The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-04-30

Hagan, who had lately fallen heir to @
legacy and who had spent the half OF
1t on brand new jaunting car fit fol
the mayor himself. 1t was in this that
Jim had begged Clodah to accompany
him to the Gulmullet fair, some ten
miles distant
Thank We kindly, JIM" she answer
ed, "but I've promised to go with Ter
ence"
well, thin, it's myself that will
have to ride alone" sighed Jim discon
solately, "for sure, there's no one In
Ballymoran who can take your place
at all at ALL"
The night before the fair Clodah and
Terry sat before her door discussing
the joys of the morrow.
We'll start early" said he, "and be
back by nightfall"
"And I'll wear my best dress, with
the blue ribbons" said Clodah, land
keep my coat in the back O. the cart"
Il mistrust yen have to hold it Oh
your lap, maVourneen," said Terry, 'or
account O. the pig"
P1gP cried Clodah.
''I'm going to take the pig along in
the back O. the cart It's foine price
I'm expecting to get for her, and
"Terry O'Rourke," shrieked Clodah
do We think I'd ride in a cart with q
pigT'
you've done it before"
'Niver with my best dress on"
Lave your best dress at home, thin,
said Terry humorously.
Clodah saw no humor in his remark.
you can choose betwain u.s." she
said haughtily. "Will We take me OIL
will We take the pigf"
But Clodah, girrul, be reasonable
The pig can do We no harm. She's as
clean as an angel and as well behaved
and it's my only chance O. selling her.
Clodah stamped her foot
1--WE given We your choice, Terry
O'Rourke. Once and for all, which will
ye take?"
Terry was usually slow to anger, but
now danger spark burned in his eyes
I'll take the pig" he said.
Clodah flew inside and banged the
door.
Next morning she passed Terry's cab
in, riding with Jim Hagan in his jaunt
ing car. Her muslin dress was as blue
as the sky, and its many ribbons fut
tered in the wind Terry was out In
his garden, and Clodah feigned not tC
see him, though Jim glanced round
with look of triumph.
How are ye, Terry?" he called out
"'Tls foine day for the fair"
And they ratified gayly down the
road, the new yellow wheels Of the
Jaunting car shining In the sun.
Terry gazed after them. All the
brightness seemed gone from life. Ii
was as If the candle of his happiness
had been blown out, leaving him in ut
ter darkness. "'Twas a wise man.
he muttered, "who said that fortune
was tickle Jade. A turn of her
wheel-and where are We now, Terry
O'Rourke?'
Then he harnessed up slowly, put the
pig in the cart and took the road for
Gulmullet
There was no one to see Clodah
drive out of Ballymoran save a few
old women and children. The rest
of her neighbors had risen with the
dawn and set out for their fair hours
ago. CloGah, being of two minds
whether to go or not, had kept the
ardent Jim waiting till she reached q
conclusion. Now they rolled swiftly
along In order to make up for lost
time The road was almost deserted
save In the distance, where there were
few tardy wayfarers ike themselves.
And these, too, having the start of
them, soon vanished. Clodah was con
tented enough. She felt that she was
looking her best, and If she had any
doubts on that score Jim'S fluent tongue
would have treasured her. She an
swered his lovemaking with laughing
banter, and he was declaring for the
twentieth time that he would make
the kindest husband in the world when
the jaunting car gave an abrupt lurch
and Clodah found herself sitting on
one side of the road, while Jim scram-
bled up from the other. He did not
even pause 70 ask her if she was hurt.
ooh. be the powers" he calculated
''look at m. foine cart The wheels
off, ruined entoirely."
"If it's the wheel that's troubling
ye"- But Clodah's sarcasm was lost
on him.
ssNFx- Poira oart,, he orfaJ ovar o11
over again. From where they stood
It was Ave miles to Ballymoran and
FIVE to Gulmullet. The fields and boys
stretched away unbrokenly to the SIX,
line. There was not cabin in sight.
well, can't We do something sale
Clodah. Her ankle was paining her
and the sun was very warm.
But Jim was better at repartee thar
at meeting emergencies, and with biz
head on one side he considered thu
situation.
I'm thinking well have to foot it,
he said gloomily.
There was a sob in Clodah voice.
my ankles wrenched, and It's no
a step further I'll go" she avowed.
"You sit here thin and I'll go To-
help" said Jim, his face Frightening.
Yes. and it's fair time and the coun
try full O. vagabondsl That's CRANE
idea, Mr. Jim Hagan, to leave me alon,
entirely by myseIfw
Jim wilted.
"What'll we do, thin?" he demanded
"we'll sit here till some one comes
said Clodah.
So they sat. Birds sang In the lon,
meadow grass. A hare fitted by ltk'
a shadow. Nothing else stirred. TIL,
road stretched away white and desert
| ed. Tim moodily scanned the horizon
and Clodah wondered If the sunligh
would fade her ribbons. She wishe'
devoutly that she had never come
Who could have supposed that he
pleasure jaunt would end like this2
She cast a quick glance at Jim. TIT
great, unfeeling umathauml Neve
once had he asked her how she felt o
II her fall had shaken her All, TER!
was the lad! Terry always knew wha
10 do! And she had lost him-los
him through her own follyi Well
there was no good in thinking of tina
now. and she blinked hard to keel
back the tears. It was near noon
| r5or throat was narohed and tba nanQ