The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-08-22
NY ? Q !
LUCKY I !
ESCAPE. s
How q Man Game Near Losing q
Fortune.


made man. He amassed his fortune at
cotton spinning. Ny aunt, before she
married him, was a diapers assistant
In Manchester.
You really should have seen John
Simmonds, the butler, dear, delight
full, faithful old creature, perfectly de-
voted to the family, but one Of the odd
est men you ever saw.
He never took liberty or presumed
on the affectionate regard with which
he was treated by them. Yet he often
said to them things which If spoken by
any other servant or in any other man
ner than his own would have sounded
inexcusable and even outrageous.
"Doan't thee be fule, masterY'
have often heard him say in his broad
Lancashire to my uncle when the lat
ter was proposing some step of which
his butler disapproved.
When my uncle died-an event that
nearly broke Johns heart-the faithful
servant constituted himself more than
ever guardian of the family interests.
He looked after my aunt almost as if
she had been child. 1t gradually be-
came evident that. she needed some
looking after too.
Her intellect had begun to fail lit
tie since my uncles death. And this
weakmindedness Of hers assumed
most absurd and, for an old lady, a
most incongruous form.
She imagined herself still suscepti-
BILE to the tender passion-at 20. She
discovered quite penchant for fiirta-
lions. Really 1t was downright laugha-
ble-at first. But the time was not
long In arriving when the laughable
aspect Of the matter grew less pro-
nOunced.
There had lately come into the neigh
borhood certain retired major, by
named Mallaby, well kept individual
who looked As and was probably 65-
tall, handsome and of ingratiating
manners and address. Anything SO
flagrantly absurd as an affair between
my aunt and this elderly bachelor
had never imagined.
And If it had not been for John, my
shut until it was too late. One morn
ing, however, John came into the libra
ry, where was alone reading, with a
very perturbed expression on his sol
emn face.
Master Charlie" he blurted out.
coming close up to me and dropping
his voice to low, confidential pitch,
this won't du."
'What won't do, John?"
''This what's going on between thy
aunt and yon major"
you don't really mean that you
think anything serious is likely to come
Of these foolish flirtations with Major
MallabyY
Depends what thee calls serious
Some folk might call marriage serious
Some mightn't. That's what's coming
Of 1t, anyways"
pooh. mani Impossible. Why, aunt
is 75."
IF she was IS and the marrying fit
took her, age wouldn't be no hindrance,
as 1t hain't a-been to many silly old
women before now" answered John
sententiously. "And / warn thee sol
EMMY, Master Charlie, that If you or /
or both Of us doan't interfere at once
Major Mallaby will marry the mistress,
which Is the same thing as saying that
he'll get her to leave i'm the property,
she being In that weak, foolish state
as she'll do anything at the word Of
one who gets an influence over her"
Johns solemn words were beginning
to alarm me. knew he was a shrewd
old fellow, by no means the sort to take
fright at nothing.
I'VE nun think, Master Charlie-we
nun think what can be done. I'll give
the matter my attention, and thee mum
give it thine. In the meantime" he
added. keep ABBOTT the hoose, Master
Charlie, and If the major calls doan't
on any account leave him alone with
the aunt"
The major did call that afternoon,
and carried out Johns advice, taking
care to be present in the drawing room
all the time. Very glad, too, felt that
had not neglected this precaution, for
from the way the major kept looking.
toward me and from the various at
tempts my aunt made to get me out of
the room by transparent subterfuges
found myself wondering that I had
hitherto been so completely and culpa-
bly, blind in the matter.
Next morning John came to me again,
ibis time with very long, grave face
IN his hand he held an open letter.
There, Master Charlie" he said.
''I've been and done what have never
done before. This letter be for the mis-
tress, but see it was from the major,
and opened it."
Il say! You shouldn't have done
that" l demonstrated.
Should or shouldn't, / did," retorted
John, half defiantly "And I'm glad l
did too. The major offers the aunt
marriage in this letter, and he's going
to call for his answer this afternoon"
"Pheww i whistled in great dismay.
whats to be done now?"
Master Charlie" cried old John very
earnestly, ''the aunt must be got away
this very morning before the major
comes. Fortunately, the doctors COM
ing this morning to see the mistress
about her eyes. Now, If you'd see him
first, Master Charlie, and confide to him
the exact state OF the case, who knows
but what he'd find the condition of the
mistress eyes so very critical that he'd
order her up to London to see a special
list this very day"
The doctor, a charming old fellow,
who had known me ever since was
born, was divided between concern and
amusement when he heard what had
to tell him.
"Heml I've been afraid of this for
months. And your aunt is in such a
foolish, weak minded state that she
would probably yield to him. Hem!
She must see specialist about her
eyes shortly. And why not nowf"
/ was waiting for him In the hall
when he came down after seeing my
aunt.
1--WE been as urgent as I could" he
said, with shrug of his shoulders.
But she declares it is impossible for
her to go today. However, met John
on the stairs and tipped him the hint.
He'll induce her to go if anybody can
He has ruled her SO long that he can
make her do very much what he likes"
ran up to the morning room. There
found John lecturing my aunt
IF thee'n not take proper care Of
theeself. Mistress" he said, with de-
termination, 81 shall do it for thee. 1
knows my duty to thee, and | don't
forget my promises to the dear master.
Pm going to telegraph to the Langham
for rooms, and I'm going to give
Saunders orders to pack thee things