The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-10-04
THE COMING HORSE.

The curate sat in old Mr.. Robson g
chintz covered armchair, nodding now
and then as the mistress of the farm
paused in her outburst of excited speech.
He was married and the father of ten
children. but bourgeois youthful affeo-
tations still hung thick about him, for,
instead Of leaving his cup and saucer
on the tray, he held them in his lean
white hands, crooking his little fingers
daintily, while his speech was usually
punctuated with many 'sweetly pref
ties'' and passionately fonds," with
al good man, according to his lights,
and endowed with a certain liking of
the dutiful in his fellow creatures.
He had come up by the widows re-
quest, for her daughter was dying, and
she was too proud to speak of her wild
trouble to kinsfolk who had never
viewed her with any courtesy since her
marriage to man aged enough to have
been her father.
She was slightly incoherert in her re-
quest for advice, but the curate thought
he understood.
Really, Mrs. Robson" he said gen.
tly at last. sit is most painful case.
Yes, thank you, another cup of tea
three Jumps, yes; have sweet tooth.
Of course think that you should have
consulted me before, when Hannah was
in better health, and then could have
admonished her. Now we can only pray.
But none the less it is our bounden duty
to tell her that she should wrest her af-
feotions from all unworthy worldliness
and look up to the Skies whence COM
FORT
Mrs. Robson's face had grown cold
and hard, heavy perspiration shone
ON her forehead.
81 didna mean that, F" she said, when
sent for yo'. I thowt that yo would
understand. TITS o. Squire Amberstone's
son as wished to ask. My wench is
dyin. All as l beg is as he may COON
oncet again, ridin on his bay, an gi
her kind word" She softened sudden
ly. "Oh, Mr.. Fryston, for TIL love o.
God, do this thing for me- Twas bu'
boy an girl playin at love. Theer was
no thowt O. ILL., My dowter's as pure an
good as chrisom child, bu' what wi
him was just laugh an a jest wi tn
prettiest girl on tn country side, wi
her meant NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. I've no
blame for him, Blu he's broken her heart
clean j twain. An only today has hoo
told me all what hoo's suffered.
"You were much to blame, said the
curate sententiously, balancing his
spoon on the rim of the teacup, Every
much to blame''-
She clasped her hands and wrung
them painfully, SO that she might not
burst into hysterical laughter. ''Mr.
Fryston," she said hoarsely, "I'm
clean minded woman, an Hannah scarce
II. thowt nothin O. it. He were wisest
o. us all, for he must ha' seen danger,
an he staid away, an three months has
killed her.
81 can do nothing-nothing," began
the curate
"Aye, bu' yo' can" she walled
"Yo' know what love is. Fetch him to
her for a goodby. Hoo Gamma pass l.
peace wi'att him. Hoo's my only one
my only one.
The curate was touched at last. He
rubbed the corner of his more suscepti-
BILE eye furtively. "I'll go to Paulton
and bring him back if can, ? he said,
tomorrow.
"'Tis O. no use sayin tomorrow,
she interrupted impatiently. "Hoo may
pass at any moment. IT'S bu' O'Clock,
an tits tn last thing my wench III ever
want. y
The sound of knocking on the floor
above stopped her. 'Hannah's walked,
she said. "There s ovid Lizbeth beating
the planks wi a stick l nun leave yo',
Mr.. Fryston. know as yo' wunna fail
me-.
She did not wait for his reply, but
hurried up stairs to the chamber where
Hannah lay in little bed afront the
hearth. The mother had been pretty in
her youth-indeed she was not income
ly even now-but the daughter was
wonderfully, piteously beautiful. Her
face was pure white, save for the dain-
test flush in the cheeks; her lips were
scarlet hued and finely cut, her great
brown eyes luminous. She had spread
her nut brown hair over the embroider-
ed pillow and crossed her hands lightly
over her breast. The bedclothes conceal
ed the emaciation of her figure to some
extent, but one would surely have be-
lieved that as much as could be distin-
guished was that of a slender boy.
''Is he coming?" she said. "Oh,
mother, to think of It'll That should
bare for him in this way when he only
kissed me once and never spoke word
that you mightn't have heardP'
Then she began coughing again and
the blood specked the cotton wool that
Mrs. Robson held to her lips. When the
paroxysm was over, she lay back speech
less, but her eyes were full of question
ing.
faye, my deary," said the mother.
"Mr. Fryston's gone for him, an he'll
be here anon.
The girl tried to speak again, but the
mother held up warning hand.
Hannah, Hannah" she faltered,
edo lie still Yo're not thinkin that
yore all the kin have, an that want
yo' to bide wi me as you can. An yo'
nun keep as quiet as little mouse, SO
as to be strong when he cooms."
Hannah nodded slightly, her lips
drawing back for an instant's smile,
which showed brief glimpse of her
white teeth.
"Only one thing I've got to ask,
mother, she whispered. "You told
Mr.. Fryston that he was to come on
/ horseback-on the bay-so that l could
hear him first?"
Mrs. Robson leaned over her. faye,
aye, I told him all" she moaned
"Naa, for yo'r mammy's sake, lie yo'
quiet.
az will, nanny dear, if you II have
the bed pushed up close to the window.
/ There, I'll be still now"
After the bed was moved she lay per-
fectly silent. The evening was gloomy,
but the dancing freight showed face
! lighted with the happiness of expeota-
ton. Her mother sat beside her, holding
her right hand between her own palms.
The old doctor came at o'clock. When
he desired Mrs Robson to come to
the passage with him, she OWNED his