The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-01-16


mere fact that she is here singing in
Mrs. Dunderdale's house like this, be
fore crowd like this, Christmas eve."
"Oh, don't know" commented Rod
dy mildly, taking survey of the crowd
through his eyeglasses. pretty jolly,
swell crowd, think. Probably the lit
tie girls mighty glad to be singing for
it and raking in a small dab of the
Dunderdale ready cash on her own ac-
count, what?"
Paxton did not stop to answer. Mrs.
Dunderdale was standing under the
holly star that dangled from the arch
way between the two drawing rooms
talking to old Wyman. She smiled
when Paxton came up and gave him
her hand
$50 you did come, after all? And late,
as usual"
The old general rambled away to-
ward the nearest tea table, and they
were alone under the holly star
How did Viola Arnold come here?"
Mrs. Dunderdale's eyebrows lifted
prettily as she laughed. A woman may
still be pretty and charming at fifty
two, when she is a study in soft grays
and delicate pinks, with brown eyes.
Nov, please, don't scold me here,
Paxton" she said soothingly. You al
ways were fussy sort of boy Isn't
she a dear? Come over here In the smi-
lax bower, and I'll tell you a little
about her, not ALL though; just enough
SO that you won't look at me as if had
been stealing candy from baby. Do
you know herP'
"Know her? OF course l know her,"
cried Paxton. "And the last time saw
her was in July in her fathers palace
in Florence, the old Cellini palace it is.
She sang then. too, but it was to please
us, her guests. And old Scalli yonder
was one of Arnold's beggar geniuses,
living on his bounty. l want to know
what his daughter is doing here like
this"
Like thisT" Mrs. Dunderdale shook
her head at him reproachfully. "Pres-
ton, that lovely child came to me only
two weeks ago almost penniless. You
know what Bruce Arnold was. He
lived up to every cent Of his income
and ran little beyond it. Last August
he died suddenly. Didn't you hear Of
it?"
Il came back home by way of Japan
and stayed on in Tokyo little WHILE"
said Paxton. Il haven't heard word
Of it."
"Weil, that's all. You can imagine
the rest. There are no relatives, no one
at all for her to go to, and the old pal
ace was robbed, literally robbed of all
her fathers possessions by his credit
ors. She hasn't any income at ALL The
Scallis brought her over here with
them. The signor had a bit of money
from some accommodating deceased
relative and she lives with them In
some impossible fiat up In east Harlem
you know that part-where you can
see the gas works from your front win
dows and hear the boats on the river
and they hang their bedding out on the
fire escapes. Oh, my dear, it Is terrible
for her, but Scalll is teaching her. She
Is marvel, he says 1t will be years.
Of course. She is only nineteen now,
but he swears she will be all he hopes
for some day. and with fame there will
be wealth. of course But in the mean
time l shall have her sing and see that
she has other engagements, and
where can l see her nowT'
ssIl,tt x-o,, oon,+ ,ot1 Me- n,,0da,
dale calmly. 1T wouldn't do at all,
Preston. The signor says she is an
artistic now and must see no one"
Mrs. Dunderdale' ~ Paxtons face
was white ana his tone desperate-"I
love her to death. We quarreled like a
couple of children that last night i'll
Florence. That's why | came back by
way of Japan to try and forget"
Mrs. Dunderdale laid her hand light
ly on his arm.
Preston, my dear, you will find her
in the little music room across the hall.
You had better go and wish her a mer-
~ Christmas"
1t was very quiet across the hall.
Paxton passed through the library and
the smoking den and hesitated at the
half open door of the music room She
was alone, standing at the old Japa-
nese music rack in the corner. The
pale yellow light from the cluster of
opalescent electric bulbs above her
head shone softly on her dark hair,
where the red and green of a holly
sprig showed.
As the door opened she raised her
head.
Il found the quaintest old carol,
signor The Holly Star Mrs. Dun
derdale sent me to look for it. She
called me that tonight, her holly star
Prestonr'
Paxton closed the door behind him.
He wished she would not look so white
and scared and altogether frightened
1t had been his fault that night back
In Florence, when she had looked at
him like that and had told him to go
away and leave her forever.
II heard yon sing he said. Mrs.