The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-03-14
TAKEN FOR GRANTED.

one arm over the neck of the little
brown pony, walked demurely by his
side, while the old judge sat in grim
state on his back.
They were very like, this father and
daughter.
Lizzie was his youngest, and though
she had attained the age of 10 she was
still childish in her ways.
The judge placed his hand tenderly
on the little, curly head.
where has my little daughter been 3''
"Oh, l have been up to the hall talk
ing with the h~ousekeeper and wander
ing through the great rooms, and, oh,
papa, she really took me into the beau
tiful conservatory, and I saw such love-
ly flaming passion flowers and the
great creamy magnolia blossoms, and,
dear me, l can't tell you of all the
lovely things.
''Then l walked down the road to
meet you, and l was so tired that / sat
down on the fence to rest.
"Oh, papa, don't you wish we lived
in such a nice place as the hall2 1t is
6uCA a S4dAO OlQ uld1S1OA-
She was suddenly stopped by seeing
a gentleman approaching from the op-
posite side of the road.
"Mr. Ray, I believe"
The judge bowed.
"Agent for the st. Leon placer"
"Yes, sir"
81 came to see you in regard TO it,
and''-
"And you are Mr.. st. Icons con-
fidential clerk. Mr.. Hartleyl l believe
l received a letter from him today in
forming nj that you would arrive this
week. Yes, yes; come right up to the
house, and we will talk over the repairs.
Shall we begin them Immediately"
"Whatl My letter but just arrived2
Singulari'
Papa, you don't mean to say you
have brought him home-a confidential
clerk? You know there are the best
rooms to DO papered and cleaned and
our pink dresses to be made against
Herbert st. Icons arrival"
"But, my dear, began the old gen
tleman, ''just like your papa to never
think of this at all"
"Well, l shall see that he is put in
the little room over the kitchen. He
will never know the difference, and
Blanche sank back in a studied attitude
on the sofa, wondering if handsome
Bert st. Leon would fancy her lovely
pink morning dress that she had made
for his special benefit, for of course
he would stop at their house during the
time in which the repairs were being
made at the hall.
The door of the dining room was
ajar, and Mr.. Hartley, standing before
the fire in the little parlor, heard it all.
This, then, was the welcome home
that the wanderer received after roam
ing five years in a distant cline. The
tears glistened in his lashes and a bright
drop fell to his hand.
"Mr. Confidential Clerk, you are cry
ing, and Lizzie pushed the white kit
ten from her lap and came over to his
side, laying her dimpled hand on his
arm. II am sorry you heard them, but
ever mind I'll be your friend"
"Your friendship is very dear to me,
my little girl"
"I'm not a little girl. was IS last
week"
Pardon me, young lady, but can
you tell me something of the hall
what sort of place is it,"
sob, it is a grand old place, with
great stone porticoes, and marble man
tells carved to represent gods and god
desses, and the ceiling all frescoed in
blue and gold sunsets, and a big con
%servatory, with blue passion flowers,
flaming cactuses and orange trees with
real oranges on them. Oh. it's so nice,
SO NIGEL"
"Lizzie, Lizzie, you are talking far
more than is necessary. Go to your
French Immediately.
And as the abashed damsel obeyed
he heard Blanche say:
Dignity on the family Nothing
but a confidential clerk.
And Lizzie exclaimed
81 don't care. l like him."
A month had passed by. Mr.. Hartley
had exchanged his close apartments
over me kitchen for more commodious
ones at the village inn. Thence he calm
ly superintended the projected improve
ments at the hall, and all the gossip
exchanged between himself and Lizzie
was in the course of her rambles through
the st. Leon woods, and if the family
had only known how often these ram
bles were taken their a~ristocratic tend
encies would have been tearfully
shocked.
And now MI. Hartley sat in the same
little parlor where Lizzie had first
vowed to be his friend and awaited the
appearance If the judge.
He came t last.
"You wish to see me, Mr.. Hartley3"
Eyes. sir. 1 came to ask you for the
hand of your daughter, your little Liz
zie. l love her more than my life.
Judge Ray"
"FYou cannot have herl No, sirl 1
! look for something higher for my
daughter than a confidential clerk. If
that is all, l bid you good evening"
Next night the judge rode slowly
home to dinner, feeling a presentiment
J Of evil.
"Where is Lizzie2" he inquired of
Blanche as he entered the coy dining
room.
"In her room, 1 suppose, mourning
after her dear clerk"
"Well, call her to dinner, child"
Blanche went. but returned immedi-
ately with a pale, frightened face.
''She is not there, papa, but this note
lay on her table"
The judge broke the seal and read,
with a face that had grown suddenly
pale:
by the time that you read these
words, dearest papa, your little Lizzie
will be another's l shall be married to
Mr.. Hartley. l hope it is net wrong,
for indeed I do love him very much"
AS he folded the note with stern fea-
lures a light step crossed the threshold,
neck, the confidential clerk standing at
the door with a face where pride and
indomitable resolution struggled for the
mastery.
"Papa, forgive usl"
"I'n see you hanged firstl' roared
the old gentleman. "Begone, both OF
you'll Beg, starve, but never come to
me for assistancel"
ooh, papa" pleaded Lizzie, 81 want
to explain.
81 won't hear you"
"Be it SO" said the clerk. "Come,
! mylitle wife; we have each other left.