The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-03-27


them and presently, with little Sam
my In her arms. went out ON to the
front porch.
TOO bad we took the old fellow In"
John muttered. Makes her think off,
Lizzie nodded understandingly.
As her son came out on his way to
the store Mrs. Spencer put the boy
down and took roll of bills from her
bosom and handed 1t to him, saying,
Here Is the money for the interest,
Johnny"
why, mother, who loaned it to youi
/ couldn't borrow itp' His ayes glow
ed with relief
81 didn't borrow 1t. I've sold the
tombstone" She put up hand as he
would have spoken. ''You know, Mr..
Wilson wanted 1t when his father died.
/ sold 1t to him this morning for three
quarters what 1t cost just as it stands.
never ought to have put 1t up with no
certainty that he was dead 1t comes
good now, though, for the interest.
what i got for it."
why, it'll put me right on my feetg'
John cried. But you oughtn't to have
done 1t, mother. You thought 20 much
of fathers stone"
81 was a fool about 1t when he
might be alive for all l knew" she
said, with self contempt 81 made my
self the laughingstock. What more
do you wantr she demanded suddenly
of the tramp who had come around the
house and paused as IL to speak
I'll thought might get job. You
said you had grocery store" looking
at John. I'D work for my keep tip
ut isn't likely he'd want an old
tramp about" Mrs. Spencer interposed
brusquely.
mo. suppose not" the old fellow
assented and scufied dejeceedly down
the path.
Mrs. Spencer watched him few mo-
ments. her face pale and lips twitch-
ing; then she commanded harshly
Samuel Spencer, come back herei
You knew II you got In once couldn't
let you go of that way! I'm an old
fool, Johnny. suppose, but l can't
bear to have your father struggling
about the country like that, sleeping
anywheres and eating any old thing.
1t isn't fair to you, son. but we'll have
to try to keep him."
Father" John and Lizzie cried to-
gether.
II used to expect 1t at first" Mrs.
Spencer hurried on. but when l put
mp the stone l really thought he was
dead, 1t had been SO long. And
might have married and been a big
amist" she Jared at the tramp, who
stood In a downcast silence. II might
have been married this minute. could
have been. What then2"
IF you'd been married again. Har-
rIet-I didn't think you would, though
but If you had I'd never let you know
was alive. And don't mean to bur
den you. There's lots of work in me
yet" he quavered.
You don't look it, and there was
never any too much at your best. but
Of course you've got to stay. l guess
he can do errands and mind the boy,
Johnny"
John shook hands heartily with his
unfamiliar father whom he could not
remember, introduced his wife and ex-
hibited the child named for his sup
posed defunct grandfather.
You've got to clean up and shave
and have that shay of hair clipped
There's some of your old duds upstairs.
decent ones" Mrs. Spencer laid down
the law, then turned to John again. 81
expect It'll raise great racket, selling
the tombstone and all. and couldn't
have sold 1t II l hadn't recognized him
last night, Johnny. Dear knows what
folks'n say" She flashed scorn at the
prodigal. who dropped shamefacedly.
but with twinkle in his eyes.
1--WE got some things at the depot, +"
he explained meekly when she stopped
Things! / didn't know tramps car
ried baggage" she snorted.
"I'm not professional tramp; only
In the way OF running from Dan to
Beersheba. That was always my fail
ing, you know, Harriet But I'm get
tinG"-