The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1899-09-12

: 4AARAsasaaasasssssas ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
"For the lands sake, pa" called out
Mrs. Drusilla GLADDEN. to her husband
as he wiped his feet on piece Of car
pet at the kitchen door, 81 thought
you'd never get in! Guess who's sent
me a letter. You'd never think in a
month of Sundays. It's from Devah
Bland-my cousin Devah."
Pa gave smile Of interest and rub
bed his hands.
"Well, swan now! And what has
Devy got to say for himself"
Hes coming to Ohio to visit. He'll
be here next week. What dye think
| of thatY'
Pa pulled off his boots contentedly.
Il won't be sorry to see Devy. We
war In school together. What say? Is
he doing wellT
Doing well, but his wife's dead;
been dead two year or more. l bet
you a great deal, pa, he's on the war
path. And to think Angelina Culyer's
visiting around here just now, and
she's widow. Pa, it looks likei the
'pintin's of Providence, don't itY'
Mrs. GLADDEN. smiled benignly oniher
husband and he on her They were in
love with each other and had beenafor
20 years.
ut truly does" replied pa; ut truly
does. Jest think how them two court
ed over three years, wasn't it2 1 hold
the split was all Angeline's folks
| fault, wasn't It? That old man Porter
never staid anywhere and got a streak
to move to Indiana. Her ma wouldn't
let her stay here, and that made Devy
properly mad. They kept it up awhile
writin; then Devy went out farther
west and married himself to a strange
woman. After awhile Angelina gets
married. First we hears her pardner's
gone, and she's likely widow visitin
round. Then we gets letter sayin
Devy's pardner has been departed two
| years an he's come visitin Now, don't
that beat ALP
How plain you've made it, pa"
beamed Mrs Drusilla. 1T sounds like
them story papers. You ort to have
been writer for one. l often thought
that. My, amt 1t plum interesting?
| don't want to miss none of it, do you?
How can we fix itY'
Pa was so appreciative of his wife's
praise he tilted back in the rocker and
gave the matter solemn thought.
II calkilate we kin have this all to
ourselves" he began, "ef you can hold
out 'gainst mentionin Devy's COMM
1t will be hard work for you, DrusilIy.
but it's the only way. Do you think
you kin hold that news over prayer
meetin and Sunday? tell you what"
he went on excitedly. 1--WE can just
have the whole thing happen right
here, meetin an all, if you don't tell"
Mrs. Gladden's pleasant face fell
Il wonder If it'll be fair not to tell
the rest Of the folksY' she began.
you see, Devy'll be expecting big
welcome"
Asahel GLADDEN. rose up In his socks
"Drusilly, 1 have jest set my heart
on managin the whole thing. Don't
you disappoint me. 1 never had SO
much chance as this in all my mortal
life. l always wanted to do sech di-
rectin and managin, and cont you dis
appoint me-"
''Whatll folks say when they find
we held that news ?" asked his wife,
much impressed, but giving up as
usual
They'll say you've come to years
of discretion, though I don't want to
hurt your feelings none, Drusilly. You
can take it all out fixing up the spare
room and Marindy's room 1t air
| lucky Angelina hain't been down here
yet-another clear p'intin. Now hurry
up the dinner and write Devy letter
tellin him he must come right here,
and we won't take no for an answer
I'll hitch up the cutter. and Wen go
over to town and engage Angelina for
| the whole endurin week"
The two were as excited as chill
dren. The letter had to be strong
enough to suit pa and was the labor Of
an hour for Mrs. GLADDEN. ere it suited
him. Dinner over. they tucked them
selves into a green sleigh and drove
over to New California.
Wen stop on the way" said the
small and rosy man. 81 feel SO anx-
ious to get hold of Angelina"
ooh, you do?" questioned the wife
demurely. "Well, as our Marindy de-
clares, her pas younger'n any one"
Angelina Culver-Angeline Porter
that was-was visiting at old DIR. Nor
mans. She and Cissy Norman had al
ways been close friends She came
out to the sleigh to speak to Mrs. Glad
den. She was quite dressy and had
on a pink house sack trimmed with
white lace. She had tied little white
| fascinator over her brown waves.
Il was lowing to go over to Dennis
Daodna's next week. she said In her
soft, comfortable voice, "but If you
make a point of it l guess l can put
them off,
Pa GLADDEN. was so anxious his little
feet danced up and down In the snow.
"Oh, we want you real bad next
week, Angelina! We been waitin and
expectin till we're set on it special.
Do say you'll come"
Il b'lieve pail burst if you don't
come, Angelina" said his wife HE
gets so set on anything"
well, l WILL" assented the widow.
II used to have good times at your
house when was girl. never have
forgotten them"
Pa went through an expressive PAN
tomime behind her.
And pail fetch you on Sunday aft
ernoon," went on Mrs. GLADDEN.. eff
the snow don't stay on, he'll fetch you
in buggy"
Afterward Mrs. GLADDEN. declared
that pa spent the happiest week of his
life getting ready for that couple to
be reunited. 1t never struck his warm
and innocent heart that anything could
go amiss. He piled up special wood
for the parlor; he lowered around the
two bedrooms he actually had his fin
ger in every pie and cake baked. He
went to the village store alone once or
twice and after the last visit wore an
air of the deepest mystery.
Mrs. GLADDEN. stood this until the
hour of retiring.
"AsahelP she exclaimed, with
break in her voice. "Asahel, you new
er had secret from me In all your
life, did your
The rosy man looked as guilty as If
detected in a crime. He saw her kind !
eyes, and his voice Quavered.
Never before" he whispered, but |
I'm so afeard you can't hold this one
over Sunday meetin I'm bound not to
breathe it."
One dry sob brought him to terms.
sit air." he whispered, tiptoeing over
to her; sit air that telegraphed to
Deyy to git here on the Sunday after
noon express"
Mrs. Gladden's attitude toward the
world on Sunday morning was the |