The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-02-13

all the boarders had left the pretty lit
tie Berkshire resort except Doris bud
ley and her invalid mother, who were
to remain there some weeks longer 1,
was Jacks custom, since he had been
obliged to return to town, to run down
on Saturdays and spend Sunday with
them.
This particular Sunday morning Dor.
is and he were crossing the slopine
meadows. blowing through the tangle
of withered sedge and brown grass
when Jack suddenly broke out bitterly
II don't believe you care for me at
all-or ever havew
"ReallyY said Doris indifferently.
She rested her white sunshade far back
over her shoulder slnd looked dreamily
across the meadows to the purple hills
beyond, but there were dimples In her
cheeks and a multitude Of little curls
blowing In her eyes.
why are you SO provoking, dsar7
You've all but given your promise, and
yet you keep putting me off and lead
ing me along as If were pet animal
with no will of its own. Well, I'm a
a foolv' he repeated, f1ercely suppress
ing the expletive.
Goodness, no, JackP' drawled the
mischievous Doris. mot SO bad az
thatp'
Jack cooled bit and renewed his
pleadings.
But do be reasonable, Doris. II you
don't intend to throw me over, tell me
when you'll give me positive answer,
and
when you do some unusual thing,
you know" interjected she sweetly,
blowing the curls out of her eyes.
Jack, who had been carrying his hat,
slapped it on his head with an excla-
nation of disgust He was certainly
vexed and took very long strides.
Hello, Jackw called Doris daintily
after him as he far outdistanced her.
That's not the way Pm going. I'm
going down by the bridge. Want to
Gomez 1t CHANGED that he did.
Now, the path to the bridge was
rather pretty path, running through
a small wood, which In summer time
was full of shade and woodbine and
foxgloyes and ferns. These had van
ished, but the glory Of the wood, the
stream, remained
Spanning the stream was the bridge.
1t was tiny and not particularly serv-
iceable, with gingerbready trelliswork
at the side for the tickling Of unartis-
tic tastes.
Lets rest here" suggested Doris
sitting down comfortably on the iimsy
side rail Of the bridge. With one hand
she held bunch of ruffiy skirts, and
with her other she balanced herself on
the handle of her sunshade.
isn't the purply haze on those hills
beautiful" remarked she POLITICALLY.
1t was only some belated cricket, for
gotten by July, that chirped an appreci-
alive reply to this poetic observation.
As to Jack, he was silent for few mo-
ments; then with coarse, masculine d.
rectness he went straight to the spot:
But what in thunder can chap like
me do, Doris, that would be unusual 2
I'm decent enough sort, I reckon
good family, wholesome instincts and
all that, with enough money to live on
and reasonable amount of industry
but as for doing anything unusual
pshaw!" he broke of irascibly.
Doris hummed an air from Little
Johnnie Jones" and gathered her skirt
frills a bit closer. Apparently she
NJ epix Be, skal kk,1 Ill
tention.
Jack licked a beetle from the railing
and changed his tactics.
isn't it enough for your purpose, lit
tie girl, to be sure that l love your he
asked.
Doris shot lightning glance at her
big lover from under her dark lashes.
'Still," she said musingly, II should
like you to do some unusual thing"
Jack passed one hand over his swarthy
brow and took a hurried review of his
resources.
Possibly" observed he oddly at
length, Il might write book"
Doris giggled. Yes. and dedicate it
to me-" suggested she
''In what form-'To my WifeT" ask
ed Jack boldly
"Lookw said she quickly, nodding her
head toward the opposite bank Of the
stream.
Jack looked. He saw slight, sinuous
movement among the high grasses Of
the margin, and then something slid
suddenly into the water.
POOH" said he, leaning against the
rail of the bridge to look over, "a water
rat"
Doris swung a dainty russell shoe a
bit beyond the edges of her iuff1es
NO. she said, sorrowfully contemplat-
Ing the tip of the shoe and reverting to
the penultimate subject, I'm afraid
you'll never write book, Jack"
Jack was still leaning over the fiimsy
side rail looking down at the stream.
I've hit it,? cried he, with enthusi-
asm.
'The water ratf' queried Doris. "Oh,
the poor little creaturew
1.-The water rat, nothingi I've hit
upon an unusual experiment"
Doris turned upon him sympathet-
ically, her eyes like stars.
Honest Injin, Jackf"
Honest Injin," said he, wheeling
about and sitting likewise on the bridge
rail. A sardonic smile lurked In the
corners of his genial mouth. "Only,"
he added, Pm not going to do the
unusual thing alone. l wouldn't for
worlds wear laurel wreath alone"
He slipped an arm through hers. you
know, I've sworn long ago that all my
honors should be shared with you"
But what's the unusual expert
mentf" questioned Doris doubtfully.
why, we're going to fall into the
water" announced he pleasantly.
Don't be an idiotP' expostulatsd she.
IAN idiot? Exactly. Isn't 1t 'un-
usual for a sensible, level headed fell
low like me to be an iaiotT" he eluc-
dated. Now the thing l am about to
do will be undoubtedly idiotic, there
fore unusual" he proceeded to argue.
And seeing that it wouldn't do for
me to distinguish myself alone"-he In
terwined his legs with some Of the or
namental trelliswork and leaned pretty
far back-"either well do an unusual
thing, now and together, or you
There was an impressive pause, wfiie
the cricket chirped and Doris endeav-
ored yainly to wriggle her arm out Of
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