The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-10-28
w hen
Pegsy
B ack

do tellr'
Who'd "a thought it?'
Are you sure he kissed her? P'raps
he was just picking leaf or something
out of her hair"
well. Mrs. Demming, you needn't
think that just because I amt been
married no man ever kissed me. I've
had as many beaus in my day as ever
you had"
Dear me. Miss Laviny, l didn't
mean anything PERSONAL Only it's
quite step from your porch to Mrs.
Burkett's, and l thought
Il wasn't ON my porchw answered
Miss Lavina shortly. Il was right
close to the hedge. picking wine cur
rants"
The last phrase was spoken apologet-
ically. as If prompted by latent shame
at thus spying on a neighbor
''Oh. | don't know but it's your duty.
Layiny. to keep your eye open when
there's such doings in the heart of
respectable community like ourn." was
the unctuous reply of Mrs. Smithers.
We'll, that amt all I've seen, Ell
ther." announced Miss Lavinia, rising
to this skiilfully baited hook. you
know Cousin Sallie left her theater
glasses behind, and they're a heap of
help l can stand In my second story
front with them and see straight into
her parlor."
A girlish figure bending over strip
of renaissance lace in the rear of the
shop Strengthened up suddenly, and an
exclamation escaped her lips. But the
women clustered round the front door
gossiped on excitedly.
Didn't he take the train for town
yesterday mornfng?'' queried Mrs.
Smithers
Yes, but he came back at early dusk,
with his arms full of white paper bun
dies. and when he got on the porch he
tossed them heller SHELTER on the set
tee and-and-hugged herv'
.'Ohr'
Amt that DREADFUL
IF anybody but you, Laviny Hart,
had told that, | wouldn't believed itr'
murmured Mrs. Smithers
1T may look out of place for sin
gle woman to say, but it does seem to
me like judgment on Doc Burkett for
going off to marry frivolous, do moth
ing Boston widow instead of some de-
cent. thrifty girl in his own town. He
amt been dead three months, and here
Is another imam hanging round his wild
ow. Perhaps he's an old sweetheart
Everybody knows Doc was well fixed"
Yes, and they do say" interposed
Mrs. Demming, them as was round
when he was brought home that day,
that she stood round like a statue. new
er shedding a tear and just doing what
old DIR. Green ordered. like some ma
chine"
Perhaps she knew it wasn't no use
to do anything anyhow" suggested
Mrs. Marsden, who had a retreating
chin and weak. fishy eyes.
What's that, Becky Marsden?"
snorted Miss Lavinia. turning severely
on her insignificant neighbor. what
do you know about it?"
Nothing" hurriedly replied Mrs
Marsden. "Only | was reading novel
yesterday where a woman got tired Of
her husband and put something In his
coffee that didn't smell nor taste nor
anything-and he
"Lawzee Becky, l always knew you
was light headed" snapped Miss La
vinia. Nevertheless the group of COS
sips turned suddenly silent and gazed
at each other. wide eyed.
MY. wouldn't it be awful if we had
a poison case hereY'
The girlish figure in the rear rose
stuffy little shop.
You've no right to say such things.
You don't know Mrs Burkett and new
er wanted to treat her right, and you're
wicked, wicked women to talk about
her that wayw
Astonished silence fell upon the wo-
men. Then Mrs. Smithers' voice, no
longer oily and complacent, rose cut
tingly.
That's nice way for you to speak
to your elders, Peggy Smithers, and
I'm ashamed of you. D'you mean to
call Lavinia Hart liarT"
The girl fingered her bolt of braid
nervously
No, aunt; but | can't sit here and
listen to such dreadful things about
Mrs. Burkett I've worked for her, and
/ know she's a lady through and
through, and she's not doing anything
wrong. There's a reason
"Well, Miss Peggy. seeing as you're
the only one in this party that has
visiting acquaintance with Mrs. Bur
kett. you might just walk up there and
see who that man is
'Oh. aunt, can't | couldn't ask
such a question:
''You don't need to ask. Worm it out
while you're there You can take up
that new set Of points you've made
Perhaps Mrs Burkett might like to
wear them with her widows black"
The last words came spitefully.
The girl stood in a pleading attitude
This is a nice way to treat your old
aunt that's given you bed and board
for ten years now. Now you stop sniv-
cling and trot along"
Poor Peggy! Before those words
bed and board" she never hesitated.
They formed the spiritual lash which
her aunt swung with unmerciful hand.
The girl never stopped to reckon the
mittens she knit for the shop. the lace
she made or the interminabie days On