The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-01-24
A WILLFUL
WIDOW
By KATE nj. cLEARY

so altogether Pm in a deuce Of q
Ax," concluded Carruthers.
He sprang to his feet, looking for all
the world like big, perturbed boy as
he paced restlessly across the library
floor. He was so well formed, with
his straight shoulders and the fine,
flexible lines of his body, that he ap-
peared to be ten years younger than
the thirty-five allotted him by the fam
lily Bible. Then his brown hair would
curl even at thirty-five.
II understand" said Claridge. In
truth, he did not understand at all. He
had no children of his own Indeed
he found the caprices of his fashiona-
BILE wife quite sufficient to absorb his
attention. But he liked Max Carruth-
ers, and it did seem to him
They're such adorable little things,
Maxi And you're so absurdly wealthy
II it were not for our house being closed
for the summer and Clotilde doing Eu-
rope for the steenth time I'd ask you
to let US take the tots One fancies
that man with your money would
have no difficulty in finding a person.
A rather desperate laugh interrupted
him.
"Ah, the persons who are willing to
take care of my little people, Claridge,
are the bane Of my existence I've adj
vertised; I've met and talked with
them; harpies ALL Some would un-
doubtedly give the children proper care
as far as physical requirements go, bu'
that isn't enough. / want to find some
woman who would really love them for
their own sake"
'aThat ought to be dead easy" growl-
ed Claridge
"Of course l think so; but, then,
they're my BARNS. l want some one
who will give them bit of mothering
kiss the place to make 1t well and
that sort of thing"
II have itr' exclaimed Claridge. He
brought his fist down on the arm OF
his chair with a bang. 1.-THE most idyl-
lie old home in the country that your
eyes ever rested upon. It's big, ram.
bling house, almost covered with Vir.
ginia creeper There's an immense
well kept lawn and clematis across the
porch, and the house itself is just filed
with the most delicious scents. The
bedrooms are perfumy with lavender
And as for the food-why, it's some
thing to set an anchorite sighingp'
But what makes you think the pos
SCISSOR of this ideal home would wei
come into 1t two rather lively chill
dren2 If it's only question Of mon
ey''-
Claridge shook his head.
go slowl That's the difficulty-ii
isn't a question of money at all. And
my powers of persuasion may be less
effective than l think with Mrs. Va
rine, but I'll try"
'sYour friend is widow, presume?
Claridge smiled-a dry. slow, curious
smile-his legal smile, Carruthers call.
ed 1t.
Eyes; she happens to be client OF
mine Oh, yesr he repeated, as though
convincing himself of the fact. "She's
a widowp
When Carruthers called few days
later to ask if Claridge had heard from
Mrs. varine, the latter jumped ur
briskly.
ITS all right, Max. You are to set
tie the question of payment with me
Mrs. Varine says she'd rather take
nothing. She's very lonely, is awfully
fond of children, and is delighted al
~. +I,,rrhf of having tho voun0Stars
with her during their vacation. You'd
better take them down next Thursday
oh, by the way, there's condition
Mrs. Varine does not wish to meet you
personality
whats that?' cried Carruthers
aghast.
'sWell, she doesn'ty' reiterated Clar
idge doggedly. Maybe she has no rea
son but woman's reason. Anyhow
she's entitled to her caprice. Her aunt
Miss Howard, will meet you on you
arrival and show you over the place"
Queer" muttered Carruthers. He
looked up sharply. you say you know
the lady-that everything is all rightT"
81 say she's one Of the sweetest wo
men God ever made and that you may
bless your stars she is taking youl
children into her home-which means
her hearth
He had spoken with warmth. Car
ruthers held out his hand.
THANKS, dear boyl You're mighty
good friend"
1t was at the close of perfect Junt
day when little party reached Cedar
vile. A surrey drawn by two fat white
ponies met them. About two miles out
side of town the driver turned off int