The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1906-04-03
On theFenCe
BY DONALD ALLEN
Copyright, 1908, By z. O. Paro.l,.

| ? Copyright, l0os by e. o. Parosus
&>~~>>~>~~>~~
All the farming population for ave
miles around said that 1t was a good
match, that between Burt Adams, son
Of Deacon Adams, and Eunice Taylor,
daughter Of the Widow Taylor. The
young folk had known each other as
children. The parents approved the en-
gagement, and the deacon went as far
as to take his son by the hand and say,
My son, she is fine girl. and you
will make no mistake In Margin her.
l shall feel toward her as my own
I daughter"
The engagement was announced and
the wedding day set Everything went
well until the deacon's brother out in
Wisconsin died and left him a legacy
OF $14,0O In cash. The deacon, who
had lived without any of the Injuries
of life, was stunned for time by the
size OF the legacy. He felt that 1t made
him one of the millionaires of earth.
The money would have made some lit
tie difference to any man, NO matter
how level headed.
I'VE are on a different plane now"
he said to his old wife, "and we must
conform to the new circumstances.
You won't wear calico any more and
shall have hired girl, and l shall do
no more work except boss the hired
man."
And what about BurtY' was asked.
He must go to college and become
a lawyer or doctor"
But he and Eunice are to be mar
ried, you know, and don't believe
he'll want to put it off,"
Look here, ma" said the deacon aft
or thinking for awhile, I'VE can't let
Burt throw himself away on no such
girl. 1t might have done passably well
when we were poor, but now we can
buy out the whole county and have
money left. He can't afford to de him
self to any such wife. To begin with,
she don't look aristocratic"
But do WEI"
"Of course we do Any ons would
know to look at us that we had blood
and money. In the second place, abe
has no style about her."
"And have we gotT"
Heaps of it. In the third place, she
hain't got no eddication."
But you and nae never went to any
thing better'n district school," protest.
ed the wife, while Eunice attended q
seminary for two whole years.
thought she knew moren all of US put
| together
! but she don't At the seminary she
jest chawed gum and played the pi-
amer. We hain't been braggin' around
any, because that amt the way OF the
Adamses, but we've got dedication
'nuff to pass In any crowd. When
talked with the governor at the county
fair two years ago / felt perfectly to
home. / must have talk with Burt"
II don't believe he will give her up.
You know how obstinate he Is about
some things. If Eunice would give him
up
by thunder" interrupted the deacon
as he brought his fist down on the
kitchen table with bang.
what is it?'
"Tve got an idea, ma-one of the
brightest ideas l ever had. Keep mum
Don't say word I'll tell you all
about it tomorrer or next day. Don't
say single word to Burt, and don't go
around lookin' as II you had somethin'
on your mind"
"You-you hain't gofn' to do any
thing desperate?" stammered the wife.
"Of course not. I'm simply goin' to
work out my idea, and when get
ready to tell you you'll say am about
as sharp as they make 'em. S-s-shi
Keep mumr'
| The above conversation took place
one evening, and at 8 o'clock the next
morning the deacon was knocking at
the door Of Widow Taylor's farm
house. Eunice had driven to the vii
lage to do some trading" and the fat
| and motherly widow was just finish
Ing up the last of her mornings work.
"Why, deacon, Is this your she
asked as she answered the knock and
held out her hand. 81 hope none Of the
folks are sick?'
mo. The folks are all WELL"
None of the cows ailingY'
Nope"
well. you ought to be thankful for
that. Won't you come in and sit DOWN.
mo, | guess not The fact is, wild
der, I've come over to say somethin'
to you"
'Well, say on
ITS about Burt and Eunice. You
I rtoI
cold cash-$14,O00 Pm the richest man
in Plum county"
"Well?"
WAL, | want to say that l want
Burt to go to college and become q
great lawyer or doctor. | don't want
him to marry for three or four years
yet, and when he does I'd like the wo-
man to be--to be-
ITO be somebody better than Eunice
Taylor" finished the widow as the
deacon hung fire.
II hain't sayin' that exactly, but you
know that the eagle and the crow
can't mate"
1--WE heard that they couldn't. Is
that what you came to sayT
yes, that's about ALL"
"Then you have finished and can go.
Good morning. Deacon AdamR"
The widow turned away, and there
was nothing for the deacon to do but
go. He had got off better than he
hoped for. He had expected to have a
row, and he was elated that the widow
had taken the matter SO coolly In
coming he had come by the highway,
but In returning he decided to take a
short cut across the fields. To do this
he must climb the fence of the wild
owls barnyard, and when he reached
the top rail he sat for a moment to
look around, slipped and found him.
self caught by stout silver and hang
ing head downward. He couldn't lift
himself up, and the silver wouldn't
give way to his wiggles, and there was
nothing to do but call out. He called
Justify, and In about Eve minutes the
widow appeared.
rs there something you forgot TO
say?" she asked as she came up.
"You see I'm caught on the fence"
he replied.
"Oh, that's It? It's singular what
things happen to rich men. If any one
had told me that man worth four
teen thousand dollars could be caught
by a silver on an old rail fence
should have said it was impossible.
Are you enjoying the novelty OF the
situationT'
Say. wilder, I've got to ask you to
help me out of this scrape. The bloods
rushin' TO my head till my ears roar"
But as long as It's blue blood 1t
won't hurt you. Take it calmly. dea-
con. All the wriggling around you can
do won't tear the cloth nor break the