The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-10-10

ence took the form of a gigantic prob
lem. He stopped over suddenly and
raised him to the saddle in front OF
him.
tn take you home with me to break
fast" he said shortly. am bring you
back to your father later"
At 10 O'Clock DIR. Morton knocked on
the door of the cottage where the VII
lage schoolteacher boarded
''The only fortunate thing l can see
about the whole affair, Miss Gregory,
is that today is Saturday and you are
at liberty to take time to discuss the
problem with me- he said disconso-
lately.
Mary Gregory's quiet little smile al
ways had a soothing effect upon the
doctors nerves.
And he has no relatives living, you
say?" she asked
"Not one. l have often heard Mac
kenzie say that he and the little chap
were the last Of the family b.
George, I'll adopt him." the doctor fin
ished, a flush Of determination rising
to his face. Here l am, an old bach
elor of forty five, without kith or kin.
I'll adopt him. he repeated.
Miss Gregory's thin little face wore a
pink flush. Il always knew you were
the kindest man living she said.
He gave little deprecatory cough.
But don't know what on earth I'll
do with him" He collapsed helplessly.
Il might get him a pony" he added
rather aimlessly.
Miss Mary's quiet little smile peeped
around the corners of her mouth
Don't you think he's rather small for
a pony?" she hazarded.
"Well, he must have er = some
thing" His eyes were beginning to
look helpless. THE old colored woman
that keeps house for me could look
after his bodily comfort but l don't
imagine she could do much In the
training line" The DEBTORS thoughts
had evidently become overwhelming.
Send him over to sit in the school
room during school hours" Miss
Mary's suggestion seemed combina-
tion of the wisdom of Solomon and the
spirit Of the Delphic oracle to the be-
muddled doctor
Recommend me to woman for
brains any day, Miss Mary he said,
in relief, as he took up his hat to leave.
"That child seems to need some
clothes or something" he told her a
-
from the postoffice Il don't seem to be
able to make him look fixed up. Could
not you make list of things you think
boys ought to have? I'm going into the
city tomorrow, and | want to fix the
little chap out decently. I'm going to
take out the regular adoption papers.
Malcolm Morton u rather like the
sound Of H." he said musingly. open
ing the front gate for her and follow
ing her into the house upon his own in
vitation
Lend me your notebook and pencil"
She seated herself gayly at little ia
BILE. Il don't believe an old maid Of
thirty-five has much more wisdom con-
corning the needs Of small boy than
an old bachelor OF forty -fve,' she sug-
gested.
Put down one of those little fat
blue caps with an anchor worked on it
first said DIR. Morton
"And a dark blue blouse suit to go
with IT." added Miss Mary, jotting
down the two items
"And probably an unlimited number
Of shoes. from all I've heard on the
subject" He sat with his chin propped
In the palm of his hand, his eyes alb
stractedly fixed upon the picture Of
General Lee that hung above the man
tel
"We might limit him to two pairs for
a beginning" The woman made little
meditative pencilings up and down the
margin
Il think I'll add a football and a
fairy tale book to amuse him. she add
ed, surveying the list, which had al
most reached the page limit.
The doctor gasped. Il can't read
fairy tales to flve-year-old children. I'd
feel foolish" He lost his distracted
look and ran his fingers through his