The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-04-04
COPHETUA
TO DATE
BY Kate NJ. CIearY
Copyright, 1904, by Kate NJ. Cleary

Ellis Hdu mdue fortune IN the hl0n-
dixie and was coming back to his native
town. And the general supposition ex-
listed that he was returning in quest of
wife. There were those who, recalling
the boy and girl love affair between
him and Lesda Revere, smiled signif-
cantly. But there were others who
ayerred that both had been too young
and inexperienced at the time Of their
parting to attach Importance to the
youthful romance
Ferguson, the town banker, portly
and prosperous, striding down the main
street one delicious summer morning,
met his niece on her way to give mu-
sic lesson and stopped to tease her a
trif1e over the situation.
'Lesda, Gordon Ellis is expected
back next weekv'
$50 I've heard, Uncle Bruce"
The tone was nonchalant, but she had
colored rosily up to the crisp, reddish
gold curls around her white forehead
ut will be a great thing for Linden
vile If he decides to settle down here.
I hope" with ponderous archness, that
you will try to persuade himw
The flush faded, leaving her looking
pale-and very proud
Il shall have nothing to say in the
matter" she answered coldly. at is
unlikely that shall even meet him."
'Nonsensew Ferguson cried, drop
ping his rallying air. "Of course you
will Wen all have a chance to renew
our old acquaintance with as fine fell
low as ever struck out to make his for
tune. Marian is to give a big welcom-
ing dance for him. Hortense is eager
for pleasure, you know" he added le-
niently, "and we like to indulge her"
Lesda nodded, evincing polite inter
est. Until the mother Of Hortense had
married her uncle twelve months pre-
yious she and her aunt had lived with
Bruce Ferguson, directing his house
hold. But with the coming of a bride
possessed of a grown daughter all this
was changed. So Lucinda Ferguson,
having got together her few heirlooms
and some furniture had moved into a
little house she owned on the outskirts
of the rich, bustling manufacturing
town.
The new mistress and her daughter
were left in victorious possession, and
Bruce Ferguson, with mans obtuse-
ness, did not realize what the inevita-
Bile change in their manner of living
must mean to such fastidious women
as his sister and niece He had set
tied an income on Lucinda, but Lesda
declared that her music teaching would
bring her in all the money she would
require. OF the deprivations and
makeshifts necessary to present Sc
rene front to critical world neither
spoke.
80 you'll surely come" Ferguson
went on breezily. I'm going to do the
thing in fine style-have music and
caterers down from Chicago and all
that sort of thing"
The expression of proud reserve
deepened on the countenance of Lesda
Revere. She had an odd, exquisite
style Of beauty, foreign to her class
and nationality. While her features
were not classically perfect, there was
about her face a look of spirituality,
of distinction, that attracted and held
attention
81 hope you'll have beautiful time"
she said courteously. "But l shan't
go, Uncle Bruce"
He stared at her a moment In puz-
zled surprise. Then he laughed heart
lily and brought his clinched fist down
in the palm Of the other hand.
Nothing to wear, I'll bet a nickel
Poor Miss Flora McFlimseyp For he
saw by her quick, irrepressible smile
that he had guessed right. well, you
will have a dress, and one sent to
you ready made from the city at that!
Why, Hortense won't wear a thing
that's made in Lindenville! Now,
you'll promise to come? Well, what
is ttY
She had been about to speak-to ask
him to permit her to choose the gown
she to make suggestions to him? Was
he not exceedingly generous to promise
her a costume at all?
Nothing, except that you are mighty
good to think Of such thing! Yes
I'll conner
That's rightw he commented cor
daily and passed on.
Not until the very morning of the
day set for the important function did
the expected box arrive. Hortense
and her mother had been up In the
metropolis ordering their own attire.
They had doubtless bought this at the
same time. But, although she had read
In grateful amazement the sum men
toned on the receipted bill that had
been forwarded to her by mall it was
with heart prophetically filed with
doubt that Lesda opened the box,
while her aunt looked over her shout
der. Layer after layer Of tissue paper
was laid aside. Lesda shrank back
with a little cry of dismay as the
cleaning, lustrous, costly fabric was
revealed
What have 1 done to make Uncle
Bruce's wife and daughter dislike me
so?' she whispered. They know-you
know, Aunt Lucinda-that can never
wear such a shadep'
Lucinda Ferguson shook her head.
Tears of disappointment came into her
gentle old eyes as she gazed down on
the expensive robe. 1t was of raw,
that girl with hair the copper color
Of Lesda's dare wear.
The girl laid back the layers of It's
sue paper with fingers that trembled.
"Pm sorry. because Uncle RI1lc~
meant so we'll And then" with lips
that would culver, 81 get chance to
go to a dance so seldomI'
The long, hot, golden day Jagged
! by. Never had the giving Of music
lessons seemed so tedious nor had the
pupils ever appeared so tiresome.
Coming home just as the relentless sun
was dropping down the west, the girl
frightened with wan pleasure at sight
of the little old gray cottage she called
home. In the house she knew would
! be balm-the balm of sympathy, Of
rest, of love-
"Tll have a bath and a fresh gown"
she told herself, "and get out here in
the silence and the sweetness and read
until l forget there are gay people
dancing the night away-and l not
one of themP'
Not for worlds would she have ad-
mitted even to her own heart that it
was less the social exhilaration she
missed than the wee, hidden hope she
had harbored of seeing once more a
well remembered dark head, of feel
ing the warm clasp of a strong, firm
hand and of meeting the half tender,
half quizzical glance of expressive blue
eyes.
She was very resolute in reading the
tiny volume of Tennyson she had
brought when after supper she came
out into the fragrant solitude. Her
gown was of simple lawn that trailed