The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1905-05-02
TWO PAIRS
BY Martha
McCulloch- Williams

|@~@>@~@~@<3~ ~4~@<1%HA@~@x
"A hundred dollarsl And her dog
and her cat! / call that shame-a
burning shamer' Amy Watts said, hold
ing out her hand to Jocelyn, ostensibly
sympathetic. but with a CLEAN of sat.
isfaction in her eye.
81 DON'T" Jocelyn said stoutfy.
~Aunty Berintha never promised to
make me her heir. She did all she
said and more-gave me my education
with lot of frills In the way Of ex-
tras-dressed me well and gave me
also chance of earning her money.
I wouldn't take it,
"Why, II don't understand Amy
began. Jocelyn laughed softly. 'The
earning would have been easy-to some
girls" she said. 1T only meant being
a missionary. You see, aunty felt that
she herself ought to have gone-she
thought she had heard call that way
but her terror Of men and water was
such she never could venture to an
swer it. She wanted me to fill the gap
which she thought she had left In the
ranks. Then, too, the poor old dear
knew I'd spend her money If l got It
without the missionary career in hav-
ing good times. And she did so hate
good times! She simply couldn't be
happy unless she was very miserable"
you stayed with her nine years."
Amy said In a voice of ave. Jocelyn
smoothed out her black gown and said
ohoorftY1Iry. tVoc oil - a
Toward the last she chung to me pitt
fully-called me her comfort, and all
that. But it broke me all up to have
her ask my pardon for the will, as
though l had right to be hurt over 1t.
I've lived so useless, child, had to do
little good at the very last she said.
So her dear missionaries got everything
but the place, and the family silver
they went to Challoner down in Tex.
as, the last of the name She hoped he
would come back to live on the place
Somehow, in spite of all her crank
ness, she kept the feeling Of race I'm
not real blood kin of hers, you know
only her stepmother's grandchild."
when Is he coming-this TexanT
Amy interrupted.
Jocelyn laughed roguishly. mot at
all, suspect, Amy-Mamy. You'll have
to put up with Frank Palmer after
all. for even If Mr. Stephen Challoner
should come he is likely to bring a
Mrs. Challoner along. Early and often
is the Texas motto when it comes to
matrimony, and he's all of thirty-f1ve."
Frank has no eyes now for any
body but you," Amy said, trying to
mask spite with playfulness and sue
ceeding rather i'll.
Jocelyn gave her a keen look. In
wardly she whistled, a fayorite trick
OF hers in case Of great surprise. I'm
less you take that back right straight
III bundle you out, neck and CROP"
she said severely, but with twinkling
eyes. Il don't deny grudging Frank to
you. What woman could? But you
have possession, which is nine points
Of the law, not to speak Of vested III
terests. You two were betrothed in
the cradle, I've always heard, by your
respective fathers"
"Oh, that was all joker Amy said,
but blushed and bridled delightedly.
Amy was pretty enough girl unless
Jocelyn were by to put her out Of
court Jocelyn was tall and twenty,
light on her feet, lithely rounded, fig
ure of grace, vital everywhere, most
of all in her peach tinted face and
laughing eyes. In the three weeks
since she had come home she had sub
jugated half of Lynnville-women no
less than men. What wonder that she
had swept Frank Palmer off his feetl
He was a rich mans only child, spoil
ed of course, but a decent fellow
enough, dutiful to his father and ten
derby affectionate toward his invalid
mother. He had intended to marry
Amy on purpose to please his mother,
who was fond of the girl and had
grown to depend on her greatly. Now
he had decided she would be much
fonder of Jocelyn before six months
were out. How could she help it?
While the two girls talked of him he
was saying this to the sick woman,
who answered him with only silent
choking sobs and wringing Of wasted
hands. The silence irritated him to
the point of action. He went out of
the house far from gently and swung
along the tree bordered street, eyes
down, so intent upon his errand he ran
fairly into tall, sunburned fellow who
stood irresolute upon a corner.
mo harm done; rather good the
stranger said in answer to his apollo
giles "At least l reckon so. 1t gives
me a chance to speak TO you without
seeming like a confidence man. ought
to- be ashamed to say it. but the fact Is