The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-04-16
Cure For
Loneliness
BY W. R. ROSE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

trees in the park. The white capped
nurses sat on the rustic seats here and
there and watched their charges or
played with the smaller children who
nestled in wicker carriages with gay
colored canopies.
On one of the benches not far from
the entrance sat an elderly man. He
was straight and square shouldered,
with a white mustache and grizzled
hair and a strong suggestion Of early
military training. He sat there be-
cause he liked to see the children at
play. They were better company than
his thoughts. Anyway, he had little
else to do.
On this particular day he had watch
ed the playful elves as they darted in
and out among the trees until he had
grown tired. The warm sun made him
sleepy His gray head slowly dropped
back, his shoulders found a restful
corner Of the high backed seat, and
presently he was soundly sleeping.
A slight concussion awakened him.
He opened his eyes with little start.
The sun was peeping through the
foliage, and the rays dazzled him. He
tried to raise hand to draw his soft
hat over his eyes and could not. Both
hands were pinioned fast. He looked
down. A rope was encircling his body
and holding his arms fast to his sides.
He made an effort to release himself,
but without success. He fancied he
could sympathize with the feelings of
CULVER when he found the pygmies
had caught and bound him. He was
sure it was one of the playful fairies
whom he had watched so many times
among the trees. He was right. A
child's laughter broke on his ears. His
captor was close behind him.
"Aha," he said in what was intended
for very gruff voice, "are you there?
finland me at once or tremble for the
consequencesp
The cord-it was a child's skipping
rope-was rapidly drawn from about
his waist, and moment later its own
er danced in front of him.
She was a little girl of possibly Z,
though at times her varying express
sions made her seem much older. Her
hair fioated about her head in careless
waves and tendrils, her eyes were gray
and deep, her mouth was small and
beautifully shaped, and there was a
saucy upward tilt to her short nose.
"Pooh, pooh," she said, with mock
ing courtesy, II amt bit afraid Of
your
"And why notY' the old man asked.
She was charming fairy, a natural
little coquette, and her every move
was full of subtle grace. "And why
are you not afraid of such gray old
mustache as 1 ann" he asked again as
she pirouetted before him.
Because you are my grandfather"
she carelessly answered.
The old mans face darkened-
"What do you mean by that nom
senseY' he harshly asked.
mTain't nonsense" said the little
maiden, unless grandfathers is nom
sense. Anyway, you're my GRANDPA
Their" And she started to leave him.
"Wait," he cried. "Come here. What
did you mean by saying am your
grandfather? Do you call every OLD
man you see grandfather
"No," said the child. "Only you."
He studied her face sharply.
Come little closer" he said IN
coaxing tones. She marched boldly up
to him. Her little hand few up and
touched the front of her cap.
THAT'S the way to salute soldier"
she said, with merry laugh. Mamma
said you was one"
He caught his breath.
Perhaps" he slowly said, "you can
even tell me my nameY
eyes, can" replied the child. tits
easy Your name is Philip. An now
guess what mine is"
Isis it Mary? he gently asked.
mo" laughed the child. That's
mammals. Mine is most like yours.
It's Philippa."
The old man was silent for a mo-
ment.
"Is your mother here, child?" he sud
lenly asked is she lurking about
among the trees?'
"Who? Do you mean mammaT
cried the child. "She isn't here. She
hasn't no time for trees. She's always
too busy. Didn't you know she paints!
Yes; she paints lovely little pictures.
Minichoors she calls them. They're
pictures of people, don't you know
only much prettier. But sometimes
people don't pay very quick. an some
times they think mamma charges too
much, an sometimes she doesn't have
any pictures to do. Then, you know,
It's pretty hard to have the landlord
call. l guess you know how that is"
"And where is your father?" and the
old mans voice suddenly grew hard.
Hes beaded in Callyforny," said the
child. HE was an actor, you know; a
stage actor. l don't member him very
well. 1 was too little when he went
away. I've tried to act, too, but Della,
that's the janitor's wife, she says l
can't act for shucks."
"Good thing" muttered the old man.
"Well, / don't know" said the child.
''You see, l wanted to do somethin to
uolp uldmLud, al IL CdA dCb 0OAA
know what l can do But s'pose it's
no use. Della said that as child won
der l was the wust she ever seen, an
Della goes out good deal"
A faint smile crossed the old mans
stern features.
"And what made you think that am
your grandfather he asked.
"Oh, Marie Kramer told mep replied
the child "She knows everybody.
She's lived out more places. She's
Bessie Leighton's nurse now, an just
as soon as she saw you sittin here one
day she said, There's old Colonel Rob-
son. She knew you cause you used
to go to the Bronsons, where she was
Twin then. An pretty soon she looked
at me an said, Why, he's your grand
father, amt hep An / said didn't
know, an she thought it out an said,
Yes, he is, cause your mamma is his
daughter, an she ran away with play
actor, an the old hunks shut his door
on her forever That's what Marie
said. An when l went home | said to
Della, My grandfather's sittin over
there in the park, an he's the lonesom-
est lookin thing An Della says: II