The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-01-17
A STOLEN KISS.

| Seymour to his ward, II do wish you
would try to be little less fast. Every
one is talking about you, and it is very
painful to me-.
my dear guardy," said the young
lady he addressed, very pretty girl
about 19, "what have I done? Just
mention some of my sins and will try
to reform.
"Well," said Sir Henry, "to begin
with, you are much too fond of using
slang expressions; 1 am sure you do not
mean any harm, dear, but it does not
sound we'll. l wish you would adopt
more ladylike manner, like those nice,
quiet girls, Colonel Bonds daughters.
assure you, Leslie, men do not care
for fast girls. however much they may
fiirt with them, and l confess l should
like to see you well married"
"Now, my dear Sir Henry, said Les
lie coaxingly, "tell me, did you ever
hear me say anything the least weeny
bit improper
Certainly not, my dear child"
"Then let me tell you those nice,
quiet, ladylike girls you admire SO
much say things that would make your
hair stand on end. If you could only
hear how they go on when we are by
ourselvesl 1 should be quite ashamed, I"
she added, with energy, "even to think
of the things they discuss freely-in-
deed cut them whenever / can. AS for
marrying-really, all the young men
know are such muffs or prigs l detest
the whole lot. What is my next crime?'
"You smoke cigarettes Leslie, said
her guardian sternly. II was told you
were actually seen with one between
your lips out of doors the other night.
Leslie hung down her head little,
and then said, with slight blush
81 cannot deny 1 tried one once, and
indeed it was SO nasty and made me
feel so i'll that assure you l am not
likely to do it again.
81 am glad to hear it. So you think
all young men muffs or prigs? l hope
to introduce you to one who answers
neither description. You have of course
heard of Captain Murray"
"Do you mean the Captain Murray
who gained the Victoria cross for de-
Tending that fort SO calamity in the
last campaign? Of course remember
all about him. Why!'
He is coming home, and being the
son of an old friend be has promised to
pay me visit, and I expect him
shortly"
"How delightful 1 shall like to
meet a real hero. / hope he is hand
some"
Douglas Murray was a very good
looking lad, but you will not suit him,
young lady. He abhors fast girls and
is very fastidious.
"Well, shall survive his disappro-
baton, dare say. Amy will suit him
to T, she is such demure little
mouse" And Miss Lindsay took her
self off.
In due time Captain Murray arrived
Leslie Lindsay was disappointed. She
could hardly believe that quiet, unas-
Stunning young man could be the hero
who had startled the whole civilized
world into admiration. To her guard
ian's great annoyance she seemed to
make point of showing herself in her
worst oolors, and when Sir Henry asked
her whether she thought Captain Muir
ray prig or a muff she declared he
was both.
One very hot day in July Leslie and
Sir Henry's daughter, Amy Seymour,
we're returning from making a call
The drawing room windows opened on
the veranda, which was covered with
luxuriant creepers. 1t looked very cool
and pleasant inside on such a sultry
day The two girls were about to enter
the room when Leslie, who was in ad-
vance, suddenly drew back and pointed
inside. Amy peeped in. There was Cap
tain Murray fast asleep in an armchair
near the window.
"What a chance, Amy, for me to
win pair of glovesp'
''For shame, Leslie! You surely
would not think of such thing"
"Who's afraid?" said Leslie. "Be-
sides, he is really fast asleep and will
never know, and the temptation is too
much for me. Consider, the hero the
whole world raves about, and with
mischievous look at Amy she stepped
lightly in and dropped a kiss as light
as puff of thistledown upon the Sleep
er's forehead.
AS the sound of the girls retreating
footsteps died away, Douglas Murray
opened his eyes and, smiling to himself,
said:
II suppose that is considered fast
girl. l must confess I like her, and be-
lieve she is really true and womanly.
That fast manner is all humbug. l must
not forget to pay my debt, however,"
and he laughed. "She thinks me a
muff, know. Never mind, that kiss
was very nice-I forgive her %
A day or two afterward as they were
all at breakfast, Sir Henry said:
81 forgot, Leslie, here is something
for you," handing her a small packet,
marked Parcel Post''
"What can it be, wonder?' she
said, as she cut the string, "the hand
writing is quite strange to me-, and
she was about to open it quite uuoon-
cernedly, when Amy remarked:
cit is just the shape of glove box"
Leslie started and looked gulitily
across the table at Captain Murray.
who was, however, going on with his
breakfast.
She tctE off the paper wrapper and
discovered white box-it did look hor-
ribly like glove box, Leslie thought,
as she lifted the coyer-and, yes, inside
lay several pairs of dainty kid gloves of
different shades.
Hoping nobody noticed her confusion,
and not daring to look across the table,
she was replacing the cover Of the box,
when Captain Murray said very oooIly:
81 always pay my debts, Miss Lind
say; do not like to feel under an obi
cation"
Hastily seizing her parcel, Leslie rose,
and, murmuring something to Sir Henry
about not feeling very we'll, she flew up
stairs and locked herself into her room,
where she had good cry.
After little time she took look at
the gloves.
"Just my size. l wonder how he
knew. And six buttons And how pref
ty they are! He is not quite such a
'prig. after all, but it makes no differ
ence to me now. He dislikes me,
know, and l wish he was gone" And
then she had another good cry.
Sir Henry Seymour had no reason to
complain of his wards conduct for the
next few days; but she avoided Captain
Murray, who tried in vain to get a
chance of speaking to her.
One morning, however, fortune IA
IT. 80. -, tho r,ordav, ond