The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-10-09

YOU"
comrade. He had kissed her often,
called her his little sweetheart and
actually gone the length of sending
down to her from the city after he was
back there a birthday ring. Notwith-
standing, he had found her married and
happy, with baby as round, rosy and
dimpled as he remembered her. Ten
years, he had reflected, made big
changes every way. Still he was not
quite prepared for the change they had
wrought in Fretty.
The name was of his own coinage;
in all other mouths the girl was Alta.
He had been quite taken aback to find
that she did not resent his version of
the baptismal mouthful Indeed. she
had said, with a little lowering smile,
1.-THE one comfort about my name is,
no matter what people call me, they
can't possibly make 1t worse than IL
is"
The saying had in a way startled
him; he had not thought to find philos-
ophy at seventeen in the rural regions.
But as time went on he discovered
that the philosophy was the least of
Fretty's surprises. Young as she was,
Uniformed and inexperienced, she had
a way with her, also poise quite
wonderful to see. He did not wonder
that she had taken captive his artist
friend Vernon; it was Vernons habit
to fall fitfully in love with every girl
who was in the least out of the COM
mon. Fretty had not single usual
fiber in her. In proof. take the fact
that Vernon's alteration had not in the
slightest degree turned her head.
What have we to say to the painter
person, Fretty?" Cousin Langley ask
ed, coming out and laying hold of her
hands. Are we going to tell him to
go about his business or are we going
to say. Yes. and thanky, sir when he
asks
HE won't ask Fretty said, not try
ing to take away her hands. you see,
l told him at the very first | regarded
it as my duty to marry you. Other
wise you would waste all your money
besides, it was the only way to keep
Alderbrook in the family. He agreed
with me, although l think he was sor-
ry; 1t must have seemed shar1e to
him to miss such an opportunity. Fc
admitted that flirting was a necessity
to him. That is why, l think, he is
away just now"
'Indeed?" Langley said, his tone an
Interrogation.
Fretty nodded, echoing: Indeed!
Yes. Mrs. Wortham-your divinity
has opened Grasmere-came herself the
day before yesterday. So Mr. Vernon
couldn't stay away longer"
who says she is my divinity? And
how do you like it, seeing you have
appropriated meY Langley asked, col
oring In spite of himself He felt all at
once young and raw and ridiculous
and was In temper over it. He want
ed to shake Fretty-shake her hard. She
was testing. of course, but how beauti-
fully she had turned the tables on him.
Quite unaccOuntably he found himself
trembling, his hands moist, his face, he
knew. high colored, and all without
any TcdSOu.
1t could not be that the bare sugges-
! ton of Fretty-the child, the plaything,
the creature he loved to tease-as his
wife, the mistress of his home and
heart, had thus overcome him. For
five years at least he had thought Of
Georgina Workman in that position.
She fitted 1t so beautifully and was
quite evidently ready to accept 1t.
II always answer mothers letters for
her. Remember you wrote her about
Georgina two years back at least"
Fretty said, smiling sweetly, with the
faintest touch of malice LAS to my
liking her, what does that matter? 1
have nothing to do with her. only with
you"
you are quite resolved-to take
me, l mean?" Langley asked. his eyes
| downcast.
Pretty looked pensive. ut seems
one must do ones duty, however dis
agreeable. shg SAID. vii y Z little s!Gh;