
means, not dishonest, you know, but
just httle-well, not quite conven-
tional, you know
"What sort of means?" asked Miss
Hewitt curiously. "Why, now," I said,
"you have sold very little all the day,
haven't your" Miss Hewitt bit her lips,
and disconsolate look came into her
face. "While I've been here, I said,
you have only disposed Of two pairs of
stockings, one wooden comforter for the
hot weather and sort ola kind of
didn't quite see, but I thought it looked
like a." 81 know / haven't sold
much, !" broke in Miss Hewitt hastily,
and with slight accession of color.
"You have only bought a few ices. 4"
l looked meditative. $50 / have"
said, feeling that another call was made
upon me- II wonder if I might-no
perhaps better not. Isuppose you haven t
such thing as baby's perambulator,
Miss HEWITT" Miss Hewitt was not
amused. She had only an eye to bar
gain. 'No, she said eagerly, "I'm
afraid I haven't, but I've got very
nicely dressed cradle, and some rattles-
and"- "Ah, said I, shaking my head,
"I'm afraid it's not old enough for those
things" She sighed and glanced across
the way, where Miss Chudleigh was en-
gagged in roaring trade. II think
might have one more ice, / said very
brayely. 1t was not so very hard, after
all The heat was very great, and they
soon melted.
Miss Hewitt was very nice about it.
care you sure you ought to-" she asked
doubtfully. ''Miss Hewitt" said I,
''you are much too scrupulous That is
the reason Of your failure And yet you
would have sold me cradle and rattles
with perfect equanimity, knowing that
I am bachelor. The inconsistency of
your sex is a puzzle, | remarked, shak-
ing my head. ''Oh, but l didn't think
about thatl' she said, with blush. 81
only thought you wanted''- Come,
then," said, "what would you do to
get rid of all your articles of COM
mercer" Miss Hewitt's eyes opened.
"Oh, if could only do that!" she ex-
claimed. "Well, how far would you be
prepared to go for-i t?'' said 1 insinuat-
ingly. She paused. "I'd-I'd give up
the ball tonight" she exclaimed i'm
pulsively. I shook my head 81 have no
means of gauging the value of that re-
nunciation, I said thoughtfully, "but
possibly it is greater than the one
know which would enable you to sell
your stall :" "Oh, do you know way"
cried she breathlessly. "Why, certain
ly, - said l, still refectively. "Mr. Ran
dali, tell me, - she pleaded, clasping
her hands and putting her elbows on
the stall. She looked eagerly into my
face. really had no notion until that
moment, but somehow her action put it
into my head. "Have you ever heard Of
the beautiful Duchess of Devonshire,
Miss Hewitt?' asked.
Miss Hewitt leaned, staring at me for
a moment, and then look of intelli-
gence came into her eyes, her color start
ed, and she moved away. 81 don think
you should make that kind of jest, "
She remarked disdainfully. cts not
jest, F" l answered reassuringly. "Then
you re all the horrider," she returned,
Feigning to be busy with her commerce.
But, l said in perplexity, 81 don't
Eee-I only asked you if you remember
bd the Duchess of Devonshire-the one
What 's-his-name painted, you know"
Miss Hewitt was much embarrassed.
IHnr foaa fOnl- on
t'But YOU she began and stopped
I Do you remember herr" I asked. "Of
course" said Miss Hewitt snappishly.
rWell, then, l said, "why am 1 hor-
Fid?" She paid me no attention, but be-
gan shifting the things upon the stall in
a reckless way. "Oh, I exclaimed sud-
denly, I see what you were thinking
of You thought meant-I see now.
You thought that l was advising you to
sell''- Miss Hewitt got redder than
ever. 81 didn't think anything of the
Sort she exclaimed hurriedly and
busting away at nothing, land wish
you'd go away if you're not going to
buy anything" 81 should like another
ice, please" said I.
Miss Hewitt was somewhat taken
aback and looked as if she would like to
speak, but she only frowned and dumped
another ice upon the counter. "But
now you have suggested it, went on,
considering, ''it's not at all bad idea. +"
Miss Hewitt moved to the farther end
of the stall and sold another pair Of
stockings. "It's quite worth thinking
of, y said when she was within hear
ing again. 81 am glad you mentioned
it. y 81 never mentioned anything"
she retorted hotly. mo, of course you
didn't mention it," 1 agreed, "but 1
don't see why you should be angry, be-
cause we are discussing calmly
I'm not discussing anything" she
observed tartly. "No," said 1, "but if
the Duchess of Devonshire thought it a
good deed to purchase what she consid-
cred the welfare of her country by al
lowing voters to kiss her don't think
you should be offended if, for the sake
of an excellent charity IT am not
the Duchess of Devonshire, +" said Miss
Hewitt shortly. 81 don't suppose,
said, "that it was much of kiss. I"
Miss Hewitt's nostrils curled in scorn.
"Good people are always so particular, !"
said philosophically Miss Hewitt's
indignation broke forth. 'Do you sup
pose, Mr.. Randall, said she sarcas-
tically, "that one would allow any one
that wished to- "Oh, never said
any one, interrupted hastily. "No;
certainly not any one. She looked at
me with undisguised hauteur. Iglanced
about the STALL 81 should like to have
a lot of those things" I said. 81 could
send them to children's hospital, you
know Miss Hewitt's face relaxed
slightly. "They would be very useful, :"
she said sit would be $50, wouldn' t
it?'' I asked, as if entering on a caleu-
lation eyes, said Miss Hewitt, with
a little show of excitement; "e45 if
any one took the lot. y I fingered in my
pocket and hesitated. "I'm afraid