The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-12-10
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
; The Remaking
!; Of MIR. Watts
And What 1t Led To.

| very nearly killed a man once-ind
rectly. As it was, | led to his breaking
his arm. cutting his face very badly and
spelling his clothes. 1t is a horrid confess
sion to have to make, but | want to ease
my conscience by setting it down.
One night was sitting in my little
room in the dull little provincial town of
Churchly. | was thinking what a dull
little provincial town it was. And yet, |
unused phiosophically, | suppose all the
human interests of the big world can be
found in Churchly and all the different
types of human character if one will only
go through the boredom of locking for
them, when they are on such very small
scale. Talk of romance. why there is
poor Watts
At that moment Watts came in. He
often visited me of an evening. 1t was
not so much that he wanted to see me and
to hear my sentiments, but | was almost
the only person who would sit patiently
by while he aired his two pet subjects
to wit, butterflies and Molly Carton.
And Watts wasn't such bad fellow
either. He had all the makings of fine
man. ] used to think. but unfortunately
he was the only son of a silly mother.
And so she had never sent him to school
to be kicked by the horrid, rough boys.
but had kept him at home with tutor,
who wore spectacles. and had got into the
habit of eternaly catching butterflies and
moths and things and killing them and
putting their little corpses in boxes with
their wings stretched out. If he had done
- ~, vunr1l1 bax nv co1
him. But he didn't. He simply lived for
it and for Molly Carton. And the two
things were Incompatible.
AS for Molly herself, had my ideas
about her. She was my sister-in-law, and
we had been friends from the days when
we had bowled our hoops together in the
High street much to the annoyance of
ayfarersl right down to the time Of
which am speaking. when we had many
a ride and game of hockey in each others
company So | 6attered myself | knew
something of that erratic and athletic
young lady's mind, and had come to the
conclusion. first, if Watts would cease to
be quite such an ass he would make her
an excellent husband. and, secondly, that,
given that change in disposition. she
would not be unwilling to recognize him
in that capacity.
Butterfly hunting was not to the fore
with Watts tonight. 1t seemed that that
day the lady had rejected him for the sec
ond time.
Wherein. seated upon my chair. he
made much moan.
~ didn't think you had the remotest
chance" | said, when he had finished his
narrative He looked at me blankly.
Unless" proceeded, you make up
your mind to do several things"
What? What?" he said eagerly.
First" | replied. folding my hands in
philosophic calm, never to talk of beetles
and bugs for whole six months. never
to let Yourself be seen with that long net
of yours in your hand. never to show a
soul those little creatures you have stuck
pins through"
He gasped, but was silent.
Secondly" proceeded, ''you must be-
come an athlete"
81! An athletel' he exclaimed.
"You must play football" said, land
be careful to get your shins well hacked"
lie gasped again.
"And in summer time" proceeded, Il
think ii will be well for you to join the
cricket club"
''Impossiblep' he murmured.
ut would be desirable Also | went on,
paying no attention to the Interruptions
of the silly man. IF you became hero.
Now, you might save life from drown
ing"
81 can't SWIM" he muttered feebly.
Then you must learn to SWIM" |
shouted with sudden emphasis that
quite quenched him for time. And.
above all, you must learn to cycle"
"Oh hr'
do you think" | said with much in
dignation, that a well built, active girl
like Molly Carton wants to spend her life
sewing on the buttons of wretched fel'
low who can only handle butterfly net p
He looked so miserable as | Numbered
these words at MIN that | felt moved to
genuine sorrow for him. But was cruel
only to be kind.
Come now | said in a gentler tone,
81 have known what love is"-here
sighed and thought of my own dear Katie
lying under the grass in the churchyard-
land | know it's worth good effort to
win a woman. Lei me help you.
"How can you?'' he said dsmally.
Tomorrow" | replied decisively. I'VE
start learning the bicycle in my back gar
den On Saturday there is a pick up OF the
Busy Bees and you come with me to
have your shins hacked
He groaned. but thanked me and as
sented.
All. what weeks they were, those sue
ceed;pg weeks in which we toled. Watts
and | together, to make him an athlete!
| will say nothing of the foot ball. save
that he displayed really admirable pluck
in the presence of his ladylove. lighting
with a ferocity that called down the re-
bukc of the referee and covering himself
with sticking plaster if not with actual
glory. But the bicycle! Oh. what weary
hours ! spent in that garden of mine in
frantic endpavor TO teach HIM to ride,
He seemed to have a positive genius for
doing the wrong thing Time after time
| nearly despnired. and yet at last there
came day when he actually wabhlrd the
whole length of the garden path without
any assistance and without fall.
Molly" | said. about fortnight after.
"who do you think is going to JOIN our
bicycling party tomorrow? Watts
why. he cant ride" she answered
"Oh. can't he said | He can ride
like anything He has been learning for
weeks"
"Whateve, made him do that" she
asked with tie least LITTLE self conscious
change of expression.
WANTED company. | suppose. ! an
swered In my most matter of fact voice.
"Bes a great friend of mine you know.
and
She made slight gesture of annoyance,
,,.bi | bppnH thnf | had said fhp
wrong thing
"You don't mind his coming. poor
chapf" | asked Hes getting so tired
of going ahuut aICne
HE can come if h" likes" she said
From which hene philosopher.
gathered that she was very pleased he
was coming
And 81 nexr day Watts turned up with
his hicycit and splendid par OF new
knee breeches and some wonderful thick
stockings to cover his skinny calves.
We started for our trip satisfactorily.
Jagged little behind and watched the
fun. Watts. grasping his handles with
immense frmness and gazing 6Xedly at
the road before him. piled his legs with
great vigor in the effort to keep abreast of
Molly. who was in a mischievous mood.
But at last came a catastrophe. There
was a point where the road forded toll
,rably wide. shallow brook, while by the
side couple of planks and single hand
rail made a bridge for foot passengers
Molly rode in front, and. giving half
turn of her head. which revealed to me a
broad smile and a twinkle of mischief in
her eyes she went straight as an arrow