The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1900-08-07

the Amsterdam ladies viii like Them.
They just suit this background"
They seemed to indeed and got on
better than Bertha, whose youth con-
demned her to a subordinate place.
This was not as it was in America,
Bertha reflected and permitted herself
to indulge in moment of homesick-
ness as she sat apart, her glowing
beauty unnoticed by the middle aged
people who were paying their respects
to her aunt and her second cousin.
81 have delayed for moment for an
other guest" Mrs. Truax said. 81 wish
ed to present to your niece, Miss Man
derson," she said, addressing Bertha's
aunt, "a young man who is half an
American All, there is the bell now"
The man at the door announced
moment later:
Herr Van Brunt"
Bertha turned with an anticipation
which she endeavored to subdue. 1t
was not likely that the son of a garden
er would be at the home of Mrs. Truax
But in the young man who entered
Bertha saw with unmistakable recog-
milton the amiable, soft eyes, the round
face and high brow and quiet, kindly
manners of her old friend, borne with
the assurance and ease that come of
self confidence
The hostess managed to whisper to
Bertha's aunt, and of course Bertha
overheard:
"This young man has distinguished
himself in landscape gardening He
has just laid out a park for Prince
Zagenwell and is much thought of both
in Holland and Germany hear that
the Duke of York is likely to send for
him for his new place In Scotland"
Dominicus Van Brunt saIuted his
hostess with a profound bow. How
well Bertha remembered that quaint
reverence of manneri He was present
ed to the guests and at last was led
up to Bertha, who suddenly felt as if
she were in short frocks, with freckles
on her face and braids down her back.
He started and flushed and then held
out his hand in the good American
way, regardless of ceremony.
''What, you are acquaintedW cried
the hostess. They explained. The
hostess turned in some perplexity to
the spinster aunt. She wondered If she
had unintentionally committed an in
discretion. But there was no annoy
ance in the face Of the elder Miss Man
derson, and the hostess felt at liberty
to permit the two young people to go
down m dinner toOofhar
The conversation at dinner would not
be particularly interesting to recount.
But Bertha remembered every word of
it. Perhaps Dominicus Van Brunt did
too-but it has been impossible to Sc
cure his confidence. 1t is a certain
thing, however, that the next day
basket came for the young American
toes, dropped like eggs in a nest of
white daisies. Which was, surely,
curious gift!
Now it is undeniable that Bertha
Henderson found Amsterdam interest
ing, yet for some. reason best under
stood by her sex she remained in 1t but
a short time. Fastening away to other
points of interest. It Is also certain
that about the time Of her departure a
young landscape gardener ran to yews
and weeping willows in his designs
and accepted with alacrity the oppor-
tunity of designing a cemetery for
some new American town. But he re-
covered from his gloom when there
reached him from the shores of the
Baltic a trinket fashioned Of lucent
amber, shaped like yellow tomato.
1t occurred to him that he ought also
to visit the stored beaches of the Bal
tic, and he did so without an hours
unnecessary delay.
And the consequence was, as the
children say when they play the old
game, that when Miss Bertha Mander-
son returned to America she wore for
an engagement ring a tomato shaped
topaz on her third finger.-Exchange