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

Phyllida's lips shaped themselves to an
swer; her tongue, however rebelled a
the words. l leaned forward inquiringly
"Yes," l repeated encouragingly. "Yoi
| wanted to know how l could
''K-k-kiss her? Yes"
"My own, it was quite easy" l an
swered reassuringly.
"What!" was the indignant response
'You actually boast Of it! Why, yor
must be brazenp'
mot at ALL" returned, stung by the
unworthy insinuation. 81 am panied thai
you should condemn me unheard. Yor
| do not know all the circumstances"
"What ones?
he-er-extenuating ones"
81 don't believe there were any"
pardon me; there were several"
"Tell me one of them, then"
'sWell, the lady didn't object"
"Then she was brazen too. / knew it
You were both of you equally guilty"
| This was overstepping the bounds Of
! ordinary acquaintanceship. Something
was due to myself too. In a moment
had resolved upon my course of action.
Il cannot permit you to asperse an in
| nocent lady who is not here to defend
herself" observed. ''The blame, if any
was entirely mine"
"Ah, you only say that because you're
a man." returned Phyllida, obviously
softening a little.
sit is the truth" l asserted proudly
"Never shall it be said of me that l stood
by and saw the character of a woman
assailed in her absence without raising q
voice in her defense"
Rubbish" was the inelegant retort
"She's designing mink, I'm sure-and q
cat too! So therel l expect, though. =
she added in another tone, ''if only the
truth were known she led you on
"Well," / admitted refectively, cher
behavior might certainly be considered
-er-encouraging.
''There! was sure of it all the time, y
cried Phyllida triumphantly. "Tell me,
now, what did she do?"
MY dear" l expostulated, "you really
oughtn't to ask me such things"
"Why, was it so bad as all that"
am afraid must have unconsciously
nodded an affirmative. Phyllida came to
my side.
"You poor old thing" she whispered
softly. 'Did she put her arms round
yOuI HCCh IKE lnlS W utIi SHE klSScU YOu
This time ! nodded purposely.
ooh, the mink"
'Don't condemn her unheard,''I plead
ed.
"You dear, good natured old goose,''
said Phyllida gently, 'it's only your gen
crosby that makes you find excuses for
her."
HBut she was very young" / urged.
S'Young, indeedl H'm-quite old enough
to know better, I'm sure"
Indeed, Phyllida, don't think this was
the case"
"Well, how old was she?"
ooh, don't know exactly; it's not con-
sidered polite to ask a lady her age, you
know"
"Well, you seem to have got on such in
innate terms with her that should have
thought you would have asked her any
thing"
81 did ask her mother" I admitted
"Ah-well that's something" returned
Phyllida in a decidedly more satisfied
tome "Tell me, though she continued,
"'did you ask ON the day that she made
this disgraceful exhibition of herselfY'
"Meaning?'
"Oh, you know perfectly well-the day
when she kissed your"
Yes
"Well, how old was she then?"
81 don't think ought to tell you, Phyl-
Ida Consider, how would you like
"But want to know such a lot"
GLOW much?' l demanded sternly.
every much indeed-please."
"All right, then; but promise you'll
navar foil har -
"Of course l won't-nowv'
"You don't want to know out of mere
curiosity, hope?' l asked anxiously, as
I made room for her in the chair beside
me.
"Oh, don't be aggravating. If you still
care for me at all, and don't want me to
withdraw my forgiveness. tell me at once
how old that horrid girl was when she
kissed your"
"Put your head nearer"
Phyllida inclined a shell-like ear to
suitable proximity.
Just 2 years." l whispered into it,
King.