The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-11-19
Mr.. AuStin'S Car
And Annabel.
BY cEcILY ALLEN.
Copyrighted. 1907, by Homer sprague.

take these five children down to Mr.
Frederick Austin's car-the man witt
the gray coat-no. behind you, the dull
green car! Quick, now; we shan't gel
started till noon at this rate"
Annabel marshaled her quintet Of ex
cited flag carrying children and pushed
them ahead of her toward tie big dull
green touring car.
as this Mr. Austin's carr" she in
quired. restraining five wriggling chill
dren who just yearned to spring
through the open door.
The young mar who had been loung
ing with one hand on the steering
wheel sat up at attention as Annabel's
charming voice reached his ear. Every
one, from the irritable, overworked
superintendent to the dull witted help.
er In the laundry, loved Annabel's
voice, and it was not remarkable that
this good looking young chap in the
gray c9at and disfguring goggles
should think 1t the finest music he had
ever heard. He sprang to the side
walk and swung the children into the
car and then extended a helping hand
to the slender girl In her simple shirt
waist s,lit of striped chambray, which
reminded him Of the deft fingered
nurse who had taken care OF him after
his first motoring accident.
Gee, but she Is a corker! But hel
hair will look just like gypsy's when
we get to going some"
That was what the young man said
to himself What he said to Annabel
was:
"Are you afrsid to go fast? I'd like
to give these Riddles the run Of their
life, but If we're going to do that you
had best take of your hat and tie on
this VEIL"
He whipped long gray automobile
veil from convenient hamper.
"a guest left it in the car night be-
fore last. 1t looks quite new. Perhaps
you would not mind"-
mot at AL" interrupted 1Annabel,
with smile that he instantly decided
matched her voice. Deity she tucked
her hat into the hamper, tied the veil
under her chin In bewitching bow
and, leaning back in the big car, smiled
happily at her young charges.
The young man watched the smile
from behind his goggles, and when the
superintendent of the asylum hurried
up to make sure that these, the last
Of his big family, were properly cared
for the young man fairly beamed on
the orphanage official.
Going to have a fine run, imag
ine," he said, with a most interested
infection. The superintendent glanced
back in some surprise. This annual
trip to Van Orden Beach, given by the
big automobile club for the orphans
was not without its thorns for the SUI
perintendent. Most of the owners OF
machines sent their chauffeurs, who
either acted bored and disagreeable OF
teased the children or firted with the
young women attendants. At the gen
ial greeting in the quiet, cultured voice
the superintendent felt almost CRATE
full
Il hope it will be good run and q
pleasant day. I'm sure 1t is very kind
Of you club members to take a per.
sonal interest in the children"
The young man started to say some
thing in reply, but the superintendent
had to answer call farther down
the line. The young man turned on
the power, with certain grim lines
forming around his mouth, though be-
hind the goggles his eyes twinkIed.
A
many colored automobiles and their
burden Of shouting, hurrahing chill.
dren in pink and white and blue and
white checked bingham.
Annabel was so grateful that she
had graduated to stripes. There had
been time when to her pink or blue
checks were almost synonymous with
prison stripes; but after all, she had
decided, things might have been much
worse with her
At the beach the children tumbled
out of the cars and made wild rushes
for the surf Most of the chauffeurs
or car owners hurried back to town or
ran into a popular roadhouse a mile
beyond Van Orden's, but Mr. Austin
had evidently started out to give his
carload of orphans the time Of their
lives. He did not squander money, but
each of the FIVE had ride on the mer-
ry-go-round, while Mr.. Austin himself
held the youngest girl on the wild
looking ostrich she had chosen as her
steed. And Annabel watched them
from the unsightly green benches, her
eyes dancing with sympathetic pleas
ure, and score of fascinating brown
tendrills escaping from beneath the
soft gray veil. lAnnabel felt a bit
guilty about that veil. She could have
taken 1t off and resumed her hat d.
rectly they reached the beach, but
those yards and yards Of filmy chiffon
felt so soft and aristocratic to her fas-
tidious touch.
After the merry -go-round ride came a
trip through the old mill, and then
there were bags of peanuts to feed the
monkeys, forlorn group in a more
forlorn cage. Each kiddie had a ride
In the donkey carts, too. and a sack Of
salt water taffy. At noon lunch was
provided by the club and after the
children were seated Annabel found
the watchfui Mr.. Austin at her elbow.
Wont you come over to the Occi-
dental with me? think you'll find
the cooking rather better than this"
Annabel walked away with him as
In daze. The Occidental! Why, that
was where Mrs. Ashton one OF the
richest patrons of the home, always
spent her summers. 1t must be very
smart place. And what If she, the
humble assistant governess from the
home, should meet its rich patron face
to face7 Well, she would take the
chance. And soon she forgot her fear
In listening to the order for lunch. He
seemed to know just the things she
had always wanted to taste. And how
polite the walters werei Annabel
touched her hair anxiously as the
many young women with carefully
marceled coiffures passed her table,
httle dreaming. she, how they envied
her the saucy tendriiis Of hair around
her piquant face.
Mr.. Austin's gray car was the last to
leave the beach that night, and the
shadows were falling over the big city
when 1t drew up before the orphanage.
The tired superintendent came hurry
ing forward.
Il was afraid something happened.
The others got in an hour ago.
"Just little trouble with the spark
er, and was afraid to push the ma
chine. but the Riddles all fell asleep
and are finely rested"
Good night, good night! Thanksw
shouted the children as they reluctant
ly left the car. Mr.. Austin stood hat
In hand