The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-07-02
stHELIo. LIrrI,E DAMEf"

A familiar face laughed down at you.
"Oh, Cousin Gracew you cried de-
lightedly.
Cousin Grace did not stay with
Uncle John and Aunt Martha as you
did She lived with her father and
mother in a house quite at the other
end of the town. Nor was she little
girl like you, but a beautiful young
lady, with bright sunshiny hair and
wonderful blue eyes, and when she
smiled-the sleeping beauty, you
thought, and Cinderella and the beau
tiful princess in the tower must all
have looked like Cousin Grace.
"Where are you goingY she asked,
and you joyfully explained. If she
would come with you she, too might
pick 'spring beauties" you suggested.
And, although she laughingly shook
her head over the flowers, she, too,
must have heard the spring voices, for
she turned and followed you along a
path that wandered away from the
road through dumps of young naples
and silver birches.
'@This is finer you cried, racing Guy
to an alder bush, then scampering
back again. A memory of past frolics
enveloped you. eff only Mr.. Ned were
here" you unused regretfully.
Cousin Grace said nothing, but the
pretty smile faded suddenly from her
lips. You regarded her in astonish-
ment. Could it be possible that she did
not want him too2 Why. she and you
and Mr. Ned had always had the
greatest fun. Silently reproachful, you
raised your eyes to her face, and two
tears rolled slowly down your cheeks.
Il wish you wouldn't look at me like
that" she said almost sharply. :
But 1t Is your fault Aunt Martha
said SO. She said she guessed you were
sorry enough, now Mr.. Ned has gone to
New York, that you flirted so-so-so
geously," you finished, with conscious
pride.
"Nonsensep said Cousin Grace, and
you saw that her eyes were very bright
and her cheeks seemed uncommonly
pink. Nonsense, Aunt Martha should
remember
She never finished, for with a short
bark Guy made for the little stream,
his tail waving frantically as he disap-
peared behind the rows of alders skirt
ing the bank. One look, and with
glad cry you followed him, skipping
from stone to stone in short skirted
freedom.
On a rock In the middle Of the
stream, tall, broad shouldered, his
clothing wet, his heavy boots streaked
with mud, stood Mr.. Ned, his pipe in
his mouth, peacefully fishing.
"Hello, little dame! How do, Guy,
old boyr' he called gayly, and then he
dropped his line and landing net
abruptly and, cap in hand, leaped
quickly across the stepping stones and
held out his hand to Cousin Grace. He
had run up from New York for a cou-
pie of days trout fishing, he said, and
was so glad to see his old friends, and
then they sat on the rocks and talked
of such tiresome things as game laws
and trout fishing and the greenness Of
the willows, while you broke off alder
twigs and threw them In the stream
for Guy to catch.
Suddenly Cousin Grace looked
straight up into Mr.. Ned's eyes.
Il hear you are very happy in New
York"
YES" said Mr.. Ned.
"Cherchez la femme?" she question
ed.
'T see you have found me out" said
Mr.. Ned.
'Then there is somebodyT
YES"
"And you really are to be marriedT'
'In the fall" replied Mr.. Ned prompt
ly.
"Ned'-Cousin Grace put out her
hand wistfully, her lips trembling-T
hope you will be happy"
"Thank you, l expect to be-" said
Mr.. Ned. 1--WE shall have cottage in
a pretty suburban town; nothing very
elaborate, just a comfortable, honey
little place with porches and little
ground. And we shall not be extrava-
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