The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-06-17


several years the band of worshipers
had met. So the happy occasion was to
be duly celebrated, and the young wo-
men of the altar guild had taxed their
individual and collective ingenuity-to
say nothing of purses-in order to beau
tify the chancel with flowers.
Philip Harrison, pausing in the door
way, nodded his head approvingly.
1.-THE girls have done well. and this
will give just the correct finishing
touch to the decorations" he muir
INJURED as he stalked down the center
aisle, carrying a pure white dove, with
Ioutstretched wings. His sister, who
was the president of the altar guild,
had pressed him into service, and he
was to suspend the bird just above the
lecturn. He was glad that the matter
had slipped her mind until after all the
girls had gone, for since certain night
when Mildred Allen and he had parted
in bitterness he had rather avoided the
circle of young people who rallied
round his sister in her work for st.
Pauls.
Philip climbed up a tall ladder and
had wired the dove to the rafter above
the lecturn when suddenly from be-
meath his feet slipped the ladder, fall
ing with crash among the choir stalls.
Fortunately the young man had a
stout grip on the polished oak beam,
and before the noise died away he had
swung himself up and from his perch
full twenty feet above the chancel sur
veyed the broken ladder with rueful
expression.
Suddenly he removed his gaze from
the ladder and glanced around with an
uneasy sense that some one was watch
ing him. This was impossible, for the
church had been absolutely empty
when he entered 1t. He turned eau
tiously on his perch and caught a
smothered exclamation. Then he saw
mot ten feet away tousled golden
head and pretty face, in which
amusement and fright mingled. The
girl was peering from a loft above the
recess near the chancel left by the
builders for the eventual accommoda-
ton of pipe organ.
well. Milly, it looks as If you were
in hole too"
She ignored both the speech and the
chuckle which followed it.
~ do not see." she replied in icy
tones, chow my predicament can be of
the least interest to Mr.. Harrison"
Philip. now quite secure on the broad
beam, Rugged his knees and looked at
her entreatingly.
"Come. now, Milly, isn't that bit
strong to the man you were practically
engaged to less than week agoY
"It is hard to be reminded of the fol-
lies of ones youth" she confided to the
paschal lamb which stood out In bold
relief back of the altar to her right.
Zone is not to blame. however, for
installing a filrt for gentleman"
I'm not a fiirt." answered Philip
holly, and in his excitement he almost
slipped off the beam.
Mildred tried hard not to smile and
continued to gaze at the lamb.
isn't 1t odd," she continued, show
some persons will fb even in church,"
The lamb wisely kept out of the dis
cussion, but young Harrison answered
for him.
"Milly. won't you please listen?
never cared a rap for Jennie Adams,
honestly"
'Then," she retorted, suddenly for
getting the lamb, "why did you send
her those perfectly lovely violets"
A great light came to Philip.
"Why. those were a philopena pres
ent. Didn't she tell your"
''That is a very ancient excuse for
bestowing violets on a girl to whom
you are not engaged. You might at
least have informed me of your inten-
tons beforehand. Then, you see,
shouldn't have cared. and perhaps
might have warned you" just a
trifie viciously-"that girl with Jen-
MES sallow complexion does not look
well wearing violets. Crimson carna-
tons would have been better"
well. will ask you next time"
Then, catching sight OF more thunder
clouds gathering. he added hastily, 81
mean there will be no chance of it's
ever happening again II you will for
give me-"
His contrition seemed genuine. More
over. she was uncomfortable, and the
shadows were falling unpleasantly
fast.
Perhaps | will if-you will get me
out of this
How did you get in?" he questioned.
IL was working on the ladder, and
my curiosity led me to see what this
cubby hole was for and then caught
my heel In knothole and couldn't get
the thing loose until after the girls left
They did not miss me. and-and-then
| saw you and thought I'd wait until
you got out of the way
Thank you" 1t was on his brow
that the stormclouds now gathered.
81 had vague idea that you were
rather glad to see me and that this
miserable misunderstanding was to be
forgotten"
"Oh. then you think a girl is to be
bullied; that because could not help
myself I'd have to be pleasant Well,
let me inform you that I'd rather stay
here all night than accept a favor Of
you Mr.. Harrison"
She did not mean a word she said,
but when girl has been nursing a
wrong. real or imaginary. for one GOOD
long week her heart becomes not only
rebellious but utterly unreasonable.
Without a word Philip rose steadily
to his feet and balanced his way along
the beam to the wall. She held her
breath. He might fall He might
where are you going?" she cried
TREMENDOUSLY.
Home" he answered shortly.
'.Oh, Phil, don't-leave-me- alone in
the DARK she implored.
"Why not? You have distinctly said
you waited TO get rid of me. You evil
IDENTITY hate the sight OF me-"
"Oh. but that was before the ladder
fell. l mean-oh. please. Please come
back" she entreated
"Will you make up this wretched
quarrel and start all over again?"
"Neverr'
''Then Goodbye And he resumed his
progress.
You will be kiiledr' she warned
him.
ut doesn't matter now" he answer
ed easily.
She knew he did not mean it and that
purposely he let his foot slip while he
clutched at the rafter, but she was too
proud and angry to speak. Silently she
watched him make his way along the
beam that topped the side wall, and so
door. built inside. made platform ten
feet from the beams. He carefully
swung himself down, then dropped
from the platform to the floor. Next