The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-03-05
EMMY'S
REDEMPTION
~ By Martha ~
McCulloch Williams.
Copyright, 1905, by Homer sprague.

MOUTHS sue was simply Emmy. That
was the worst Of It. Miss Bronson in
her own mind accused Emmy's meek
mother of having plotted it from the
nrst. Naturally she had not shed many
tears when the offender slipped apollo
getically out of life, leaving Emmy to
the untender mercies of her masterful
sister In law. Handsome, luckless,
Jack Bronson, the father, had died
soon after Emmy was born-died on
the ocean and been buried at sea-at
least that was what his sister had
given out The widow had said moth
ing. Neither had she worn black-to
the anger Of Miss Bronson and the
great scandal of the village. For once
the slim faced woman, who was com
monty as wax In stronger hands, had
withstood her world. saying only with
a dreamy, wistful look, "Jack under
stands"
Emmy was her father over again
dark eyed, olive skinned, with red lips
delicately curved and cheeks like dam
ask roses. She had his gay temper
also, his high head, his habit of getting
her own way In spite of everything.
The village unanimously pronounced
her handful-even for Miss Bronson,
whose hand was not light. Emmy was
fourteen when her mother died. 1t
was a standing marvel to everybody
that she had gone quietly away to
boarding school at Miss Bronson's or
ders, albeit heretofore she had hated
and fiouted schools of every sort. 1t
was even a greater surprise to have
her come back four years later, just
the same Emmy for all her wonderful
accomplishments.
1t was plain she did not love Aunt
Mag, but the two kept truce with each
other. Those who wondered at it might
have understood had they heard poor
Lena Bronsons dying admonition:
"Obey your Aunt Margaret Remember
what we owe her. Until-unless the
debt Is pald-it rests with you to make
her the only possible return" There
had been no need to be more explicit
Emmy understood Through passion
of tears she had sobbed In answer, II
will"
Obedience had been hard and wear
ing often, but she had not fiinched I'M
til 1t came to the question of marriage
Miss Bronson's precepts were all
against her example. Il want you to
marry young-and marry WE'LL" she
had said to Emmy as soon as the girl
came home For year she had said
nothing more save In general way,
but Emmy had come to understand
what her elder meant by marrying
we'll Cliffe Gorton was the only one
among her half dozen beaus Miss Bron-
son approved. She had to approve
him indeed, seeing that she had at
least half raised him. Judge Gorton,
his father, had been her man of bust
ness ever since her own father died.
His wife, habby and an invalid, had
been pretty well under Miss Bronson's
thumb-so had her son, who was, after
sort, her image made vigorous and
vital. From his cradle Cliffe had been
prize pretty boy-as fair and blue
eyed as Emmy was peach tinted. Al
though he was three years older, she
had thrashed him roundly In the era OF
short frocks. Possibly it was some
reflex memory of the thrashing which
made him as a lover appear to her 81
diculously impossible.
'If my wishes were horses I'd surely
ride away from Granby-and every
thing" she said, signing family as she
glanced at Miss Bronson.
Miss Bronson frowned heavily. Il
dare say you'd take the road to Owen
ton," she said pointedly. Lets have
this thing out, Margaret Emmeline.
see no use in beating about the bush
You were well enough content here I'M
til Cliffe Gorton proposed to you and
that scatter Drained young Hyland
came to town. Even you must admit
that there is no comparison possible
between the two men. Cliffe has every
thing In his favor; Hyland nothing
In spite of that, since you seem to fan
cy him
ooh, but l don't! You are wrong
all wrong" Emmy interrupted, with
however, a furious blush.
Miss Bronson went ON as though she
had not spoken: az should let you have
your way but for one thing. Who
ever marries you must be told the
truth. Cliffe knows it already-beside:
he understands. | have done an(
borne much out of love for my father!
name. Your father disgraced it,
you must not say so. Nobody wal
ever quite sure" Emmy painted, he
cheeks very white. Miss Bronson
glanced at her dry eyed, then looket
away. Her own lips were ashen, bu
they laughed bitterly as she said: "Yo'
mean everybody was sure-except you
poor foolish mother. She believed be
husband = against right and reason :
against the whole world. Do you know
exactly what happened? l though
not" as Emmy shook her head.
ut was this: Ny brother, in desper
ate straits for money, went into Judg
Cities Office to beg him for a loan
Judge had just been paid several thoU
sand dollars which he could not banl
The money, indeed, was in letter ira
on his desk, ready to go into the saf'
There was a great hurry burly in til
office-people coming and going, clerk
getting ready to shut up everything
The judge was In and out of the mai
Office dozen times while your fathe
sat beside the desk and the tray o
money. Two men, clerks there, say
him pick 1t up and finger the bills |
( 1t. Two others heard him entreatin
the judge a little later to lend hiI
even thousand dollars. The Judg
refused
''Of course. He would refuse none
to the dying" Emmy broke In, he
eyes flashing.
Miss Bronson frowned. He is
JuSl udu anu hluu, elSe WHERE WOul
we be?' she said. But to go on. NJ
brother kept the Judge so late every
body else had gone. and the safe wa
still to be shut The money tray an
several other trays were upon the desl
Your father helped the judge hustl
them inside 1t, then rushed away froi
him and took train for the city. Ne1
day when the judge opened the sal
the tray and the money were MISSING
He was sure he had put in whateve
John gave him. He had knelt In fror
of the safe, setting things on the foo
and then fitting them In place. tn
lock had not been touched, and I'll
money had been there with just tn
two of them. The judge didn't have