The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-01-29


fectly willing to make 1t clear sailing
for his wife If 1t would make her any
happier
OF course, this sounds bit strong on
paper, particularly to the old fashioned
folk who still believe that marriage is
contract for life and not a mere cpl
sode. In the set to which the Billy Dal-
tons belonged the situation was ac-
cepted as matter of course, and when
Janet asked lot of people down to
mobile races and the week end no one
thought of refusing just because the
Daltons might separate within a fort
night after the gathering.
Such was the situation when the
Dalton car broke down on the Jericho
Mrs. Greenwalt, Joe Jeffreys and
Marsh" Huntoon-decided to cut
through the woods to the Dalton place
and leave the car for farmer to guard
until the mechanic who handled the
Dalton garage could be dispatched to
the scene Of the accident.
Perhaps 1t was not entirely impa-
tience which led them to take the
short cut through the woods, but the
call of hundred autumn voices In
rustllng leaves. rich, warm colorings
and the chatter of squirrels laying up
winter stores. And thus 1t was that
they suddenly stopped in their tracks
nd 1,fnV - Ma -
of the woods. but of the nursery-the
plaintive wall of a child Janet 1t was
who found it-a bit of white faced,
staring eyed humanity rolled up snug
ly in great shawl Of Iceland wool
While she held the baby in her arms
and tried to silence its walls with I'M
certain and awkward little pettings the
quartet held a conference The child
was too young to have walked there.
Mrs. Greenwalt said 1t was not a day
over two months old 1t was too far
from the road to be heard by passing
travellers Ah-there was the answer,
wisp of paper tied to the end Of the
shawl:
please take care of little Elsie. 1t
was not her fault that she came into
the world, and can do no more
I've always said that the govern
ment ought to regulate the question of
marriage among the poor" remarked
Mrs. Greenwalt severely. Here Is a
case in point"
You are jumping at conclusions"
said Huntoon dryly. Lets take it to
the town marshall
And what them asked Janet with
out lifting her gaze from the child's
face. The baby had clutched her fin-
ger with its tiny fist and settled down
as If it had found anchorage.
"Oh, there are asylums and homes
for youngsters like this You'd better
hurry along home with 1t before it be-
gins to howl. One of your men can
take it to town before dark. Shall l
carry the little beggar for your
"Oh, no. She's not a bit heavy, and
she is quiet now. She might cry II we
changed her position
They trudged on through rustlIng
leaves and soft Indian summer haze,
three of the party chatting gayly; two.
the young wife and the baby, looking
into each others eyes as IL searching
for new key to the problem Of life.
Sometimes Janet wished that the child
would close its eyes. She did not like
to meet that trustful, clear eyed gaze.
"Have you disposed of the young
ster?" asked Marsh" Huntoon as they
sat down to dinner that night
Janet started and looked across the
table at her husband. He lifted his
eyebrows lnquirlngly
Huntoons good humored laugh broke
the awkward silence.
What? Don't you know that our
party was increased by one during our
ride this afternoon? Rather small
one but, my, what lungs It hasr'
Janet drew In her breath sharply
II wish you would not talk any more
about it at present, good people," she
said, trying to speak lightly. I've
started inquiries In a quiet way.
don't want the thing to get into the
papers-because If no one claims little
Elsie think IL shall keep her."
Keep herr gasped Mrs Greenwalt
why, my dear girl, the place for a
child without name is founding
asylum"
Janet spoke very softly. yet every
word was heard. so complete was the
silence
II shall give her name because
once-just once-I saw a line of chill
dren walking, rows and rows, by twos,
from an orphan asylum. 1 can't send
her there"
Mentally she saw again those clear,
trusting blue eyes.
And l know you will all be kind
enough to keep this very quiet until
there was just slight, tense hesita-
tion-"until we decide what shall be
done"
Naturally it was talked about how.
ever In boudoirs and at clubs the
little Elsie would acquire. Was 1t not
bad enough to be facing a divorce resi-
dence in the far west without acquir-
ing an unnecessary incumbrance at
the crucial moment2
Within the Dalton bungalow on Long
Island stranger things were happen
| Ing No clew to the baby's parents
had been found. When Billy Dalton
dropped down occasionally, as he had
been doing for year past to keep up
| appearances, his first question was.
4 Anything new| and this always
meant anything new about the baby 8
| history" And little Elsie would look
up at him with reproachful blue eyes
as II asking, why do you carer" And
the worst of 1t was that Billy Dalton
J began to realize that he did care. Janet
had changed, and, with an odd sort
of jealousy, he realized that 1t was lit
| tie Elsie and not he who had brought
about tine marvellous and altogether de
sirable change. She was no longer
bored How could she be with Elsie
cutting new tooth every few days
and such wonderful hampers of clothes
to be bought, fine handkerchief linen.
narrow val and convent embroidery
more fastidious customer had never
/ ~