The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-12-19

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of heredity. Her father was mission
airy, meek in all things except regard
ing his chosen work. There he had a
lions heart. a Spartan's endurance.
Thus Miranda had been. left behind
when her parents went to the far east.
That was ten years back-so long ago
they were little more to her now than
memories.
Miranda picked up her mothers lat
est letter. The paper was thin, the
writing fine and grabbed, but she was
able to read an account Of the dancing
girls in one of the heather temples.
After the third reading she shut her
eyes. Her mother had dwelt feeIingly
upon the horror, the impiety Of 1t all,
but somehow there had crept between
the lines enough of the east to bewitch
the reader. She seemed to see 1t all.
the crowd, the lights, the wreaths OF
smoking incense. the figures swayine
in time and tune. And as she thus saw
mentally there came to her longing
dance, the night away.
1t was evening. Her grandfather
was away at a special service in his
mission chapel. She had been left be-
hind to finish some slight household
tasks. Half mile down the street
the Brixton fancy ball was in full
blast. She had a card to it-one she
had not dared to display. Now, insane
ly, she made up her mind to go-not-
withstanding her formal regrets She
would not go as Miranda Acton-rather
as dancing girl from a world I'M
known.
Her mother had sent home COM
plete outfit to be sold at the Twelfth
Night st. Barnabas fair. With shaking
hands she huddled herself into it, then
looked at herself in the glass The eff
feet startled her, but it convinced her
there must be further disguise. She
caught up her water colors, gave her
self dusky complexion, carmine
cheeks and heavy black lashes. She
stained her arms, her ankles, her bare
throat
BY the time it was done the clock
was striking 10. In half an hour her
grandfather would be home. For a
minute she hesitated, then, almost be-
fore she knew it, she had goloshes over
her sandals, and, well wrapped in her
long macintosh, was out in the street
Presently she found herself in the
Brixtons' library. She had crushed
through great multitude of figures
nearly as much out of the common as
her own. She remembered, too, having
dropped frightened courtesy to state
ly Nine. Brixton, who had stared at
her, then smiled a kindly welcome and
let her slip away in the crowd.
The band was playing In the room
beyond all sorts and conditions of folks
whirled madly about Miranda glanc-
ed at them and shrank back. They
We're dancing two and two-she could
only dance alone-and dance she must
The stealing music said SO beyond per-
adventure. The library was empty.
Half unconsciously she began to foot
it over the polished floor, weaving back
and forth, bending, swaying, balancing
upon one foot, arms up, arms down or
extended as though In entreaty.
On, on. on. she bent and swayed, now
stamping one tiny foot now plrouetting
with untaught grace, unconscious that
two pairs of eyes watched her from the
ambush of heavy curtains swung across
culine eyes-Tom Brixton and his city
friend, just back from globe trotting,
had found harbor there. They gazed
spellbound at Miranda, then GREATNESS
ly at each other.
1T is a miracle" Tom whispered at
last. zone that shows how blood will
tell. l know our dancer. She's old
Parson Carriers granddaughter, the
prettiest girl in the county. Let's 20
out and take possession Of her. We
understand, but il the others saw-my!
There would be kettle Of fish,
BE still! 1t is sacrilege to think Of
stopping her." Landon, the city friend,
said, breathing hard. "and 1t would be
worse sacrllege to let her stay here.
Can't you see her. dancing ON floor Of
mems hearts,"
Tom broke from his hold with lit.
tie uneasy laugh.
At the sound Miranda stopped, panic
stricken, blushing so deeply her rouge
showed pale. "You-you'll help me get
away-back home-l-I had to come"
she painted.
Tom took her hand kindly and put
his arm half about her. Then in through
the door came the old minister in his
rusty black coat, the picture Of stern,
yet benignant, amaze until he caught
sight of his granddaughter. Then a
wave Of wrath swept him into speech.
Miranda, | came to pluck you a
brand from the burning oh, you
wantonl You have made it certain you
will burn for this in everlasting fires"
He swung upon his heel, but turned
back. saying DULY, Il shall be waiting
when you choose to come-home"
Miranda sprang toward him, but
Landon restrained her you Will only
make things worse he said 'Listeni
Tom Brixton will vouch for me-that
mean you no harm in what | say. Let
me take you away-to the city. 1t is
the place for such as you. Here life
will be a burden TO you and those
around you. There you may be happy
and famous and rich"
Lets get out of this" Brixton said,
opening a locked door that led to his
fathers office and drawing the minis
ter and Landon within 1t. Miranda fol-
lowed them. moving like one In q
dream. There were low, earnest words,
whose import she did not catch, then
somehow she was whisked of to the
parsonage.
She did not sleep that night. Next
morning she was on train speeding
cityward, wondering If she ever should
see her native town again.
Miranda must have been born under
specially lucky star. for she was per
mitted to come back seven years later
to the succor of those she had left be-
hind. Her parents had come home, all
their strength and use .sapped by the