The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-05-13
LOVE is
BLIND
ny CAROLYN WELLS
BY CAROLYN WELLS
Copyright, 1901, By CAROLYN we1ls

On Christmas in her cozy library
Mrs. Tom McIlvaine sits absorbed in
contemplation of gifts already received
and excited anticipation of probable
or possible ones to follow. An i'm
pulsive cuckoo shoots out and delivers
his twelve wooden squeaks and snaps
himself in again.
Mrs. McIlvaine-Twelve o'clock. Kit
ty will be here soon. She said she'd
call on her way from church-oh, here
you are! (She rises and greets warmly
young woman Of somewhat frivolous
effects.) Merry Christmas!
Miss Bates--Merry Christmas your
self oh, Edith, such larks! What do
you think did? (She walks toward
tableful of Christmas flotsam and jet
sam) Oh! Who gave you this chatting
dish? How perfectly lovely!
Mrs. Brother john What
have you been up to now, you crazy
girl? You look like spirit of Christ
mas with that holly on your coat And
is this mistletoe pinned to your hat
brim?
Miss Bates-Yes, that's the lark. You
see, just as was going in church this
morning I found that spray on the
steps, and it was lovely, and wanted
it. So, for lack of better place to
keep it, stuck 1t In my hat
Mrs. McIlvaine-With disastrous re-
suits. Oh, Kitty, Kitty!
Miss Bates-Yes. Dick Wheeler /
kissed me in the vestibule; Captain
Jennings, who has the pew next ours,
leaned over and kissed me during the
prayer, and the vestryman who passed
the plate nearly let it fall when he
came to me. but he neglected his priv
ilege. The choir boys threw kisses to
me, and | expected every minute the !
rector would come down and salute |
me- but he didn't. After service |
had fairly to scamper out the door
and here l am. Did John really give
you this chatting dish? How much |
nicer he is as brother than as
friendi He gave me a copy of the |
'Sistine Madonna" and have three
already. | wish he'd ask me to be a
sister to him.
Mrs McIlvaine-He's much more
likely to ask you to be sister to me-
Miss Batos-Not he! He never pays
the slightest attention to me, and
adore him.
Mrs. McIlvaine-He'll be here direct
ly. Leave your hat on and see whether
he pays any attention to you or not.
Miss Bates-I WILL Is any one else
coming?
Mrs. McIlvaine-O Only Mr.. Henderson
and Tom. You won't mind them.
Miss Bates-Oh, no! In a multitude
of risks there is safety
Mrs. McIlvaine's brother. John Nor
ris, and her husband appear in the |
doorway.
McIlvaine-Merry Christmas, girls |
Ohio, madcap Kitty! Gle sees the
mistletoe in her hat and kisses her |
heartily)
Morris mot observing the mistletoe)-
All. A special privilege, suppose l
mightn't hope for the same, Miss
Bates?
Miss Bates-Not without some en-
enlargement.
-Oh-ah--certainly not
McIlyalne-DOn't you see any encour-
agement, old man, in the-er-atmos-
phere?
Norris Noting Miss Bates frigid
manner and forbidding face)-No; l
can't say that | do.
Miss Bates-Of course he doesn't.
Why should he? And yet it's a tell
ing situation. Good gracious, Edith
Who gave you this painting?
Mrs. McIlvaine- oh! That's one of
the exigencies of the occasion. Christ
mas isn't all beer and skittles.
Miss Bates-What an awful looking
child Its flesh Is blue.
Morris Where it isn't green.
Miss Bates-And that pink poodle is
daisy
Mechanically, that's IMPRESSIONS
tic. Your low natures can't appreciate
high art. All! Ito Mr.. Henderson, who
enters with Bert Barrington.) Merry
Christmas. old fellow! Hello, Bert!
You're just in time. Help me hang
these greens, will you?
Barrington-Sure. Merry Christmas.
Mrs. McIlvainei Gle sees mistletoe in
Kitty's hatJ Well. I'll be blessed!
Kisses her,
Morris-You audacious wretch! Do
you allow such impertinence, Miss
Bates?
Miss Bates-Oh, can't resent it I'M
der he-circumstances
Darlington ho! Never heard
the bough called by that name before.
! say. Kit. you look like a poster for
Christmas number.
Miss Bates--Not /. I'm not tall
enough. Christmas poster girls are al
ways eight feet high at least.
Morris (speaking aside to Kitty
And you're only as high as my heart.
Darlington (overhearing him)-Then
she's not very tall. for you look as if
your heart was in your boots.
Morris-That doesn't follow, for I'm
sure | don't know whether I'm on my
head or my heels.
McIlyaine- Ha. hai Score one, John.
Now. you fellows, help me with these
greens. They ought to have been up
hours ago.
Henderson-We will. Where's the
ladder?
McIlvaine-It's just outside. I'll fetch
it. Gle goes out and returns with a
tall stepladder.) Now, Edith. what
goes where?
Mrs. McIlvaine-I want this rope
green draped from the chandelier out
to the walls on all sides; sort of cano-
py effect, you know.
McIlvaine-T That's dead easy. Hold
one end, Bert.
Barrington-No let me go up the lad
der, Tom. You're too heavy.
McIlvaine- on, my dainty Ariel
Behold Barrington's first rise in the
worldl
harrington (starting up)-Fain would
climb but that fear to fall
Morrs-If you've heart failure. do
not climb at all.
harrington My heart isn't affected.
Speak for yourself, John.
Morris docking at Kitty)-I only
wish dared.
Mrs. McIlvaine-Oh, Bert. while
you're up there please fasten this
mistletoe to the chandelier. VIII you
hand it up to him, Mr.. Henderson,?
Henderson taking it from herr !
What beautiful spray! {
Barrington-Berry finei
Henderson-Don't notice him. He's {
.ried everything for it, (He hooks the
nistletoe to the end of an umbrella
and waves 1t aloft) With this scepter |
am monarch of all | survey. My
light there is none to dispute. With
his magic wand in my hand l do not
envy the sultan of Turkey Tile holds
or-n.. NJ AfnIls.n i...t. l..-nl