The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-10-21

she was. The world had scoffed at
her; she had vowed the world owed
her living. From being sensitive she
had grown harder and harder till now
she had no feeling for aught that was
human. She loved only her glittering
gold, her dingy houses.
The probable loss of much of her
wealth had made her wish she could
weep-she, whose tear spring had run
dry long ago. And here was a little
red haired girl, the image of herself In
the days lang syne, whose tears came
in rivulets, tears enough for both. More
than likely it was her hair that made
her weep. The Bondlady remembered
it had brought tears to her own eyes
years ago.
She took a seat beside the little waif
and put a coarse hand upon her back
with something like gentleness.
whats tn matter, youngsterY
The little one raised her pinched,
dirty, tear stained face. "E-e-every-
thingw Then she cried again. Pres
emily between sobs. Aunt Jane said l
was hoodoo-told me to get out-said
redheads wasn't-wasn't any goody'
81 knew itp' The Bondlady was
pleased with her insight
The waif looked up. surprised. "Why,
you're a redhead, too; amt your
The Bondlady nodded. She hadn't
even glanced in the glass for years,
and yet womanl But she had not
been allowed to forget she had red
hair.
The touch of nature that made them
kin seemed to indicate a closer rela-
tionship.
Two former clients passed Didn't
know tn BOndlady had kid" said
one
"Hiven help iti' was the none too
fervent response.
$50 yer not goin' back t yer aunt?"
asked the Bondlady.
mo. ma'amv'
AN where are We goin'?"
Don't know" More tears seemed
about to flow, but she wiped them
away, and her eyes gave a CLEAN Of
| hOpS. ChiCco yOu u tame ulS, llli diu
film too poor" demonstrated the
Bondlady Hard enough t feed one
mouth
''Oh, ma'am-I can help-rm a work
err l am. l won't be any trouble-and
and l know you'll be good to me,
cause you have red hair. You'll take
me- won't you, ma'amT
She was far, very far, from being
pretty, but in spite of tears, in spite
of dirt, there was something irresist-
ible about her as she now looked i'm
ploringly, hopefully, into the coarse
face of the Bondlady.
"Well-we might try it-but''-
The little girl would listen to no
butts" Childish glee took possession
of her. She seemed like another being.
Lets go home right now!" she ex-
claimed, taking her half reluctant ben
efactress by the hands. MY names
Ruth she added.
The Bondlady was literally carried
away in spite of herself-away from
the scene of her labors, back to what
she called home
ITS very dirty" said the little girl
ruefully.
$50 are ye," retorted the Bondlady.
Ruth took the hint cheerfully.
Where's the soap. ma'amT"
"Soap?" Like tears, soap seemed a
dim recollection. ''Soap-yes, ye'd bet
ter get some soap; We need soap"
| And she counted out five pennies.
Ruth brought back one of them. The
Bondlady put it in her purse.
There's some big sticks of pepper
mint
I'VE don't eat candy here"
| Ruth showed her temperament was
quite as sunny as her hair, swallowing
her disappo'ntmen instead of the pep
permint. Then having used the soap
upon herself, she attacked the floor.
Her cleanliness was contagious. Next
morning the Bondlady used soap too
Still more surprising, she bought Ruth
stick of peppermint.
The Bondlady ceased to ply her un-
pleasant trade merely because of her
i'll luck. for the money sense was still
strong in her. While the court was
taking away her ''hereinbefore men
TONED dwellings, she found consola.
ton In the glittering gold concealed in
an old chest of drawers. One day
Ruth saw her with a stockingful OF
coin. After that she would no longer
listen to pleas OF poverty; her entreat