The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-06-25

S@..0a.-.'@@.-.+o0..-e@ @-s-.0@.-.-
"Goodby, goodby; yes, Wen write and
tell you all about it, and perhaps send you
some Of the drawn work"
And with these and the other usual
messages the train carrying the big ex-
cursion to Mexico pulled out of the sta
ton.
1t was common, everyday sight to the
station hands, and they gave it only a
passing glance. But to most Of the trav-
elers it was a novel experience, and they
looked on it as only the beginning of days
of sightseeing in the land of the Monte
zumas.
There were two passengers in one of
the sleepers who attracted some atten-
ton. One was a woman of 60, tall and
straight, with a carriage like queen
and who seemed as young and gay as the
youngest. The other called her ''mother"
and was about %, beautiful girl. Their
son and brother had come to the station
to bid them goodby, a man of 30, we'll
groomed and well made, the typical
American man of that age.
He had provided them with everything
that his affection could suggest and told
them to be sure to let him know day by
day where they were and if they were
well.
"And you will look after mother, Alice,
won't you?"
As he spoke two young ladies turned
and looked at him--hiss sister and a
younger woman, about %. She turned
involuntarily, and the pretty blush that
covered her cheek showed that her name
was Alice too.
Robert Duncan glanced at her and was
struck with her beauty. But she saw his
look and turned away and busted herself
with her baggage. His mother and sister
both noticed the coincidence also and
smiled.
$50 we will have two Alices along"
said his mother. 81 hope we shall become
acquainted with the young lady. She
looks very pleasant and very nice"
Just then the porter shouted "All
aboard" and Robert jumped from the
train. As the car passed him he looked
in vain for the faces Of his mother and
sister. But he did see the face of the
other Alice looking at him with some Gu
riosity.
Then he returned to his Office. He was
the junior partner in a prominent law
firm in Boston and had hard afternoon
of work before him. There was a brief
in a case that had puzzled both himself
and his partner. But try as he would to
concentrate his mind on his work. he
could see nothing but the beautiful face
at the car window and hear nothing but
the droning of the car wheels.
At last he became so nervous that he
threw down his pen. and, telling the boy
he would not be back till morning, he
walked up across the Common and the
Public garden to his home.
The evening at the theater did not help
him, and he was rather horror struck to
find himself no better in the morning.
This was q new experience for him. No
woman had ever before come between
him and his work. This was silly. He
never saw the girl before. and he never
would see her again, of course. He must
have dyspepsia.
So, on his way to his Office, he made
call on his old college chum, now a prom
Using young physician. He did not tell
the doctor what the most prominent symp-
ton was, but was sure he needed medicine
for dyspepsia. Accordingly he felt rather
foolish when he was obliged to say no to
all the doctors questions as to whether
he had certain symptoms inseparable
from gastric trouble.
The doctor laughed and gave him some
harmless powder and he went to the Of
fee strong in his resolve to finish the
brief. He made fairly good Roadway,
but still the image Of the beautiful girl
would come back to him, and, as the day
wore on, more distinctly. Late in the aft
ernoon he got telegram saying the party
was at Chicago and signed Alice" And
that started it all over again.
Then he became alarmed and feared his
mind was going. for he was not a be-
lever in "love at first sight," or hardly
in the grand passion itself.
Then he found himself with an almost
resistless longing to take the first train
and follow his folks. OF course be did
not admit to himself that he wanted to
see the other Alice.
That afternoon one of the firms best
clients came in. He said he contemplated
purchasing some thousand acres in Mex
leo with the idea of establishing a coffee
plantation there He was not satisfied
with the title to the land and felt that
some one ought to go down there and look
into the matter more closely. He could
not spare the time and came to them.
thinking that possibly some of their
young men might have enough knowledge
Of Spanish to make the trip.
Robert Duncan regarded him as an an
gel and said that as the Office was not
very busy just then he thought he should
like to make the trip himself. This was
better than the client expected. and the
matter was soon fixed up.
rbor mill fnlkc
down there" said the senior partner.
'Why. perhaps will" said Duncan
as If he had Just thought of it. But be
told his partner that it was hardly prob
able, as he was going down on the lower
tablelands near the coast and the excur
sions usually kept pretty well upon the
higA plateaus.
That night before he started he got
letter from his mother, and in it she said
"Alice Chambers is lovely. and we enjoy
her 80 much" So that was her name
Chambers.
The next morning he started. His
journey was a tiresome one. and after
several days spent on the train he found
himself one glorious afternoon climbing
a little mountain path on the back OF a
burro. Duncan had told his folks by
wire of his intended trip and found by
looking over their itinerary that they had
passed quite near where be now was.
He had left the train at little town
through which they passed some days
previous and was making his way into
the country to interview an old Indian
whom he expected to find the next morn |
Ing. The title to. Mexican lands often d.