The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-07-17
THE BLESSING
OF jim ROBBINS.

~ lib BLESSING -
y OF jim ROBBINS. y
~ Under an Inspiration He \
- Distinguished Himself. ~
~ BY W. R. ROSE. y
n y = y X
x X X X X X \
i Spencer Clifford was quite too ready
to admit that he was just an average
sort of fellow. That was really all be
cared to be. What he could do he did
fairly well, but he did just as little as
was decently possible. At college he
had gone in little for athletics, and
made very creditable record, but be
shrank from anything really brilliant
He was good scholar, too, but was
quite willing to rank with the intellec-
tual second raters. When he left col
lege, he went abroad and dawdled
about in an aimless way, and came
home with few impressions that be
cared to mention. Then he went In
I for society, and there seemed to be
reasonably contented. Society amused
him and wasn't too exacting. Society
coddled him; he was young, handsome,
clever and rich.
And yet he would admit that he felt
a little conscience stricken when Anna
Goldie gravely asked him one day
about his future hopes. There was a
look in her eyes that he didn't like
when he laughed off the query. 1t set
him to thinking, and thinking was an
occupation he rarely INDUCED in.
Thinking almost disquieted him. He
! avoided Anna Goldie for time, and
found that was still more disquieting.
And then just as he was thinking he
| would invite another talk with her on
the original disquieting subject she
suddenly went away. She went, they
told him, to visit an invalid aunt in the
interior of the state. She might be
gone some time. 1t was more a visit
Of duty than of pleasure, and it's con-
tinuance would depend altogether upon
the failing health of the aunt. In what
part of the state did Miss Goldie's aunt
live? Somewhere near Palmyra.
Palmyra? That was where Jim Rob-
bins lived Good old Jim Robbins,
whom he hadn't seen since his last col
lege year. Jim was somebody down in
Palmyra. Member of the legislature,
or something. He saw Jim's name in
the papers occasionally. Jim was a
rising man.
AS the days wore along The desire to
visit Jim grew upon him. He had o
standing invitation to come down at
any time There was a pressing note
in his desk of quite recent date In
which he was told of the treat he was
missing in not making the acquaint-
ance of Jin's matchless wife and
equally matchless girls. He wondered
if Jim would know the abiding place of
Anna Goldie's aunt. If he was poll
tician, he probably knew everybody.
He decided to go down at once and
make Jim a visit, and he wrote to him
to that effect
Then he went to the bank and called
on his father. And while he was there
his uncle Tom came in and the three
were closeted for long time in his
fathers private room. When they
came out, his uncle Tom shook hands
with him and patted him on the back
in his usual hearty fashion. And his
father shook hands with him in grave
fashion, and both the elder men seem
ed highly elated. Spencer shook his
head a little doubtfully as he left them.
Then he braced up with swift stiffen-
ing of his fingers and clinching of his
hands and accelerated his pace. He
was going to his rooms to fill his dress
suit case for the visit to Jim.
He arrived at Palmyra early In the
evening. He had meant to reach there
in the afternoon, but the train was de-
layed. He hadn't told Jim just what
day he would start, and so his old
friend wasn't bothering over his nom
appearance. Spencer concluded he
would look Jim up in the morning. He
went to the hotel and had his supper.
After supper he strolled up to the
clerks desk and inquired about his
friend.
ooh, Jim RobbinsY' cried the clerk.
Eyes, yes. Jim is one of our leading
citizens. Has a nice home up on the
West hill. He's a great hustler, Jim
is. Going to send him to the state sen
ate next fall. Friend of yoursY
yes" said Spencer, IAN old friend.
Came down to visit him"
Tell you what you do" said the
clerk. Jim is the chairman, toast
master, whatever you call it, of the big
banquet at Raymond hall tonight.
It's a complimentary feed given in
honor of Colonel Jack Speed, who Is
home for a brief visit, and everybody,
pretty much, is going. Colonel Speed
Is our congressman, you know, and
he's in high favor in Palmyra. Hon.
Dwight Perkins from somewhere out
west, one of the big national lights Of
the house, is to be the speaker Of the
occasion, and they'll have plenty to eat
and good music. Better go over"
A half hour later Spencer assembled
the stairway of Raymond hail. He
noticed a number of ladies In the
crowd that steadily marched into the
hall, and he was rather glad to find
that the banquet was not to be of the
usual political for men only character.
At the head of the stairs he noticed a
door standing open, and looking
through into the brightly lighted ante
room he saw his old friend. The Inn
pulse was too strong to resist, and he
passed in the doorway and held out
his hand.
whats the matter with Jim Rob-
bins?" he laughingly called.
In an instant his friends hafN
gripped his
Spencer old man, so glad to see
your He pushed Spencer off little
and held him there. You are looking
prime" he said. "And, by George!
you are Just in time" He laughed as
he spoke, and looked at Spencer with
such comical expression that it in
stantly recalled to the latter some
amusing experiences of the dear old
school days.
"What mischief are you up tor he
cried. But, here, I'm In the way
Don't let me bother you. I'll see you
| in the morning" And he drew back
and half turned toward the door.
"Hold on" cried Jim, with a plunge
at him, ''you don't get away from me
tonight You stay right here until
can properly dispose of YOU"
Hon. Jack Speed was seated at Jim's
right and Spencer at his left, much to
the latters increased uneasiness. Then
the banquet commenced, and for an
hour the clatter and chatter continued
without break Jim was as delight