The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-06-26
H.>.%.>.>.%.~.%.>.%.<,<.<.<.~
His WayWard Way:
He Was Double the Age of
the Girl He Loved and 1t
Troubled Him.

: .>.>.%.%.%.%.%.~.>.>.%:%:%.%
Matthew Halliday sighed. She was
so hayward, so provoking, so lovable.
SO pretty!
But he was much too old.
Matthew came from Quaker stock in
the City of Brotherly Love. BE was
temperamentally sedate and at 3S felt
himself to be quite Methuselah. Be-
sides she had, so to speak, grown up at
Matthew's knee, he having stood to her
and her brother in loco PARENTS for
something like IL years-ever since
Matthew's best beloved friend, How
ard Joy, took his invalid wife away for
a sea voyage, leaving his two children
in the good care of maiden aunt and
his business affairs in the safe hands
of Matthew Halliday, banker; ever
since the good ship Aurora went down
in fearful gale in the West Indies.
But now the term of Matthew's self
imposed guardianship was over. How
ard JOY, Jr., had made a successful
start in the world and was quite ready
TO give uedE OlQ N1dC any POAhsCAS AZ
needed about life in general.
AS for Miss Evelyn Russell Joy, as
she invariably and unabbreviatingly
subscribed herself, whom Matthew
called "Eve" or oftener Miss Idle
wild"-well, she, too, had made sue
cessful start in life after the manner
of girls. She was 10 ("Just half my
age" Matthew often dismally reflect
ed. She had charm with all its power
of winning love, she was coquette to
the finger tips, and she was most fair
to see. Besides all this she was a little
bit of an heiress, and many SWANS
came riding by.
Matthew watched all this with a pa
tient sort of despair. sFool!' he called
himself, with very hearty self con-
tempt
1t was to quash a darling plan of his
pretty sisters that Howard stalked In
to Matthew's Office one morning, his
brow wrinkled in portentous 'frown.
Mat" he said abruptly, sit seems to
me Evelyn has been spending money
like the deuce lately. Haven't you
been letting her draw her interest
ahead Of timer
sometimes she has anticipated-a
little" he said slowly, "but it is no
great matter"
"But it is very bad for her," said
Howard, with a parental air. "You
know yourself, Mat, she has no more
idea of business than a butterfly. She
ought to learn to live within her in
come And she is becoming quite reck-
less about money matters and-other
things"
Matthew pricked up his ears. what
other thingsY
''Why, it is chiefly that playwriting
fellow, Duval He has comedy to be
brought out in New York next week,
and about 20 young people here pro-
pose to make up party for the first
night Evelyn Is among them. They
have q rather good chaperon, as 1t hap
pens, but
"She must not CO." said Matthew.
II thought you'd see it that way
Howard replied. with a satisfied air.
$50 all you have to do when she de-
mands money for this expedition is to
say No You can do this because she
has overdrawn her account"
Two or three days after this visit of
Towards Miss Idlewild went down
town to see Matthew in his Office at the
bank ION business" as she said de-
murely.
"Give the poor cripple diner she
said In her absurd way.
Certainly" said Matthew, with
grave politeness, and he took bright
new dime out of little roll Of coins
fresh from the mint and handed it to
her. So she looked little disconnected
and abandoned this method of attack.
Matthew, / am bankrupt, insolvent,
forced to make an assignment" she
said in plaintive, spoiled child tone.
az want some money-a lot of money.
In fact-for a very special purpose.
May have it?'
"A lotT repeated Matthew.
Eyes, that's it; at least a hundred"
Matthew looked grave. "What Is
the special purposeT he inquired,
fervently hoping she would tell him al
about the proposed theater party.
"That's a secret" said Miss Idle
wild, with an air Of mystery.
II cannot let you have any money
Just now. Eve" he said gently after O
pause, and as. he spoke he carefully