The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1898-07-19

travel an go to New YORK an every
where, an she said we ought to read
books an the like, an that lady there
said what she needed was cultivatin
81 didn't like this, talkin bout her
like she was field to be plowed up,
stead Of flower jes' to grow an bloom
natural an when 1 told her this she
jes' laughed an slapped her hands over
my mouth. She went to the Springs
wouldn't go no more. Somebody sent
her some books-four or five of 'em.
She commenced to read one of 'em out
loud to me one night. Twas nice
story about some rich folks, some art
lists, an how they was lovin each other,
an the thing they went to, but while I
got to likin the pesky books after awhile,
l told her all the time that it was jess
stories an that there wasn't no such
folks in Paris or New York or any
where's else. Since she was teachin me,
a-readin out loud, l took to teachin her,
tellin her what / thought bout the
books told her that life was reality
an that even if there was such people
they WASH t no better off than us, cause
there's advantages an disadvantages
everywhere, an it all mounts to bout
the same an everything in it's place is
the best. That's the way I'd write if /
wrote books.
Maybe it was readin in them durn
books bout the fashion an the wealthy,
or maybe it was them people at the
Springs put foolish notions in her head,
or maybe it was jes' cause she come to
know she was too good an pretty for a
man like me, but anyhow she commenst
to pine an droop like flower that's
witherin. I'd beg her to go to the
Springs an enjoy herself like size was
invited to do, but it warn't no use. She
wouldn't do it. After bout a week OF
this thing that same lady from New
York drove up to our gate an asked
Mary to come in an pay visit to her
at the Springs. She wanted her to stay
as long as she would, an then Mary did
agree to go an stay week, maxim the
condition that was to come to see her
every day.
cts lonesome time / had then. /
didn't go to see her but three days, an
every day it seem TO me l was unwel-
conner than before, SO l thought l better
not go no more an let the chile enjoy
her visit. 1t look to me like the harder
I try to please her the more things
would go wrong. Wimmin folks is
curious little things, stranger, an al
awkward fellow like me don't know
jes' how to handle 'em. l had done
mortgaged my farm again AN went in
town an brought her silks an dresses
an gloves jes' the right size an when
she see m she jes' cried an said I was
too good to her. Then got her piano,
but nothin would suit. This was befo'
she went for the last time to the springs.
The things Is all at home now, but
never wants to see them again, an if
God spares me l never will. There's
nothin else to say now, but that lief
cause couldn't stan the sympathy an
the talkin of the neighbors after I got
this letter. "
Here he paused and took from the in
side pocket of his corduroy coat
cAudAO ShNC1OpO tuulSSoGQ III d 1Ouuu, |
girlish hand. The faint odor of violet
sachet which had once permeated the
pages could still be detected, though
mingled somewhat with the aroma Of
tobacco. 1t read:
i hope that you will understand and forgive
me, Jack, although / know that God never
will. was never happy with you, and never
was able to make you happy. A noble, un-
selfish man like you deserves a better wife. |
When you get this will be far away. Don't
try to find me, for you never can. MARY.
After the correspondent had read and
returned the letter both men We're silent |
They watched the little knots OF officers
and privates talking together under the
shade trees, the squads of ununiformed
recruits crossing the grounds to their
various commands, the amateur cooks
preparing the midday meal and all of
the lazy restlessness of camp life. The
Hancock volunteer was the first to
speak. "What posters me most in that
letter, he said in voice tremulous
with suppressed emotion, is that she
says that she knows that God never
will forgive her, an sure God (if there
is any shouldn't be more unforgivin |
than one of his creatures. If l b'l'eved I
prayers was ever answered, I'd be prayin +
for that little girl now, but as tbs the
bes thing can do is to go to the front
an fight for my country Barton
Pittman in st. Louis Globe Democrat.