The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-11-21
ACCORDING TO
ORDERS
BY JOANNA SINGLE
! Copyright. 1906, by J. o. Loiseaux 4

her off and looked at the sweet face
with the pride of new possession. Her
eyes'fell beneath his glance.
Aida. when did you begin to love
meT' She twisted saucily from him.
II think l won't tell That / do
should satisfy you"
Eyes; it should-and it doesn't l
| want to know all about it. Why In the
world should you love me2 What
made your?
"Well, for one thing, you are very
nice-in your way" Her tone was de-
mure. and father as good as said 1 |
mustn't When you first came here he |
and were downtown and met you"
And on sight my heart got down !
for you to walk on! l remember that
first time" He drew her to a seat be- |
side him on a log in the wood adjoin-
ing the links where they were suppos-
ed to be playing golf. What did your
father say?'
Il asked who you were and was in
formed that you were the new lawyer,
good, but hopelessly young = and =
and
"Impecunious.' Philip Hardy sup
piled. Guilty, your honor What
could he expect Of new lawyer? And |
l can't help being young"
And he remarked on your good !
looks"
Naturally" said Philip modestly. |
HE has good taste. I'm glad he likes
his future son-in-law. But why else |
did you like meT'
well, father was saving me for my |
third cousin. VIII Robertson, who is
coming soon to practice with him. OF |
course father thinks don't know his |
little scheme. And then-I saw you |
and objected more than ever to being !
saved up for mere cousin, who prob
ably wants me as little as | want |
him."
Your father needn't worry. knew
Robertson at college He is engaged to
Eleanor Payne and wants to get into |
the good graces Of her father" Aida
gasped.
"Well! And l almost hated Eleanor |
because | thought you were in lovo
with her! Father thinks So"
1T was you. l kept with her to |
avoid the temptation to tell you that |
loved you, for | had no right to offer |
you-nothing. And here l am! l can |
give you a little home-nothing like |
your father's-and l think l can make
you happy VIII you conner She
leaned her cheek to his.
YES" she answered simply, II will |
come" He expressed his satisfaction |
with silent effectiveness. Then he
asked:
when shall tell your fatherT'
"Oh, Phil He will never consent |
Don't ask him YETI
Il said tell him. not ask him. dear. |
Does he approve my supposed passion |
for Eleanor Payne? Yes? Then if he
loved his neighbor as himself he'd be
quite as willing to have me for his |
own son-in-law as to sacrifice Judge
Payne. So I'm not to tell him7"
Get better acquainted with him first |
You know he's president of the TWEEN |
ty-fversv'
Yes, and Of the bank and the golf |
club and the Improvement league, and, |
for all know, the kindergarten
Don't try to be funny. It's the most |
exclusive club in Westerville. You |
ought to be honored by being elected |
to membership"
Il am. Initiation comes in a week |
or two. l must try to win the doc
tors favor"
well, follow Eleanor conspicuously |
not me. We must go. It's too dark |
even to pretend to play golf"
Philip left his betrothed at the gate |
Of her home. AS he swung happily |
down the street he overlook Eleanor, |
and as he bent to tell her the joy that |
had befallen him they met Alidas |
father, DR.. Marston, and old DR.. Hayes. |
Fine chap, young Hardy; glad to
have him in the club but I'm thankful |
to Miss Payne for keeping him at her |
heels. He is dangerously attractive and |
l was afraid Aida would take a fancy |
to him. Her mother and l have al |
ways wanted her to marry Robertson. |
] When he comes he can look after his |
own interests
A week passed. Aida and Philip |
met often at social functions and at
! the home of Eleanor, to whom Hardy |
was apparently devoted. Robertson
came, was voted into the club and fol-
lowed in Alida's wake, to the joyful |
expectancy of her father.
Initiation night brought great fes-
tivities to the club. The two new can
didates were subjected to the Gus
tomary torture, but they bore 1t with |
admirable stoicism and were at length
released.
AT the banquet table the gayety ran
high. Wit and satire ruled, but with
the toasts came solemnity. whether
real or mock the new men could not
discover. Pledges and responses be-
tame more and more funerelI Final
~ DIR. Marston, Allda's father, rose
from his place and as president of the
club pledged the health, happiness and
prosperity of the initiated and made a
lugubrious speech as to their duties
and responsibilities.
Gentlemen" he finished, addressing
Hardy and Robertson, you alone of
this august body are single men-the
rest are dignified men of family. 1t Is
your solemn-only the married know
! how solemn-duty to marry and have
homes for your own solace and the
entertainment of this organization
You should choose from Westerville,
for her fair ones must not fall into
| alien hands. This is ALL Gentlemen,
your health and happiness; and we ex-
pect you to act according to orders"
After the applause ceased Hardy rose
Tf1 I...{1ft
again and again interrupted by clap
ping and he waited for silence At the
last he turned directly to Alida's father
and took up the last clause in his rec
concentrations
1--WE SHALL" he said-''for l speak
also for Robertson-obey you, doctor
as far as in us lies. But supposing that
your daughters will none of us and our
homes, what then? You have coun-
seled us. 1t is therefore your duty to
uphold us In the way that never did
run smooth Will you aid and abet
us? In any such scheme have we your
cooperation and support your con-
sent?" The words. lightly spoken, had
still an undercurrent of serious mean
ing. do you pledge us your fatherly
sanction?" He paused for a reply, and
at signal from Judge Payne they
rose as one man and uttered a solemn
I'VE do
A few days later DIR. Marston
brought Judge Payne home from the
chess club for a midnight lunch. The
light burned low in the library, but
passing through the dim hall they
heard sounds of mirth emanating from
the dining room. The doctor pushed
aside the portieres.