The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-05-07
BY MARIE WAIT.
Copyright, 1907, by Marie Wat.

coming from the south. 1t must be
tramp.
The furniture was still piled in the
center of the room, and there was no
hiding place save the great cupboard
that had been Grandma Bailey's Soft
~ she stole across the room, but was
just concealing herself when man en-
tered carrying lantern.
Tremblingly she obeyed his COM
mand to come out and stood facing
him. There was nothing very terrible
about his appearance He was muffied
up to his eyes in coats and scarf, but
the eyes were frank and kindly, and
there was a twinkle suggestive of fun.
Give an account of YOURSELF he de-
manded. Trying to steal the house?'
eve are moving in she cried indig-
nantly. Il came on with the first load.
and mother and father We're to be here
with the last They have not arrived
yet. l don't know what can be keep
Ing them am Bessie Lyford," she
added as an afterthought.
"And I'm Joel Ware" he introduced.
Il just got back from town and saw
the lights. | did not know that the
new owners were moving in and came
over to see if tramps were in the house.
1 live across the way"
II have been here since / l." she said.
1--WE are moving over from Groton.
was to show the men where to put the
things. The last load went-oh, years
agov'
And you've been sitting here since
then watching for your folks" he said,
looking at the chair by the window
Had your support"
81 had a cold lunch" she said indif-
ferently. ''The kitchen things are on
the last load"
"l'll bring something over" he de-
clared. Il haven't had my supper yet
He slipped out. and Bessie sank into
the chair by the window to resume
her watch. After awhile he returned
and she went out into the dining room,
where he was Strengthening out the
chairs. The steam of the hot coffee
filled the room with its delicious odor
and for the first time she realized that
she was hungry.
81 brought mine, too" he explained.
It'll save time
He drew up a chair, and presently
she found herself chatting as she sip
ped the coffee and munched the bis
cult. JOEL she found, kept bachelor
hall in the little farmhouse across the
way. In the summer he had several
hands helping him, but in the winter
he lived by himself and was glad
enough to have neighbors again.
She almost forgot her troubles until
the tray was depleted and Joel rose.
'I'll take these things over to the
house." he said, land then come back
You won't be scared. will your
Bessie shook her head laughingly
There was a certainty of movement
about Joel that induced confidence, and
as she watched the light go up in his
kitchen while he moved about at his
work, the occasional silhouette against
the light brought comfort to her. Then
the light went out again, and she could
see him striding through light snow
that had begun to fall.
She looked up with a smile as he
entered.
II was tempted to run across and
help you with the dishwashing,' she
said. Il never thought or I should
have offered to do so before you left"
Il guess l can do my own chores"
be laughed back. Il was wondering
how it would do to hitch up and drive
back Groton way. I've got a fresh
team, and if you don't mind beipg
alone l can find out what's the matter
1 brought my revolver over so you
would feel safer. 1 don't suppose
you'll need it, but it might be COM
fort to feel that you had it,
But it's such long, cold drive"
she protested.
81 guess little snow won't hurt
me or the team much" he laughed
you'll be worrying till you know
what the matter is. I'll bring in some
wood for the stoves and thqn get
along"
He built up a roaring fire and then
turned to Bessie.
This is a sort of back road" he
explained. THE tramps mostly hold
to the line of the railroad, so don't
worry. I'll be back as soon as | can"
She watched him drive out of the
yard presently, and as the well match
ed team sped down the road a sudden
sense of loneliness came over her. 1t
was not quite the feeling she had ex-
perienced before. That had been the
loneliness of solitude. Now she was
lonely because Ware had gone, and
even while she cried softly to herself
her heart glowed as she remembered
how quietly he had taken possession
and had brought light into the gloom.
She fell asleep after a time and was
unconscious of the speeding hours I'M
til she was awakened by light touch.
She sprang to her feet with a cry Of
alarm, but was treasured by a glimpse
of Joels kindly face.
Il found 'em about seven miles out"
he explained. ut seems that the sled
tipped over turning out for another
team. Your ma broke her leg and they
took her into Deane's and set it. They
have been so busy with their own trou-
bles that they never thought that you
might be worrying and did not send
any one on to tell you. It's all right.
though, and your ma said not to wor-
ry. She'll be in shape to move in the
morning, and they'll bring her on
here"
Poor mar Bessie said softly. But
I'm glad to know that it's only that
instead-instead of some of the horri-
BILE things l was thinking"
81 thought you'd sleep better If you
knew just what the matter was" he
smiled
"sleep?" she repeated 81 can't sleep
tonight"
Eyes, you can" he insisted. "I'm
going over to put up the team. Then
I'll come back and sit here awhile.
You get bed fixed up and I'll warrant
you'll sleep"
BE was true prophet, for after she
had won from him a half promise that
he would not sit up all night she went
to her room. and, exhausted by the emo
tons so foreign TO her usual placid life,
she dropped asleep
| The soft black Of the winter night
was turning to the gray of dawn when
she reused herself and stared dumbly
for moment at the unfamiliar room.
| Then recollection returned, and she
| clinnpd On xvronnar oud oroY1f doun-