The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-01-31
HER OBJECT LESSON.

dread of Mrs. Trelawney's tongue. She
had just intimated desire for an ice,
and her attendant satellites had dis
persed at once, each eager to be fore
most in the quest.
She had had busy day, and it was
pleasant and cool there behind the
palm. She only wished that people
would not whisper somewhere near. If
only they were aware how much far
Their whisper carried than an ordinary
tonel And while she meditated an cpl
gram on this subject she opened her
eyes and looked round impatiently for
the whisperers.
There was particularly ineligible
corner near Mrs. Trelawney's snug re-
treat, three oornered, low backed
seat, in the full glare of the light and
unpleasantly close to an intrusive and
spiky cactus.
Hither had retreated poor cousin of
the hostess, little girl Of II, under
dressed and pale faced, conspicuous
only for very new and shining we'd
ding ring She had been alone most of
the evening, and now it was she and
her boy husband whose whispering had
disturbed Mrs Trelawney.
Darling, are you enjoying your
self?'' whispered the boy husband.
$50 much, deari" answered the little
girl enthusiastically. cts all so pretty
and so amusing to watch. I've never
seen anything SO pretty in my life"
I've been helping Lady Lucy. She
asked me TO take some old ladies down
to supper, the boy husband went on
with oomical Importance. YOU'RE
sure you are not dull here all aloneP"
"Dull? Oh, dear nol' cried the little
girl, opening wide eyes of amazement.
"Oh, there's Lady Lucy looking at US,
dear expect she wants you again.
The boy hurried off again, proud and
elated, and his little wife sat smiling
after him from her corner. Mrs Ire
lawney looked sharply from one to the
other. 81 wonder how long that state
of things will lastf" she meditated Gym
ically.
She knew certain amount about the
affairs of the foolish couple-Lady
Lucy had confded various details in the
course of her apology for their presence
there at all. The boy was journalist,
with a microscopic income and very
limited talents, and the little wife was
penniless, and they had a tiny fiat some
where in the east-some uncivilized To-
cality, the bare thought of which sent
shudder through Lady Lucy. sin ten
years time, she said to herself, "what
will have become of them?" And at
that point she paused aghast.
1t was exactly ten years since she
herself, girl of II, had made run
away love match with handsome Cap
tain Trelawney.
She sat curiously white and still,
while that dead and half forgotten past
flashed wildly before her. She would
never have thought it possible then for
her husband to be at bis club while she
amused herself successfully elsewhere,
and now this was the normal state of
things between them.
There had been no quarrel, no dis
pute. They had simply drifted away
from each other in those ten years of
married life. until now they were COM
parative strangers. Neither could have
told how or when the division began.
She looked at the uncomfortable cor
ner again and with new eyes. That pale
little face was the happiest in the room
the only contented one in sieht-and
when the boy husband came near, al
ways with glance and smile in that
direction, what a radiant look was
foated back at himl They really SEEM
ed to be enjoying their evening.
Mrs Trelawney reflected, and then,
with an INDISPENSABLE sensation, it &C.
Cured to her that she, the admired and
petted society beauty, was actually
envying that plain, badly dressed, PEN
niless little girl.
Mrs Trelawney breathed long sigh
of relief when the brougham door was
shut upon her and she was on her way
home. She had long way to drive,
plenty of time to follow out her present
train of thought and to be as unhappy
as she pleased.
She told herself that she was despi-
cable little wretch, a mere society but
terf1y, and it was no wonder Horace was
tired of her. If only Horace had been
poor, SO that he and she could have
worked and struggled together If only
their one child had lived beyond baby
hood But that she could not bear to
think of even now. If only all the past
ten years could be lived over again, how
differently she would use them
Now it was too late, and then she
suddenly sat up straight, with fast
beating heart 1t was not too late; it
could not be too late She would begin
this very night and try to restore some
thing of the old loving relations Of ten
years ago. She would call for her hus-
band now at his club. She remember
having done SO once or twice in those
| bygone days, when something impera-
| tive had prevented him from coming
with her to their mutual disappoint-
ment
Shu gave the necessary order to her
coachman, and then sat tense and up
right, her eyes bright. her cheeks
flushed.
All, they were not far from the club
low-f1ve, ten minutes more and her
| new life would have begun!
She had no idea what the time was,
but 1t could not be go very late, for the
pavement was throngeS with people
all going the same way, oddly enough,
as it occurred to her after a moment
There were so many Of them that pres
emily the carriage was blocked and
obliged to go slowly. She beat her little
hands on the seat in her impatienoe
and looked out again.
A policeman appeared, shouting in
audible directions, and pressing forward
through the crowd, which gave way
reluctantly on either side. In her un-
governable impatience she LET down the
window and beckoned him to come
nearer.
Cant we get on?" she cried. 81 am
in a hurry. What is the meaning of
this crowd?''
"They have come to see the fire.
ma am" the policeman answered civil
ly. I'm afraid you will have to go
round.
but we are almost there-the Ran
gun olubr' she cried.
''It's the club that is on fire, ma am, "
the policeman answered, Then, as she
turned white, be added kindly, Don't
be frightened, ma am; they've got the
fire we'll in hand by this time and every
one is out.
"AlI safe?" Mrs. Trelawney gasped.
"Well, few broken bones and such
like" said the policeman cheerfully.
Nothing to speak of, ma'am-only
one gentleman killed. A sad business
that. -