The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-03-11
SHE GLANCED UP 1Nn1anANrr.n.


fresh, cool lake breeze since the sun
shot its last crimson shaft above the
pines of the mainland shore He was
cold with his coat and sweater on. IF
only she would give some sign of
weakeningy' he thought and then
caught glimpse Of her profile-the up
lifted rebellious chin and the short up
per lip. the straight little nose, with its
delicious tendency to tilt heavenward,
and the fiuttering wisps of straying
curls that the wind tossed where it
pleased-and his foot ground an unof-
Tending clump Of aspiring clover in the
sand
If she had never kissed him, it would
have been another matter, but she
had-not once; he could distinctly re-
member several times And they were
not cousinly kisses either. Eleanor
kissed him in cousinly fashion
friendly, mild little SHES at his chin
or eyebrow-when he had a birthday
or left for college, but Jean had been
Observation-Disclosures ever since he could
remember, when, a thin, big eyed, red
haired young creature of six, she had
proclaimed her love for him from the
housetops and graciously showered
him with favors varying from sticky
caramel kisses to the eyes of her loved
doll when the latter went the way of
her kind. He looked at his watch. The
boat could not possibly reach them
from Macatawa before another half
hour 1t would make a landing on its
way around the lake to gather up the
cottagers for the hop.
Are you hungry"
1t was last appeal. Jeanette
plucked spray of sand cherries and
began to eat them stoically. He re-
membered other girls with red hair
who had the same pleasant, madden
ing little ways at critical moments. 1t
must be in the color, or was it just
pure
She glanced up Indignantly when he
knelt beside her and wrapped his coat
around her and then laughed when she
saw the look on his face.
81 like you when you're like that,
Tom" she said.
Like what"
'Oh, just brace up and boss me and
forget you're only boy! Can you see
the boat yetY'
NO; I'm not boy. Does Kerwin
boss your
Not very much; sometimes. He's
never rude"
isn't that pleasant" After a pause,
do you like him so awfully well?'
He was stretched out on the sand at
her feet, all his heart in his eyes as
be looked at her. They were good
eyes that had not yet lost the frank,
questioning directness of boyhood.
Jeanette gazed steadily at the red
light that had suddenly fickered to
life in the lighthouse at Osbourne
point.
pretty WELL" she said thoughtfully.
Better than you do me?'
you are so disagreeable at times,
Tom. that it isn't fair to judge" she
returned generously. you keep one
80 in doubt, you know, and Mr.. Kerwin
is always the same. He is one of the
most amiable men l have ever met"
81 hate amiable men,"
"How you must love yourself, dearI'
Don't call me dear. When we fight,
you always ring in the cousin racket
fnd dear boy me. I'm not a boy"
Don't growl so. You are boy, six
feet one and a hundred and sixty
pounds of good. solid, sweet tempered
loyable boy. | wonder if Mr.. Kerwin
will be worried about me and come on
the boat. He has the first waltz"
You always give him waltzes. All
get are two steps. What fellow has
any chance in two step?'
1.-TWO steps were made for you, Tom.
Your graceful prance is heavenly. I
feel as if had been at football game
when you slow up and deposit my re-
mains on a friendly chair. But one
doesn't waltz as if one were wound up
like toy engine to scoot from wall to
wall in frenzy. Mr.. Kerwin learned
in Europe, he says"
IF | could think that you only did it
to torment me. the way it was with
Bob and Cliff Maxon and the rest,
wouldn't care hang. But some way
he seems different. He's forty-fve''-
''Thirty-six."
Its all the same, and know Uncle
Nick smells cold cash or he'd never
throw you at his head the way he
does"
"He doesn't throw me at his head"
came the hot denial. Eleanor is al
ways with u.s.
"oA, well. Eleanor. she's most thir-
ty''-
twenty-five last April"
81 don't care. She wouldn't look at
Kerwin. If he comes on the boat, I'll
throw him in the lake.
You sweet child! Tom, dear. do you
know
NO; 1 don't know" he retorted BIT
terly. Il don't know anything, jeanne,
except that l love you, and you don't
care rap"
There was silence. After few min
utes she stole a glance at him. His
head was lying on his arms, his face
hidden. She smiled little, tremulous,
fearful smile. What boy he was! A
man would have known, taken it for
granted anyway. But all he did was
avow his cause and lay down heart
and sword before the battle had even
begup. +,