The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-03-02
HARE AND HOUNDS.

The rosary at Gardenhurst was the
fairest spot in all that fair demesne.
Over arch and lattice and trellis the
heavy headed blooms rioted in bewil-
derment of pink and white, crimson and
cream, forming glorious canopy above
the severely trimmed rosebushes that
glowed like gigantic bouquets ON either
side of the winding paths.
But Enid Fitz Roy saw neither the
flowers abouts her, nor the surrounding
woods, nor the clear summer sky above
all. Tall and slender, she stood like a
statue among the roses, with the folds
of her muslin frock falling straightly
about her, and her fair face somber and
troubled beneath the wide brim of her
garden hat. She was very pretty girl
and should have been a very happy one,
for happiness ought to be the natural
sequence of beauty and wealth.
The Oval of her face, that should have
been wreathed in smiles, was pale and
drawn. The small, curved mouth was
pressed together in an effort to suppress
childish desire to cry. The sweet eyes
were hidden by the white, lowered lids
in either sorrow or indifference, while
the full throated birds sang on and the
gay roses swung like perfumed censers
in the light air.
How could she heed or care for birds
or flowers, when her whole heart was
away in the dim library of the old man.
sion behind her, when her brain ached
in the effort to guess at the words and
gestures that were passing there among
the frowning family portraits and the
great oak bookcases, for at that moment
Dick Lindsay was telling his loves and
hopes to Lord Funston, the stern man
whom fate had given her for an uncle
and guardian Ends fond heart told
her what her lover would say, how hard
he would plead, how handsome he would
look, but-her uncle? Would he relax,
would he permit himself to be moved,
would he-consent? And in the effort to
materialize the faroff scene Enid grew
pale and trembled like a wind tossed
lily.
Hurried footsteps among the roses
reused her from her reverie at last, and,
turning, she saw her lover speeding to-
ward her.
"DickP' she cried in welcome, rum
ming to him and with her set face break
ing into joyous smiles. Then little
moan escaped her, and she grew white
as her gown, for one glance at Dick
Lindsay's eyes told her he had failed.
Darling, at first / hoped for sue
cess, said Dick when Enid had regain
ed some degree of self control and the
lovers had wandered from among the
jarring flare of the brilliant flower gar
den in the friendly shadows of the wood.
Your uncle heard me without inter-
ruption and even smiled once or twice.
told him of my prospects, how the
mortgage was nearly paid off the Knoll,
and how l should be able to live there
! in another year I referred him to Tape
son and Jenkins that he might verify
my statement as to how well the farms
were let. proved to him that was
financially in a position to aspire to
your hand, filed with fortunes gift as
| it is. .
''And he said'- murmured Enid,
lifting her tear washed eyes to Dicks
handsome face.
''He said-nothing. That was the
worst part of it, Enid If he had only
advanced arguments, might have de-
| feated them, if he had given an opinion
| might have challenged it. But he gave
me no loophole for speech. He unlocked
a small drawer in his bureau-you
know the one that has carved COLLINS
| oil 1nI
amid sheaf of papers one that was
folded twice and was tied with tape"
Il know-I know; the copy of my
| fathers will, cried Enid, made be-
fore / was born"
He opened the paper and pushed it |
across the bureau to me, marking with |
nail dent the passage should read. +"
"Oh, don't repeat it; don't say itp'
walled the girl, putting her hands over
her ears, as though to shut out hated |
sounds. Don't l know too well that my
marriage was fixed for me from the be-
ginning, and that my father, on his
deathbed, willed that if his only and |
posthumous child should be daughter |
she should, on her twenty first birthday, |
be affianced to the only son Of his dear
est friend, Lord Errington? Oh, it was
cruel thing to do"
"Crueler still, my darling, to ordain
that if at the date of your majority |
Lionel Errington were alive and unmar-
ried, and you should refuse to become
his wife, you should be deprived of your
inheritance for five years and should
even not be allowed to live in your own
house. Those shameful paragraphs were !
all my answer. Your uncle then bowed |
me from the room, only sarcastically |
begging my presence at your birthday |
ball next week, during which he intends
to announce your engagement to young |
Errington.
A hot flush stained Ends white skin |
and dried the tears on her cheeks as she |
drew herself from Dicks encircling
arms and faced him in the narrow path
way.
Dick Lindsay, when, six months ago,
l gave you my heart and my love, gave
them for all time, and not to take them |
back at the written word of a man
whom never knew, who was dead be-
fore lived. On my birthday l will, if |
needs be, leave Gardenhurst and go out
into the world to earn my livelihood |
until the time of my probation is past.
But | say now, as l have said before,
will marry 10 man but you-if you will
have me, Dick. -
Her voice, which had rung out so
bravely, quivered and broke, and she
put out two trembling hands to her low
er and crept to his heart like a tired |
child.
As he soothed her the distant roar of |
gong thrilled through the quiet woods.
81 must go, 7" sighed the girl Zone
more week of this life, and then-then
shall be freel All, don't look at that,
Dickl l mean what say. l shall be
ready to leave this place in week.
But, Enid, my love, where will you
go? What will become of your"
She shook her blond head "I don't
quite know. must think.
Dick Lindsay fixed his dark eyes in
tently on her for a moment, as he
thought he would read her very soul
Dearest, is there any one about you
who is trustworthy-who will give you
letter if write one?''
Susan Ramsdale, my maid, is hon.
est and loves me. Send to me through |
I her. "
A moment later Ends white gown
was futtering over the lawns and ter
races homeward.
Miss Fitz Roy's majority was being !
celebrated in truly seigneurial fash
ion. From early morning the shows and
entertainments in the park had been pat
ronized by crowds of friends and ten
ants. The midday dinner, accompanied |
by speeches and presentations, was a /
| b1r,o c,,ocarS II, tbo oP+ar,,oo,, tho for