The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-04-01

HE 6PlED THE LUXURIOUS DRESSING GOWN.
We made so much of it at home. Why,
couldn't bear not to celebrate. and
this is our first anniversary since we
were married too
My dear, celebrate it anyway you
like. If it's our first welded Christ
mas, it won't be our last, you know.
Go and get anything you like and have
the bill sent to me, but don't count me
In on any of these tiresome festivities.
After a fellows knocked about the
world as | have, loafing down the Nile
In Egypt, shooting elephants in Africa
hunting tigers in India, Christmas and
other holidays don't mean anything
to him."
"Jack Talbot, do you actually mean
to say that you don't intend to cele-
brate Christmas|
my dear, if don't that is no reason
why you shouldn't celebrate all you
want tor
"But if you don't celebrate how can
I? You know we have always had all
our pleasures together"
Jack Talbot looked calmly and half
coldly at the flushed, beautiful face Of
his wife across the table.
Josephine, really hope you are not
going to be foolish. Go ahead, but l
must really draw the line on these
domestic roundups for myself. If you
have Molly and the children, let me
know in time, so l can go out to Tom
Harcourt's stag party at West Chester.
Remember we're due at the opera to-
night"
Josephine, her brain in a riot OF
anger and distress, sought the seclu-
sion of her room, just as Molly was
ushered in.
"Put on your hat. Josie, and come
down town with me. I'm finishing up
my shopping, and today's the last day
I'm going to be caught in that mob.
nearly had my clothes torn off my back
yesterday, but I've got to get some
thing for Cousin Sarah What do you
suppose would suit that old trump?
She makes me sick, but of course we've
got to keep on the right side of her, as
she's taken such fancy to Harold"
"Look here, Molly" said Josephine
suddenly, do you really think it's any
use to give presents?"
Josephine Torrington! What on
earth Is the matter with you? For q
girl who always got about cart load
Of presents every Christmas you ought
to be ashamed of yourselfi Jack has
spoiled you, giving you so much. What
have you got for him?"
Josephine had an inspiration. She
jumped up.
'Molly, I'll go with you. IL just
remember what Jack wants."
Jack Talbot was half way through
his toilet on Christmas morning when
he spied the luxurious dressing gown,
fit for a nabob, that Josephine had laid
out for him.
what the mischief-is this for mei
thought 1t was some newfangled dud
of yours. What did you buy it for?
] have about half a dozen of such
things in some traps not yet unpaek-
ed"
And poor Josephine, almost in hys-
terics, nearly cried her eyes out after
a cob without giving her the wrappings
of her finger. But being a woman Of
spirit, she sat up later in the afternoon
and said: "Wait till next Christmas,
Jack Talbot, and III settle with you
for thisr'
a year rolled around and Christmas
was again at hand, just six days of.
Jack Talbot sat comfortably smoking
In his Office when the noon mail came
in, and among the letters he spied the
Allahabad postmark and the writing
of Hugh Tracy. Breaking the seal. he
Read:
Dear Old Man-You are a lucky fellow, and
congratulate you on your Christmas under your
own vine and hg tree. Pm glad you've settled
down. and since cannot in person share your
Christmas joys have sent you as present for
your charming wife an ivory Buddha, older by
hundreds of years than you OF me, and If she will
say prayer to him for I'll come home next
year and celebrate all the holidays in the calendar
and introduce bill to have them doubled in the
bargain
Goodby, old fellow. / wish you both a very
merry Christmas, and, with devoted regards to
MIRA Talbot, am, as ever, yours sternally,
HUGH.
wonder If he's had the fever" mus
ed Jack, after which he went down to
the custom house. The bill rather
staggered him. It's long way from
AIlahabad to New York, and Hugh
did not seem to have prepaid all the
charges. Jack settled them and order
ed the god sent to his office
Before the week ended Talbot had
received letters fairly bu1ging with
Christmas from his friends in most of
the Inhabited portions Of the globe,
and by some curious coincidence they
had all sent gifts to his wife.
Vinton De Witt sent case of price
less embroideries from Persia, Tom
Macy stuffed tiger and pair Of
boars' tusks from the heart OF Africa,
Major Norton jewels from an old Hin
doc temple, Fred Bayliss chest filed
with rare bronzes, lacquer and inlaid
work, and Gordon Taylor an array Of
rugs and tapestries that would make