The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-07-15
CROESUS ;
AND CUPID ;
. BY Martha !
Observation-Disclosures
Copyright. 1902, by the ;
s. s. Mcclure Company

"a fine country place, heaps of ready
money-and perfect liberty Helen, ia
there anything left to wish forY Hill
Dreth asked, laying down the lawyers
letter. Helen shrugged the least bit as
the answered: "Why, yes! If only one
could have been born a widow
Il am ready to immediate myself.
widows are easier made than born,''
Hildreth said, catching her hand.
"Only make me your lord, Helen of
Troy, and l will promise to do the dis
appearing act whenever you are
ready"
you don't understand. OF course /
should hate being a made widow.
Made widows have to wear caps, and
land people say such horrid, horrid
things of them if they venture to be-
oh, the least bit human-I mean not
funeral. But if only one could be
born to that estate, with all the grief
over or softened to a becoming pensive
memory, why, 1t would be heavenly.
Widows, for all their drawbacks, have
the best lives of ALL" Helen said, puck
ering her forehead the best she could.
Scowling was an unknown art to her.
She had laughed persistently in the
face Of hard fortune. Now that the
tide had turned her gay courage began
to ebb.
'1f only 1 had anybody all my own,
should not mind" she went on. But
there is not soul. Maybe l ought to
be selfishly glad. If there was soul
nearer than ninth cousin, this wonder
full fairy fortune would be cut in two.
] cannot feel that l in the least de-
serve it. But only think! l can have
what frocks please and silver money
for my poor people instead Of pennies"
"Will it spoil you, wonderY Hill
dreth said meditatively. "You know
we've always said money was the real
touchstone. Any poor body can be de-
cent; there is so little temptation to be
anything else"
81 wish l knew" Helen said. Il
the earth they grow in too rich-ruins
if it does not kill them outright"
"You are not extensively rich. All
told, this great-uncle's legacy foots up
q quarter of a million. Spending that
will never bother person of your luxu-
rious capacities" Hildreth said consol-
ingly.
Helen laughed. "And have existed
on less than six hundred a year." she
said. Promise me, Vance, you will
never change-the beastly money shall
make no difference with u.s."
Its bound to make a difference,
Think of daring to ask you now to dine
with me at L'Ally'sw Hildreth laugh.
ed back: Nothing will go with you but
Merry's or the Swelldorf. And l can
not eat your dinners there since have
not the coin to return them In kind"
"You are horriblew Helen said
promptly. "By way of punishment,
invite myself to dine with you tonight
Not at LAlly's either-we'll go to that
forty cent place where the coffee is SC
sinful that it always suggests an ap-
peal to the police. Maybe some of the
others Will be there.
"Au of them. It's near the middle of
the week. Pay day is two days ahead
for most of the gang" Hildreth an
swered, with a Pickering smile. Lord
shall like to see them when they
know! You are going to tell them, OF
course, Helen?"
you may tell them. l shall not say
word" Helen said, setting her finger
tips together. 'I'm beginning to be
cowardly," she went on. Suppose II
should turn out that my money costs
me my friends and my illusionsT
II hardly understand" Hildreth be-
gan.
She raised her hand. ''This is my
fear" she said. "All these five years
have been out in the scurry of things
l have Rugged the belief that my-that
people liked me for what l was. not fol
what might one day become. Latter
~, since Gumpsey's has asked for and
exploited my stories, there has been sc
perceptible warming up in some quar-
tiers it has made me bit cynical. Now
am saying to myself, Suppose the
money draws the sycophants to you
and the fear of seeming sycophantiC
drives away the real onesY That would
be terrible. | hope-oh how l hope
that those care most for will under
stand, however my way Of life changes
myself shall be just the same~
81 shall believe it," Hildreth said
lifting her hand to his lips. "In proof
you must dine with me this night year
and at the forty cent place-if it sur
wives so long"
IF it does not. you shall dine will
me-" Helen said gratefully, land no
at the Swelldorf either. 1t shall b.
deep in the country, under my own fl
tree and vine"
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