The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-05-27
By Frank S. chiswicL
!, 6 Copyright, 1902,
IL q q n

brother John to send through college,
and Louise's wedding dowry and fix
ings to arrange for, and his mother to
send to the hospital in the distant city
for an operation After awhile. when
all these duties were fulfilled. be
would have time to settle down and
marry.
He had never thought of such trag-
edy as Abigail James wearying of long
waiting. He had always found her
alone Wednesday and Saturday nights,
sympathetic in his difficulties. rejoic-
ing in his small successes Yes. Abb
gail Jane was the very woman for
him to marry-some day when he had
time.
And of course Abigail Jane must I'M
derstand all this; she was such sen
sible little woman. 1t never dawned
upon him that she would like to hear
such words from his lips or to walk
down the street with her small hand
Struggled against his big arm, as Eliza,
the milliner's apprentice, did with the
butchers boy.
"How you do take on, Prudence"
she protested. 81 amt beholden to any
man to marry me. I'm comfortably
fixed. Me an 81 is good friends. an
he likes to come here of evenin's.
amt expectin' - The words choked
in her throat,
A wave of pity swept over Mrs. How
ell She was sorry she had laid bare
the wound; but. happy matron her
self, she chafed at her sisters loneli-
ness.
"Well, it's Valentines day, Abigail
Jane, an perhaps he'll send you some
thin by mail Maybe he can't put his
feelin's into words as easy as my Hen
ry could Would you mind lookin' in
my box while you're at the postofficeT p
Ten minutes later Miss Abigail Jane,
with her yrandmother's china silk
shawl folded over her shoulders. walk
ed down the quiet street to the post
Office 1t was her daily custom,
whether she expected mail or not On
Friday there would be the county pa
per in her box and on the I'd and 10th
of each month The Advocate and Fee
male Guardian.
This morning she caught sight of a
square envelope in the box, and her
heart beat wildly as she approached
the postmaster's window
Here you are" he exclaimed cheer
ily-"two letters for Mrs Howell and
one for you. Must be valentine. "
And he grinned broadly at the joke
which had done service with every ap-
plicant at the window that morning.
A valentine! The word found an
echo in her heart. She clasped the
precious missive to her breast and hur-
ried homeward.
'Honest?" cried her sister as Abigail
Jane stopped with the Howell mail.
HE sent you a valentinel Well,
didn't suppose he had the nerve. You
might stop here an open it,
But Abigail Jane shook her head and
futtered away to her own cottage. No
one should share this sacred moment
with her. Nervously she tore off the
wrappings and with a cry of joy held
q photograph of 81 at arms length.
Then-but never mind; women have
done such things ever since the day of
the nrst daguerreotype.
Once she turned it over and was puz-
zled by the printing on the back:
Join our photograph club before it is toe
late and get a dozen like this for $3.50
LINTON, the Photographer
When 81 came that evening, she
looked her daintiest, with soft lace at
her throat and rose from the south
window tucked in her brown hair. II
81 noticed the little touches of 6nery,
he said nothing. Abigail Jane was al
ways pretty in his eyes.
But he did notice the photograph,
and his eyes twinkled.
"Hellol You got sample too"
The pretty pink flush died out of her
cheeks She clasped her hands nerv-
ously.
mean" she faltered.
why. Louise has been worryin' the
life out of me to send her an the kids
my picture. an Linton offered me q
dozen free if I'd let him use my name
for advertiser his business. | guess
he thought if he could make me good
lookin he could get all the trade round
here"
Then everybody in town got one?'
The words came slowly
81 was looking at the photograph
leaning against huge seasbell from
the Caribbean sea
"Yes. Il sort of comic valentine
And his hearty laugh fairly shook the
windows. wonder if old Miss Thomp-
kins got one. Like as not the married
women got 'em too. This is great
joke Eli. Abigail?"
She had dropped YEARLY into her
small rocker She hardly heard what
he said.
IL thought perhaps it might have
been just for
Silas Hopkins wheeled round sudden
ly and stared at her. Two tears rolled
down the cheeks. now pale and drawn
looking. He frowned. not at the tears
but at his own thoughtlessness. His
eyes were suddenly opened The com
placence, the careless habit of years
fell from him in the twinkling of al
eye. Abigail Jane. winking back othel
tears. almost sprang to her feet. for S
was actually kneeling beside her.
abigail Jane" he whispered huski
ly, you'd a right to one all by your
self. thought you knew all along
that I loved you
"Oh. yes. | knew It. ST. but sortel
wished And this time the tear.
cleaned like diamonds on rose colore(
cheeks.
Henry Howell" exclaimed tina
worthy's wife as she laid down he
mending. I've Just got to run owe
an see Abigail Jane. Somethin' tell
me this is the crisis of that girls life
"Well. be careful you don't slip IT.
freezin' tonight" answered her bus
band. settling back in his chair.
Mrs. Howelrs imperative knock a
her sisters front door was answered
by 81 Hopkins.
Come right in. Sister Prudencer' b,
exclaimed shaking her hand warmly
you're Just in time to settle this dis
pute. We're goin' to be married mex
Wednesday a week. an Abigail Jam