The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-07-16

grandnieces of Ezra Grey came to live
In the old homestead John Norman.
grandson of William the Offender,
was more than ready to bury the
Ratchet, and it was his irony of fate
that he should fall In love at sight
with Helen Grey.
He was rich and popular and the
most eligible of Rosedale bachelors.
He had never before been anxious in
regard to friendship with women.
During his thirty-six years there had
been so many things that he had con-
sidered more important. But for the
past four months he had planned and
schemed to reach friendly footing
with his neighbors and had failed.
They quietly ignored his friendly ad-
vances, snubbed him a few times, and
now the fear of marring the armed
neutrality kept him from overstepping
their limit
AS Helen settled beside him in the
tram, he was very conscious Of the
pressure of her arm against his and of
the weary droop of her pretty head.
He had had her under espionage all
day and this accounted for his unusual
proceeding, going back to Rosedale by
trolley.
He was eager to take some of the
heavy bundles that incumbered her
lap, but he dared not make the sugges-
ton; her shrinking movement from him
and her unfriendly glance were earnest
of a rebuff.
Twilight deepened, and the lights
twinkled In the car. When there was
elbow room, she must tie her loosened
shoestrlng. She made two or three
attempts to reach 1t, but to tie a shoe
in crowded car, with bundle laden
lap and gloyed fingers, Is no easy feat.
John Norman was aware Of her eff
forts. as his foot was beside hers on
the rail of the seat ahead. When he
felt a sharp tug at his shoestring, he
understood its significance. He knew
also by the energetic twist that the
offending string was tied in a hard
knot and that war as it should be-
She signaled the conductor to stop
at a corner some distance from her
home. rather than at the nearer one,
understood the Significance Of this also.
She was getting off, bundle laden, to
avoid the possibility Of any association
with him. Norman's hand stroked his
mustache to conceal the smile at heI
transparent tactics.
AS the car slowed, she rose burdened
with bundles. Then came struggle
confusion and sickening distress, as
she dropped back fairly on John Nor
mans knee Then she realized what
| the trouble was-she had tied her shoe
| string to his. She was profoundly
grateful for the cool, matter of fact
way in which he took her wild be
havior She struggled to her feet
| again, and all of Rosedae that was
riding home In that special electric
craned It's neck in intense enjoyment
at what was going on.
| The motorman, angry at the delay
changed the bell with furious insistence
and the conductors sharp Hurry up
| hurry up, nay uOu Keep tne car Will
ingr' added still further to her nervous
embarrassment.
/ John Norman's cleai voice rang out
"Wait a minute, conductor" In the
tone of one used to being obeyed. The
conductor had profound respect fol
| Mr.. John Norman and ran forward t.
stop the Changing bell. In the mean
time Norman had produced his pocket
knife and had cut the knotted laces
his and hers. She gave q confused
murmur of thanks. and Norman, hasti
ly catching up the parcels. followed hel
out. There was no word of protest
and his sympathetic glance revealed
quivering lips and big brown eyes
suffused with tears.
The car whirred away, and a rain
echo of laughter was borne back. 1
was the last straw.
"Foolsr' he calculated, while the CIR
leaned against a nearby wall ant
laughed till the tears ran down he
checks.