The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-06-13
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
My Friend, Mrs.
Van Hardness
By Helena Washburn Graham
Copyish.. 1905. by Helena Washburn Graham

Mdy GUILT III, uedT dskeu MIS-
Meredith, standing erect and self as.
sured on the threshold of her daugh-
ter's room.
Certainly, mamma" Kathrine drew
forward a chair with a simple, direct
movement that was in striking con.
trast to her mothers more bulky, SELF
conscious eXertions in seating herself.
"What blessing it is that you are
tall and slender and handsome, Kath-
rinew calculated the older woman
"And how very fortunate it was," she
added thoughtfully, that Mr.. Price
was presented to you the very first
evening we were here"
you did not seem so pleased at the
time" ventured Kathrine, her face
turned from her mother.
"Well, perhaps not" conceded Mrs
Meredith, nonplused for an instant
but, continuing with even more than
her usual firmness, you must remem-
Der, however. that | knew nothing
absolutely nothing-about him or his
position socially, and one cannot be
too careful about the people one meets
in a hotel. To be sure" she continued
''this is the most fashionable hotel in
Elm Heights, but there are people here
whom we do not care to meet"
Very likely" agreed Kathrine. Per
haps the others are also trying to get
acquainted with desirable people"
my dear" said Mrs. Meredith cold
ly, II do not like the tone in which
you made that remark 1 wish you
could learn to appreciate the advan-
tages of social position. Your indiffer-
ence along that line really annoys me-
You are so like your poor father. he
was always unwise in his choice of
friends, picking up odd, bookish peo-
pie and poor artists and musicians
never any one with wealth and social
attachments. 1t was very trying, and
yet l never could make him realize his
mistake"
Kathrine opened her lips to speak
but quickly closed them, trying to con.
quer their quivering, as she recalled
her dead father, whose frank nature
with its refined tastes and serene dis
regard for worldly conventions, was SO
like her own.
However" continued Mrs. Mere
dith, her face Frightening, 1--WE won't
speak of that now. l almost forgot to
tell you the interesting news l heard
Mrs. Wilmington just told me that Mr.
Prices sister, Mrs. Karsell, is a friend
Of Mrs Van Harknessv
"Of the Mrs Van HarknessT ques.
toned Kathrine doubtfully.
Exactly" said Mrs. Meredith, with
radiant satisfaction. "That means a
great deal-more than you are able to
appreciate, my dear How very fortu-
nate it Is that we have met themI ]
shall certainly improve the acquaint
ance."
But you have met Mrs. Van Hank.
ness yourself, have you not?" queried
Kathrlne
"Oh, yes," impatiently. II took care
to mention the fact to Mrs Whining
ton. But If Mrs. Karsell is an intimate
friend of Mrs. Van HARNESS.
Mrs. Meredith hurried off to dress
for dinner, leaving her sentence unfin
ished.
Kathrine, left alone, gazed steadily
at her image in the mirror. "Yes," she
thought dispassionately, 81 am hand
some, and I suppose that I could mar
ry well, according to mammals stand
ara, which means a certain social posi-
ton and the money to maintain it
Mamma regards love as an unimpor
tant accessory, which is very well in Its
way, but not necessary" The CIR
moved impatiently. How mean il
seems! How degrading this constant
anxiety and effort to be one of a Ger
tain set! Why can't we be happy Just
where we are? l wonder If Mr.. Price
has social ambitions"
well, Anna" said Dick a trifie i'm
patiently as they were returning from
drive, what was it you wanted tt
speak to me about?"
Mrs. Karsell hesitated a moment ani
then exclaimed dramatically, ooh
Dick, it's that girlv'
do you mean Miss Meredith asked
Dick quietly.
Whom else could 1 mean?" cried
Anna. you are with her all of the
time"
Not quite all of the time" murmur
ed Dick, with mental regret.
1T amounts to that anyway" insist
ed his sister "And after all my hope.
for you! It's too bad, Dick. do wan
you to marry some one who can ad
vance you socially. Now, this Mis-!
Meredith is a sweet girl doubtless
patronizingly- we know nothing
of the set to which she belongs"
'And care less" Dick wanted to add
refraining. Instead he remarked wise
ly, 81 heard Mrs Wilmington tell som,
of the women on the veranda that Mrs
Meredith is a friend of Mrs. Van Hank
ness"
''Of the Mrs. Van Harknesgr Mrs
Karsell's anxious tone spoke volumes.
Eyes, indeedY' confirmed Dick.
Mrs. Karsell said no more on the sub
ject until they were approaching thu
hotel.
'Tn regard to Miss Meredith, Dick,
she began pleasantly, Il may have beer
little hasty in my judgment l shall
try to become better acquainted will
her and her mother. Friends Of Mrs
Van Hardness are certainly worth cul
tivatipg"
Dick thanked his stars that he hai
thought of mentioning the piece of gos
sip he had overheard
"As if l cared a rap for Kathrine'l
social position" he muttered, witt
some heat. Gamma thinks because
have that money from uncles estate
ought to take a fashionable wife anC
set up an establishment That's no.
my idea of happiness. l want a sweet
womanly woman, who cares for some
| thing besides a round of dinners, recep
tons and dances-how sweet KathrinG
looked last evening" he broke off sud
denly. "She is a beautiful girl l won
der if Mrs. Meredith has aspirations
for Kathrine. l hope not" he ended
fervently.
The next day found Mrs Karsell an6
Mrs. Meredith each eager to enjoy The
society of "a friend of Mrs Van Hark
ness, you know" as they explained IL
Inelr less fortunate associates, and the
two women spoke of that lady with the
easy familiarity an old friend adopts.
Mrs. harsell is very pleasant, in
deed" said Mrs. Meredith to hel
daughter, with evident satisfaction
''She and l had a long talk this after
noon, and l feel quite as if we were
old friends. One can see that she is
accustomed to moving in the best cir
cles. She had heard that l knew Mrs
Van Hardness; Mrs. Wilmington mus
have repeated it,
Il suppose you told her you haG