The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1896-05-26
In dim surmise,
For all things shall rise.
HALF A MILLION.


that while, winter and summer, with
out a holiday, except Christmas and
New Years day and the Fourth of Ju-
~, when one summer, calculating my
profits, made up my mind that I
could afford to enjoy myself for once as
other people did-cut the shop outright
for a while and spend week or so in
the country. Trade was dull, and I was
dull too. So as Dobbins' aunt-Dobbins
is my head c1erk-had house at Shady
slope and took a boaFder or two and
was anxious to fill her unoccupied rooms
that summer, gave my name to Dob
bins to fill up the list and ran down
there with my trunk and bag about the
LIST Of July.
| felt that it was an honor to Dob
bins aunt as well as to Dobbins, but 1
made up my mind to be affable and
not to make them more uncomfortable
than could. No matter what your po-
sition in life, it is very wrong to put on
airs, and never do it.
''Tell them not to put themselves out
on my account / said to Dobbins,
''but to treat me just as they do the 9th
er boarders," and Dobbins said he
would
Puff Of Puff 8 Co, ;" said when
met the aunt Don't disturb yourself
ON my account. I am quite simple in
my habits. /"
She said she wouldn't, though could
see it was not every day that the head
of a firm came to- Shadyslope They had
three or four other people there, few
who taught music and composed some,
you know, and an artist and doctor
and few who wrote novels, but no
body Of any Importance.
When I sat down to the table that
night, put them all at ease at once
81 distinctly desire it to be under
stood that I don't want to disturb any
one, said. go on just as you have
been doing. want relaxation, and it
will amuse me. Simple pleasures are
very charming when one is weary with
application to more important matters. .
Then bowed. But you can't expect
everything of people not up to the mark
Two or three laughed-why / don't
know
1t was very pleasant there-particu-
larly pleasant. My landlady had a
daughter, quite charming creature,
with eyes like bluebells and voice like
canary. She used to sing good deal
with the music man. The moment that
girl looked at me she appreciated me-
Before the day was over she was des-
perately in love with me, and when a
creature like that gives you her heart,
how can you look coldly on her?
Far be it from me to win the affec-
tions of an innocent girl, knowing as I
do that have position in the world
and must marry with due consideration
Of the fact, but knowing what emotions
had awakened in her bosom / felt
obliged to be kind to her We walked
together. We rode, we sung. felt that
it was wrong, but my feelings carried
me away. Ioften thought to myself, IF
that girls father had been in the whole
sale line and had left her well off, what
a bliss would have been minei" But he
was nothing but lawyer and had
scarcely left a penny. Excelsior is my
motto. Large retail should always as
pire to connection with wholesale.
And Miss Briggs of Briggs & Bounce
smiles very sweetly when she bows to
your humble servant.
Alas, who shall control the hearts
affections? Evelina's beauty and her de-
votion touched my soul too deeply. On
the list Of September, when trade was
growing brisk, l began to feel that it
was better for the peace of both our
hearts that should fly. should forget
the dream in little while. But she,
poor child, feared that she would new
er forget me.
"Adieu,'' 1 said as I shook hands
with her. Perhaps we shall never meet
again. .
She turned her face away from me-
Her emotions overcame her. And took
the next train for the city.
/ entered again into the turmoil of
trade 1t was brisk But nothing could
make me happy. accused myself Of
trifing with the affections of an angel
She loved me, thought, and / have
broken her heart-I who secretly adore
her.
lost my appetite. Igrew thin. When
1 saw fair creatures of her age bending
over the counter, my mind flew back to
her, lovelier than all When Mrs. Briggs
daughter smiled upon me, l thought
how plain she was and how adorably
beautiful was Evelina
At last-it was in IOctober-my head
clerk claimed holiday. II shall spend
it with my aunt and Evelina,' he said.
sighed.
"a beautiful girl, =" said I.
Eyes, said he, blushing at the COM
pliment to the family, presume "The
loveliest girl ever knew, and lucky
one too.
"Lucky?'' said L
Eyes, said he. I'm year from this
Gime she will be very rich woman.
Did grandfather left her everything,
come Of age or marry, and he was worth
$500, OO0"
Half millionp' cried.
Ny head clerk nodded.
"Visit your aunt and cousin when
you WILL" I said, land don't return
until you feel quite rested. You never
mentioned to me before, Dobbins, that
your grandfather left $500, 000."
"You see it wasn't left to me-" he
said and went off.
"Half millionl Miss Briggs was
not worth that. A wholesale business
was the thing to be connected with, of
course, but when the heart is touched
we are willing to sacrifice all else.
will fly to your side, Evelina, " | solilo-
quized. II will recompense you for
your hours of grief by telling you how
adore you'll
l pictured the scene to myself. saw
her as she confessed her love and tainted
In my arms, and that evening ran
down to Shadyslope to offer my heart
and hand to Evelina-
/ arrived after dark The house was
very quiet, and as advanced reflected
THAT my sudden appearance might agi-
tate Evelina too terribly. l must an
nounce myself cautiously. l stole for
ward on tiptoe to reconnoiter.
1 Two forms were seated on the porch
a faint CLEAN Of moonlight revealed
them to me-a lady with her cheek re-
posing upon a gentleman's shoulder,
his arm about her waist. They were
my head clerk, Tom, and his Cousin
Evelina. l stood as one petrifed. They
were talking of me.
HE really thought was smitten,
Tom, =" said Evelina- "He dirted with
me terribly"
Ibid he dare began Tom. Didn't
he know
"Of course I did not tell him l was
engaged to you, said Evelina why,