The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1897-11-30
A LITTLE PROBLEM.

Mr.. Richard Beechley told himself
that he was happy man. His friends
congratulated him on his happiness
He had good health and a reasonably
good education. He could play golf
quite well. He could not play cards and
had no wish to drink. He was going to
make name at the bar, but he could
afford to wait for it in comfort, having
eS, 900 year And he was engaged to
very pretty girl. He told himself that
he was very happy man one morning
as he ate his breakfast; he repeated the
assertion with what would have been
chad he spoken aloud) note of great
determination. Although he was alone
in his chambers he was very neatly
dressed His tea was poured out, he
was rather thirsty, but he made point
of eating before he drank Meantime
he read his letters; those from his rela-
tives began Dear Richard" and con-
graduated him gravely; those from his
men friends began Dear Beechley;"
not one called him Dear Dick. " A
letter from the very pretty girl began
Dear Richard, and announced that
she had prepared surprise party for
him that afternoon. He was to expect
her at 4. He put the letter back in it's
envelope and made note in pencil on
the outside. Then he turned to the lead
ing article in The Standard When he
had finished his breakfast, he made
pencil mark in the article to show the
place he had reached, and went to his
writing table. There he wrote out
telegram 1t was addressed to Miss
O'Donnell. 1870 Egerton Gardens, s.
W., and ran:
Don't come without chaperon.
BEEcHLEY
He sent his man with it to the tele-
graph Office, and resumed The Standard.
l am sorry to say that 100 Egerton
Gardens presented somewhat painful
contrast to the decorous establishment
of Mr. Richard Beechley Elsa O'Don-
nell, in dressing gown and with her
hair down her back, was belaboring
with pillow her brother Tom, who
lay in bed and cried from time to time,
''Stop, you little devil, stopr' while
vigorous knocking ON the ceiling in
timated that the noise disturbed the re-
pose-it was half past 9-of somebody
overhead
"say you'll come with me to Rich
ards"
Keep your beastly prig to yourself.
Elsa stopped abruptly. dropped the
pillow and turned away She was of
the fair type of Irish girl, with pale
gold hair, and pale blue eyes, and
pale, beautiful skin, small and slender
and upright AS she moved to the door
Tom sat up in bed-a brown faced,
pleasant fellow, with tumbled, curly
head-and called out eagerly:
Hello, Elsa beg your pardon I
didn't mean to offend you. -
She showed him a grave and slightly
tremulous face. "All right, Tom Only
l wish you'd understand that l care
about Richard and can't bear to hear
him abused. -
"I'm very sorry It was beastly rude
of me- Only one can't help seeing if
there's weak point in chap, even if
ones sisters going to marry him. I'm
sure Beechley's a very good chap, but
he is bit reserved and-and that sort
of thing, isn't her That's really all
meant I'll come this afternoon all
right.
"No, no. Tom 1t doesn't matter l
dare say the mater will come y
There was knock at the door and a
housemaid's voice, "a telegram for
you, miss !"
Elsa took it and looked at it for a
longer time than the reading needed.
Nothing wrong. Elsa?"
mo, only Richard can't be in this
afternoon.
She went out of the room, and Tom
muttered, Damn the fellow" as he
settled his head on the pillow
Ten minutes later telegram was
sent from Egerton Gardens:
Am not coming ELSA.
The same day, at O'Clock, Richard
Beechley went to Egerton Gardens.
II was afraid you be out "
"Oh, no.
"But you wired you couldn t Gomez
al thonpht I'D ram0va all annrahen.