The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-06-08
DUPED.

from the wharf, swings about and goes
slowly down the river sounding her
whistle at intervals, for the fog is COM
ing in rapidly.
The few loafers on the pier eye curl
ously the tall, elegant woman who has
come ashore.
She, casting a half scornful glance
about, approaches old Jed Rawson and
puts this query:
"Can l hire any one to take me
across the river?"
81 reckon not, {" declares old Jed, tax
ing out his pipe to stare at her with as
constituent. 1.-THE steamer goes into
port jest below here ter wait fer the
fog ter lift. Thar's no gittin across the
river ternight, marm.'
"Can you manage boat, my good
man?''
All the loafers smile at this. Old
Jed breaks into mellow laugh which
sends a perfect network of wrinkles
over his brown face
why, leddy," he says, there amt
nary boy of 10 or up'ard alongshore
as don't know how to handle a boat
The lady laughs too. She is very
charming, even old Jed realizes that
She takes gold piece from her dainty
purse and says:
eff you will take me and my trunk
across the river, this shall be yours. y
The trunk is huge affair, and Jed
looks at it with one eye closed and
shakes his head.
IF it warn't fer the fog, marin, eny
one on us 'ud take yer acrost fer moth
ing. But we couldn't see the boats
length tonight. :"
The lady utters sharp exclamation,
anger and disappointment clouding her
features. A brown faced lad steps from
the corner of the little red baggage
house where he has been standing.
IF you dare to go, madam, will
take you" he says.
She gives him a radiant smile, at
which he fiushes to the roots of his fair,
waving hair
Jed and one or two of the other men
demonstrate with him to no purpose.
A small brown wherry is brought up to
the fight of weather beaten steps lead
ing down from one side of the wharf.
The big trunk is lowered into it, and
the lady handed down by Andrew Rus
sell, who is thrilled by the touch of her
cool, satiny fingers He pulls off into
the fog bank while the 1oungers on the
wharf make their comments.
Mighty fine looking craft that. -
Carries too much sail. -
"What can she want over the river?''
"P'rhaps she's bound for Barring
ton's.''
HP'rhaps. She looks like his kind
1t is late in the evening when Andrew
Russell returns Old Jed meets him
hurriyng up the village street.
well. Andrew, you got acrost all
right?''
Eyes, had compass. -
"Where'd she go?''
II can't tell you, +" is the curt reply,
as the boy passes on.
All subsequent inquiries elicit no fur
Their information than that Andrew
landed her at the road which leads up
by Darlington IS. and that she expected
some sort of conveyance to come for her
there
Darlington is reported to be immense
ly wealthy. He never mingles with the
people there, and he lives in lordIy
fashion. He brings his own company
from distant parts, and there are stories
of gay and wild doings at the great
house which fill the unsophisticated ma
tives with amazement.
He comes and goes as he likes and is
altogether very mysterious
Andrew Russell has sweetheart on
that side of the river-pretty Jen Hardy,
the fishermGn's daughter
1t is only natural that frequently he
should row across in his wherry. But
Jen Hardy does not see him every time
he goes during the next fortnight. He
tramps through a strip of woodland
across lots until he reaches a sheltered
vale this side of Darlington
Here he meets the mysterious lady
again and again. Andrew is 2O-tall,
strong and manly looking Cars Ferris,
as she calls herself, uses all her blan-
dishments to complete his inthrallment.
She tells him pretty story-how that
her uncle is determined to make a nun
of her; that, Darlington being her cous-
in and friend she has come to him for
protection, until she can get out of the
country.
She wants to go to Europe, for as
soon as her uncle discovered her hiding
place he will follow her. She is appar-
entity very confiding with Andrew, who
is too innocent to see the flaws in her
story. Would he think she was 25?''
she asked coquettishly.
Andrew returns decided negative,
never once dreaming that she is 10 years
older. Jen Hardy is too proud to own
that Andrew does not come to see her
any more. Andrew has no mother, and
his father, who is not a very clear
sighted man, sees no change in his boy,
who is moody or exalted by fits.
In two weeks time Andrew imagines
himself madly in love with this woman.
He does not stop to reason over the alb
surdity of so brilliant creature finding
any attraction in an ignorant boy like
himself
One night he goes home intoxicated
by the memory Of a round, white arm
about his neck and the pressure of soft,
warm lips to his own. A week later,
one hour before midnight, he crosses
the river in his little brown wherry.
On the big rock which serves for a
pier man and woman await him.
Darlington carries a valise in each
hand. They enter the wherry, and An
drew pulls swiftly and silently down
the river. In about an hour they come
to small cove, where a commodious
sailboat is tied to ring in the rocky,
shelving bank.
They go aboard this, the little wherry
is fastened astern, the sails are unfurled
and ON they go, dancing lightly out into
the waters of the bay.
At nightfall of the next day they
come to great city. Darlington and
the lady go ashore Some purchases are
m no Tna1a hove ooJ .. l.