The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-11-21

DANy 1hAdA thos NAAc. Daily ndACo buCu
point Of your meeting him." she pro-
tested plaintively.
And l make a point of not meeting
him." interpolated her rebellious niece.
But, Martha, he is
"Oh, l know them ALL" interrupted
Martha = unmarried, well born, good
looking rich, famous" she repeated
glibly. checking off the words on the
tips Of her pretty fingers.
HE Is all that and more" replied
Aunt Clara warmly. "and why you
should assume this unreasonable atti-
tude is more than l can understand"
Her niece eyed her resentfully. 'T
don't see why l should be expected to
put myself forward for this paragon's
approval" she objected
Aunt Clara's voice trembled with
righteous indignation. Martha Jor-
dan. you talk like an idiotp' she said
'Then why do you always throw me
at himT demanded Martha.
mo one is trying to throw you at
him." continued her aunt with unex-
pected energy. HE probably wouldn't
take you If they did"
Indeed he wouldn't" murmured her
niece feelingly.
Mrs. Barry has asked us to dine
and incidentally to meet her nephew
l have had to make excuses for you
twice before, Martha. You will go this
time" she pleaded anxiously.
mot l." responded Martha. Il shall
not infiict my unworthy presence upon
the Hon. John Clark Chamberlin."
II cannot understand this violent an
tagonism you seem to have developed"
demonstrated Aunt Clara, relapsing in
to her usual state Of plaintive protest
And what reason can l giveT
Say l am out of town. l will go
on up to Stockbridge. 1t will be only
two days earlier than we were going
anyhow"
You would be alone" expostulated
Aunt Clara.
Only for two days, and Mrs Reid is
there-you don't mind, dear?" coax
ingly.
But
That's darling" Two warm arms
were around Aunt Clara's neck and
soft cheek pressed hers lovingly. And
now will make you a cup of nice hot
tea and see if Mary has baked any Of
the cakes you like. and perhaps there
will be time enough for me to run
down to Smiths before dinner and get
that lace you wanted"
Poor Aunt Clara subsidized helplessly
1t was two days later that young
man, tall, broad shouldered, suit case in
hand, rushed up the steps of the sub
way at the Grand Central station,
dashed through the waiting room,
pushed past the guard at the gate, ran
toward the Pittsfeld express and
leapsd on to the steps of the last car
as the train was pulling out of the
station.
"Reglar home run. mister" COM
mented the brakeman, who had watch
ed his flying approach with admiring
interest.
The young man laughed as he swung
himself up the steps and into the
crowded car. There must be a run on
Berkshires," he reflected as be walked
slowly along the aisle. Every seat
was filed. The next car was no bet
ter, but In the third his eyes lighted
on vacant place.
May sit hereT he asked perfume
torily, glancing casually at the other
occupant, then looking again with
growing interest as he realized that
his prospective neighbor was a decided
ly pretty girl. But he was allowed
only the briefest glimpse Of pair of
gray eyes as their owner vouchsafed
him a formal nod, and he sank thank
fully into the seat beside her. He
glanced furtively at her as the train
left the tunnel. The survey was not
encouraging. Evidently the gray eyes,
the dimpled chin, the fair face turned
so steadfastly toward the window,
were not for him.
On and on sped the train. Mamaro-
neck, Rye, Stamford glided swiftly by.
He pulled out his paper and forgot the
proximity of the gray eyes until, look
ing up suddenly, he surprised them
looking into his own. She flushed and
turned abruptly to the window, and he
bowed gravely and returned to his
paper, but the article had lost Its in
terest. He found himself rebelling at
the convention that prescribed his
speaking to her and then wondered at
his rebellion. He had never before
shown any symptoms Of undue suscep-
tibility, he reflected dryly. smiling at
the memory of his aunt's frantic eff
forts at matchmaking on his behalf
One hour-two hours-three hours
passed. On they went, through vii
lagos nesting In shallow valleys, past
fields white with daisies and on
through long, wooded slopes, as the
train wound in and out among the
hills. If something only would hap
pen. he thought, looking absently at
the panorama unfolded from the car
window-and then something did!
The train went more and more slow
ly, halted, stood still; the passengers
thrust inquiring heads out of the car
windows or streamed to the platforms,
and in the midst of the confusion a
pair Of troubled gray eyes sought his
anxiously
He assured her there could be no
danger and stepped quickly into the
aisle. II will see what is wrong" he
said
"Please let me go with you" she
said, rising nervously, the lovely color
coming and going in the soft cheeks.
Hardly daring to credit his good for
tune, he made a path for her through
the crowded car to the open air, where,
looking ahead, he saw as pretty
wreck as the most ardent lover could
desire. A freight train had come to
grief One car was derailed; the other
lay fiat on its side across the track, OBJ
stinately resisting all efforts Of the
wrecking crew to put it right side up
| again. The conductor announced that
it would be an hour, perhaps two, be-
fore the train could go on. Martha's
| companion looked at her triumphantly.
! Truly, fate had shown a nice under
standing of the situation.
Some of the passengers walked slow
ly back to their places; others climbed
the billy slope or wandered down
through the woods to the brook below.
Martha hesitated, trife uncertain,
and then, because he seemed to take
her going with him so entirely as a
matter of course, she followed him
through the woods and he found a
seat for her on low, fat rock by the
brook and stood, tall and straight, be-
fore her.
Don't you think" he began-"that
is, l hope you won't be offended
He Redeemed, conscious that he was
making a mess of It. Then he took out
his card case abruptly. May l give
you my cardY' he ended simply.
"Oh, no; you mustn't-please don't"
she cried