The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-05-13

,oleG W. '"N |
ONE MOVE OF his HAND WOULD HAVE
RESULTED IN THOUSAND STINGS.
the age of twenty-one he had never
spoken to five members of the opposite
sex and was as bashful as a girl of
sixteen.
The crisis of his young life occurred
one day when, driving sheep over to
the Jacksonville market. he passed the
farmhouse of the Widow Blair He
was just In time to assist the hired
man, the widow and her daughter Pol
ly to extinguish a fire In the barn. Al
though he hurried on as soon as pos
sible, he had left his heart behind with
Polly.
Nothing was said about his adven-
ture when he returned home. and bash
full as he was he had managed to see
Polly half dozen times and excite her
interest before the news reached the ia
theirs ears. After a little reflection
Uncle Jerry went to the field where
George was hoeing potatoes.
Look here. George. It's about time
you got married. The house is big
enough for another family. and of
course you have no thoughts of leaving
home. | guess you'd better shine up
to Jim Taylor's gal. She amt much
| on looks, as I'll allow. but I've heard
she was a great worker. There's go
ing to be a circus in Rawsonville next
week, and l don't mind giving you a
dollar to take her along"
George managed to reply that be
didn't think he'd get married for
awhile yet
well. there's no hurry. of course,
but femme tell you something. I've
heard that you was casting sleeps
eyes toward the Wilder Blair's. You
might as well quit that. I'd rather see
you In your grave than married into
that family"
isn't the widow a nice woman?'
asked George.
mo, sir, she ain'ty' decisively re-
piled the father. 81 had two lawsuits
with her about ten years ago, and she
beat me in both. I'd also have got the
prize on hogs at the county fair last
year if she hadn't had six of hers there.
She's the last woman on earth | want
related to me. Better go over to Tay-
lor's tonight and ask Sarah to go to
the circus with you"
But George didn't, and a month later
he almost paralyzed his father by say
ing:
dad, have asked Polly Blair to
marry me. and she has consented"
"Jerusha. but you don't mean itp'
shouted the father as he jumped clear
off the ground.
81 do" was the quiet reply.
But you can't marry her, George.
forbid you to. I'll never give my
consent to any such thing. If you
want to marry. go over and ask Sarah
Taylor to have you"
I'll never do itp'
There was open rebellion at last, the
first time the son had ever questioned
parental authority. Uncle Jerrys first
thought was to lock the boy up in the
smokehouse. the next to threaten to
disinherit him. Then his shrewdness
came to his aid. and be said:
'We won't say no more about 1t just
now. but when we come to have a talk
guess we can agree"
Three days later he drove up to the
Widow Blair's. He intended to pitch
In SO vigorously that the widow and
her daughter would order him off the
MI n c A. ~
drove up he saw the widow out In the
orchard and heard her drumming on q
/ tin pan. He turned in that direction.
He was thinking of how he should
open the matter when something bug.
xed past his ear, and ten seconds later
he found his head in circling cloud
of bees. One of the widows hives was
swarming. No matter whether the
bees took him for rosebush or a sun
flower, they began settling down on
bis head and shoulders. In five min
utes he was almost hidden from sight
and perfectly helpless. One move of
his hand would have resulted in a
thousand stings.
''Well. Uncle jerry" said the widow
as she carefully advanced, II was rath-
er expecting you. l am glad you've
come. | suppose you want to talk
about George and Polly getting mar
riedr'
eyes" softly replied the caller. 81
came to say that have told George it
mustn't be-
"Oh, you did Well, l quite agree
with you. and you can go back home"
But how can | go?"
ANY way you wish. If you carry
the bees home, l hope you'll bring
them back tomorrow"
"But can't do itT' he walled. 81
dasn't move a foot. If the bees get
mad, I'm a dead manr'
Eyes, to be sure, but I've got other
work on hand / don't think you'll
have to stand here over a week before
the bees will find the new hive"
Lord, wilder. but you won't leave
me in this fix! You couldn't have the
heart to do itp'
''Oh, it's no use to talk about heartsr'
she replied George and Polly have
both got hearts, but it's nothing to us.
1 wonder just how many bees are
hanging to your right carr
millions, wilder. Millions" he
hoarsely whispered, land millions
more to my hat and hair and chinl
Can't they be scraped Off"
mot today. Uncle Jerry. l hear you
don't like me-"
But | do. You beat me in them
lawsuits. but you ought to. guess
But you don't like Polly"
Eyes, do. Polly is the incest girl
in all this county,"
''She is that, but how you move
about You must stand as steady as
tree. Yes, Polly is nice girl"
But do something for mer' be en-
treated.
"How can n You don't like me, and
you don't want George and Polly to
marry, and
@Hidder Blair." came the whispered