The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-01-25
LOVE LEVELS ALL.
"Is this the ferry?"

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young fellow in fannels, who was fas-
tening boat up to the steps.
AS the young man did not reply the
girl repeated her question.
"Can you tell me, please, if this is
the ferry?"
Then he looked hastily around, and
as there was nobody else in sight he
seemed to come to the conclusion that
he was the one to whom the lady was
speaking.
81 beg your pardon, he said. 81 did
not know that you were addressing me.
This is Twickenham ferry"
"Thank you," responded the girl.
"And will you be good enough to ferry
me over?"
"With pleasure, was the reply, and,
stepping forward, he assisted her into
the boat, showed off and commenced
sculling across the river.
When they had arrived at the opposite
bank and as the young lady was being
assisted out, she asked:
''How much do owe you, please?'
The ferryman turned rather red and
hesitated for few moments before he
replied:
1.-The fare is a penny, but you had
better pay when you come back"
81 am afraid l shall have to, " replied
the fair girl, looking in her purse, "for
I have nothing less than a shilling"
"Shall 1 expect you down this after
noon for a row." inquired the young
man.
Every probably think SO. By the
bye, what's your name? Whose boat
shall ask for?'
my name is John, but my friends
usually call me Jack. I"
Every well, John, shall be at the
landing place about half past O." And
she walked away with that grace and
vigor which are inseparable from girl
who has been brought up in the fresh
air and athletic surroundings of coun-
try life.
The half hour had barely struck when
the young lady made her appearance at
the ferry. Jack was waiting for her,
and without any loss of time they got
afoat and started up the river.
This was memorable day with Ger
aldine, for it was her first introduction
to the "silvery Thames" and as she
leaned back on the cushions in the stern
sheets the ripple of the water and the
songs of the birds combined with the
rhythmic sound of the boatman's SOULS
to make sweet music, which she enjoy
ed in silence until they arrived opposite
Pope's villa, which Jack duly pointed
out
"a grand poetp' exclaimed Gerald
inc, with enthusiasm.
much overrated,' answered Jack
His brain was as crooked as his fig
ure."
"You have been misinformed, +" OBJ
served Geraldine. "Of course you have
not read his 'lIiad 1t is not book
that would appeal to you. Butt
"Oh, yes, 1 have" interrupted Jack
"And his Odyssey too. But would
rather read one canto from 'Childe Har-
old than the whole of Pope's works. F"
This led to disputatious argument,
in which Geraldine lost her temper and
was rude enough to say:
"You are evidently an exemplifica-
ton of the old saying that "a little
learning is dangerous thing"
"Well, Pm bothered" exclaimed
Jack, with satirical smile, "if that
isn't little too bad. For if there was
one thing that was supposed to be good
at next to rowing it was Greek. -
"You seem to be very we'll educated
for your position in life, +" remarked
Geraldine.
"Oh, don't know" answered Jack,
and he added quickly: "The free libra.
ries are SO convenient, you know. But I
might return the compliment and say
that you seem very we'll read for a
young lady"
When they returned to the ferry,
Geraldine extracted her purse, but, as
she was taking out the money, Jack
said, pointing to Hammerton, the ferry
man:
''That is the person to pay, please.
am not allowed to take any money"
When the young lady was out of
sight, Jack said quietly to the boatman ::
Don't forget, Dick, if she should
happen to make any inquiries that am
only one of your assistants. -
"All right, sir, answered Dick, with
a knowing look. 81 won't forget"
For the next month Geraldine went
on the river every fine day, sometimes
in the morning, sometimes in the after
noon, and these boating expeditions
were extended on many occasions up the
stream to Kingston, Molesey and Sun
bury, and many an argument they had
on literature and art-for as rule their
opinions on these subjects were diamet-
rically opposite-as they drifted down
homeward bound.
One afternoon they were returning
down the river when the conversation
turned upon the wedding of lady of
property in the neighborhood, who had
recently married her coachman.
Poor, unfortunate woman" ex-
claimed Geraldine "How bitterly she
will regret it''
"Why should she?'' inquired Jack.
because happiness is impossible
with such an i'll assorted match. F"
How do you know they are i'll as
sorted?''
"Why, the man is only a common
coaehmanP'
"But you must remember that she
has married the man, not the coachman,
and if they are fond of one another why
should they not be happy?"
''It is impossiblel'' exclaimed Gerald
inc. "How can she, lady by birth
and education, have anything in COM
mon with fellow like that-a newer
of wood and a drawer of water?''
Don't be too hard upon us. said
Jack half seriously. Remember that
Homer was slave, Burns a plowman
and your favorite, Pope, only the son of
linen draper. -
''Ah, but genius levels all things I"
replied Geraldine, with smile.
There is something else which levels
all things" observed the young boat
man.
what is that?''
Love" answered Jack, "that glori-
GUS feeling which is the true philoso-
piers stone, which giIds the road of
life, no matter how rough it may be (;
makes dry crust with the object Of
ones affection more acceptable than a
feast without her, and which sweeps
away all distinctions of rank, as the
running water washes away the dull
earth and leaves the grains of gold ex-
posed. F"
"How eloquent you are this after
noonP' remarked Geraldine, but her
voice was tremulous, and it was evident
that her playful sarcasm was but as
sumed. "What novel have you been
reading?''