The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-10-17

with fresh sponge cake In it. He would
not touch it unless it was in a certain
bowl nor unless it was fresh from the
bakers. And yet they tried to per-
suade me that he didn't know any
thing?'
From which l inferred that, added to
his other peculiarities, the late Mr..
Knapp possessed an extremely un-
pleasant temper.
"And. oh. Mrs Curtis!" she walled,
after the poor dear was dead and
gone, they wouldn't let me bury him in
the family lot" From which infer
red that the dear departed had come Of
a family of unpleasant tempers. Such
heathenish doings / never heard tell
of. Surely, however they felt toward
him during his life, nothing but fiend
would deny him the family resting
place after he was deadl
But l forgot my interest in Mrs.
Knapp and her affairs by reason of
some of my own. l had delightful
letter from Tom Dixon, saying he
would be with US for week. Now
Tom was a favorite cousin of mine,
and l spent a good deal Of time fur
nishing up my little belongings so that
might look my very best when he
came. And then, was putting finish
ing touches to Toms room, too, until
the minute he arrived, so that really
had no time to talk TO Mrs. Knapp or
to listen to her If she wished to talk to
me.
Dear old Toni How good 1t was to see
him that day with his blithe ways and
''bonny brown hairw We talked and
talked till supper was called, and then
we. still talked all the way to the dining
room door, and yetwe found time to say
nothing about any one but ourselves.
AS we seated ourselves at the table
saw Mrs. Knapp's vacant place (for she
was a little late) and realized that
| had not mentioned her presence in our
| household.
"Why, we have boarder, Tom," l
began, in answer to his look of inquiry
at the empty place. Just as spoke
she glided in.
"Why, who on earth would have
thought Of finding you here" and he
shook her hand in a grasp so hearty
that could see it was painful to her.
She colored family and said little
unsteadily, This Is indeed surprise,
1 Mr.. Dixon" and read between the
lines that the surprise was not an al
together agreeable one.
But Tom didn't seem to notice any
thing most men are dumb about such
things, you know, so kept my eyes
and ears open and waited for develop
ments.
At last they came and in most
startling manner.
so l hear poor Jim is gone at last%
said Tom, turning to Mrs. Knapp as he
buttered his seventh biscuit tom al
ways was rather a greedy youth and
enjoyed most heartily the good things
of this life, mothers cooking among
them.
"Oh, Mr.. Dixon, how can you speak
of him in that way" exclaimed the
widow, hurrying from the room in fit
of sobbing.
ION stared.
well, I'll be darned! What under
the sun is the matter with the woman
anyway" he exclaimed.
"You ought to be ashamed of your
SELF" replied severely. mo wonder
the poor woman is shocked to hear
you speak of her husband in that way
after he's dead and gone.'
Tom stared again. And then he broke
into such spasms of laughter that
thought he had suddenly lost his mind
had heard of such things, but l had
fortunately been spared the sight Of
them so far.
"Her husband" he exclaimed, wheI
he could catch his breath, as he wiped
the tears from his eyes. Her hus
band! She hadn't any husband. Sht
never was married. Jim was her ole
black eatw And then he went off agaiI
into spasms.
No wonder the hard hearted relatives
had objected to having all that wa
! mortal of 'the late Mr.. Knapp" lait
in the family lot!
Mother and l looked at each othe
, and said nothing. What was there t,
. say? But we thought things. dom
know whether they were the SAM
things or not. but we certainly though
things 20 Times Herald