The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1907-08-27

VENTLY.
very hot, and the room was close, and
the children had been restless and
fussy all the morning.
"Oh, Mary" she quavered again as
a young man in a panama hat and
round clerical collar poked his head
In at the window
Cant you and the little girls come
over and have lunch with my boys IL
the parish officer he asked
A sigh Of blissful anticipation issued
from twenty throats.
'sThey have been so naughtyp Miss
Mason hesitated. II don't know wheth-
er should let them"
Twenty pairs of eyes reproached her,
and the young rector said, mo one
ought to be naughty on such a day"
"Well, If you will promise to be very
good" Miss Mason finally decided.
And, like lion and lamb, Tessa and
Mary led decorous procession.
The young rector's class in wood
carving were having sandwiches and
cake and lemonade, provided by the
ladies Of the parish. There was big
pitcher of lemonade, and the ice tinkled
deliciously as the biggest boy filled
twenty glasses for the twenty little
girls.
The young rector, beaming with en-
thusiasm, sat down beside the little
settlement teacher. TITS lovely work,
Miss Mason" he said.
Marion chonly how haod ooh M a.
isn't" she said; '1t's horrid. They are
so ungrateful. l wish l was out on a
hotel porch in my best linen frock,
with my hair marcelled and with the
waves beating soothing accompani-
ment to the conversation Of some in
telligent masculine"
With twinkle in his'eye, the young
rector asked Cant l masquerade as
an intelligent masculinef"
"Oh," Miss Mason conceded, you
might. But I'm not dressed for the
part. Shirt waists and serge skirts and
tan shoes, and dusty ones at that
she poked out small foot in a shabby
shoe-"are not the attire Of attractive
ness. We planted vegetables in the
school garden all the morning-beans
and things-until we were grubby."
81 don't believe you would be really
happy on that hotel porch" asserted
the young rector as he sat on the edge
of his desk and looked down at her.
st shouldl 1 want to be care free
and frivoloes-and to forget the prob
lens of the suffering and the sub
merged people I want to go where
every one is clean and the air is pure
and where can breathe" AS she
caught her breath sharply he bent over
her with a sudden tender light in his
eyes.
poor little womanv' he murmured.
Don't pity me-" Miss Mason said,
with flaming cheeks, "but do like
pretty things. Why, am a different
creature In my pink dimity. You've
never seen me in it, have your
He smiled down at her indulgently.
mo-" he said slowly, "but 1 saw you
once In an old white linen that had
been torn and trampled, and you held
In your arms a little child that you
had saved-and you were beautiful
"Oh, that was Tessa," Miss Mason
said quickly, ''the morning the fire en-
CINE horses ran away. 1t was Won
der we weren't both killed"
II saw you for the first time, and
knew then that l had found what
had been looking for all my life"
Her startled eyes read the meaning
in his. "Oh, no. no." she protested, II
am not good enough. am vain and
frivolous-and long for the flesh
pots"
He went on steadily. II have seen
you since then every day teaching
your little girls to be tidy and sweet
and good, and / have wondered at
your bravery-when you might be In
luxury, cool and comfortable"
$50 might YOU" she reminded him.
''How many men Of your talent and
influence would have chosen down
town churchT
"Oh, that" he put 1t away lightly,
81 like 1t, and / am man-but not
many women would do it"
Don't" she said TREMENDOUSLY; don't
praise me- And she rose and went to