The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-04-15
1901. by A. s. Richards


ly for us all"
"You need not complain" suggested
Katherine. You have Harry Martin,
and he probably would not welcome
any rival
That's quite enough, Kit. When
will you learn that there is absolutely
nothing between Harry and me-
mo thanks to Harry for that state
of AFFAIRS" laughed Katherine as the
two girls left the room.
A party of merry young people had
gathered round the great fireplace in
the hall, waiting for Madge and
Katherine to join them on a bobbing
trip to Beemer's hill Madge ran out
to the kitchen for farewell word with
her mother, who was never happier
than when entertaining her children's
friends. Tom was standing near the
table enjoying hot doughnut, and as
Mrs. Turner disappeared in the direc-
tion of the hall laden with a plate of
the toothsome cakes Madge turned to
him impatiently.
who is to ride with your beloved
Mr.. BromeT'
Tom turned to his sister in surprise.
"Madge, that doesn't sound like you.
hoped you'd show him the cour-
tesy"-
Don't preach, brother mine. / treat
him decently when I'm with him, but
to save my life don't understand why
you brought him home for the vaca-
ton when there are so many other
chaps to choose from"
$50 long as you put the question SO
bluntly, I'll tell you why, Madge-be-
cause while most of the fellows in my
class could go home for their holidays
Bronze felt that he ought not spend the
money for the trip to Illinois. Then l
knew he wanted to come When my
little sister came down to the junior
prom this fall, Bronze thought she was
the most charmingly unaffected and
gentle hammered girl he had ever met
and with his usual frankness confided
this opinion to me. Now
Madge's cheeks famed brilliantly,
and the twinkle faded from Toms
eyes.
"Madge, dear, it isn't always the fell
low who talks the most brilliantly, who
goes in for sports and social gayeties,
who finally scores best at college.
There's lots in Bronze that neither you
nor have lever fathomed, and I'm
proud to call him my friend He's
quiet and rather delicate and not half
30 stylish as Harry Martin, but
THAT will do" exclaimed Madge
CURLY. Never mind the list Of yir-
tues. The crowd is waiting"
But when she swept into the great
hall the flush had not entirely faded
from her cheeks. 1t seemed to Char
ley Bronze that she had never looked
so pretty as at this very moment.
He trudged along at her side, pleased
because she had quietly fallen behind
the merry throng to talk about some
new fittings for Toms room at college.
Bronze thought it must be very delight
full to have a sister to make the dainty
knickknacks which somehow never
found their way into his den. His
mother was managing small farm
In Illinois and with three other boys
to clothe and send to school had little
time for fancy work Madge tried to
think that she was simply doing her
duty by her brothers guest, but before
the mile to Beemer's hill had been
covered she became deeply interested
In her companion. If he did not belong
to the football eleven, he knew the
record of every man in the team. If
he had never tobogganed or helped to
build an Ice castle or played polo. he
could talk entertainingly on the latest
new books, Of which he seemed to pos
sess a surprising number.
But after the first trip on the bobsled
the Illusion, as she termed it. seemed
to fade again. He was just what she
had first pronounced him-a prig; more
than that-yes, a coward
Beemer's hill was the most noted
coasting ground in the county. 1t was
a public highway, steep and smooth,
with a gorgeous incline that kept the
sleds plunging downward at an ex-
hilarating speed. To be sure. wise
acres in the neighborhood had long
predicted that some Gay reckless coast
ers would meet with an accident at
the bend below Mr.. Beemer's house,
where the road rounded above a great
cliff. But Tom Turner's bob was the
finest in all the country round, heavily
weighted to give it speed and steeresl
by a well adjusted wheel, and tn
young people on this particular morn
ing boarded it without tremor
Tom steered, and Madge sat well to
the rear and in front of Bronze. Sew
eral times during the mad ride she felt
his hand close almost convulsively on
her arm. but she fairly reveled in the
wild moment. She was strongly ath-
letic In her tastes and afraid of not
ing.
When the party reached the brow Of
the hill for the second plunge, Bronze
looked very grave, and while he made
no effort to induce the others to give
up the trip he firmly declined to make
1t again. Instead he would build a fire
and have it jolly and comfortable on
their return. Madge gave Katherine a
significant glance, but she could not
catch her brother Toms eye.
On their return from the run they
found Bronze chatting pleasantly with
Harry Martin, who had driven over in
his smart new cutter Katherine and
Madge sprang into the sleigh and cud
died down under the fur robes, while
Harry stood beside them, his hand
resting lightly on the reins.
Suddenly a shout Of laughter from
the group around the brushwood fire
startled the horse, and he plunged for
ward. jerking the reins from Harry's
hands. Straight down the hill he tore,
headed for Beemer's bend and the
sheer cliff. What IL his foot should
slip on the bendl
The two girls did not scream, and
Madge made a vain effort to snatch at
the reins dragging on the ground. Her
brother grOaned and suddenly threw
his hand in front Of his face. That
was why he did not see a slender.
1.-THE figure throw itself on the bobsled
and send it shooting after the run
away. 1t was Bronze. skillfully steer
: ing the great sled so that it kept be-
tween the runaway and the outer edge
of the road. The two vehicles. the
swaying cutter and the jerking bob
sled, round the fatal cliff, with Just a
few inches to spare on its edge for
the brave fellow who handles the
1nyhx A.,