The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-09-08
How Wenzell
Made Good.
BY cLARISSA MAcKIE.
Copyrighted, 1908. by Associated
Literary Press.

dressed youth, With gorgeous hosiery
displayed above his low cut shoes. His
face was ordinary and notable merely
for its shrewdness and frequent dis
play Of gold filed teeth. Ann Rose ad-
mired him greatly. His position in a
city bank and his undoubted respec-
liability had much to do with his en-
trance into the Baker homestead.
Ann Rose Baker and Chester Laid
law giggled over the postal cards until
Wenzen Beebe slid awkwardly into the
back parlor and sat down beside Mrs.
Baker, who nodded kindly at hi.n
Flows your mar" she asked.
''She's all right" replied Wenzell,
his sunburned face turning a deeper
red. He was conscious that the city
boarder was discussing him with Ann
Rose, and her light laugh, instantly
suppressed, rendered him still more
uncomfortable
you know Mr. LaidlawT whis-
pered Mrs. Baker.
WenzeH nodded. II met him here
| the other night"
/
said Mrs. Baker Importantly.
Wenzell did not reply. He was Try
Ing to keep his eyes from the couple on
the sofa in the other room.
Ann Rose was watching him covert
ly. She noted the new suit of gray
clothes, the light blue satin necktie
and his large brown hands. her
/ ole, -. he Mt an
side, with his air Of easy assurance,
and down at his slim white hands play
ing with the postals. She twisted
Wenzelrs little turquoise ring from
the third finger Of her left hand and
transferred 1t to the other hand. Then
she flew over to the piano and ratified
the keys noisily.
Come, sing something, Mr.. Laid
law" she suggested gayly.
Mr.. Laidlaw was pleased to sing, and
he and Ann Rose turned the pages of
a book of old love songs. and when
their voices blended in unison Wen
zell's hands tightly clinched the sides
of his chair and his lips whitened
II come to take Ann Rose out rid
ing" he said sullenly to his future
mother-in-law.
Mrs. Baker glanced apprehensively
at him over her spectacles. "Ann
Rose, here's Wenzell asserting here
waiting for you to go riding with himr
she called.
The music ceased abruptly, and Ann
Rose appeared in the doorway, de-
murely pretty in her white dress, with
half blown rose in her dark hair.
The boarder lounged behind her.
81 saw you come In, Wenzell, but
forgot all about you" she said, with a
coquettish glance at Mr.. Laidlaw. ''I'll
be ready in a minute"
Wenzeil Beebe nodded awkwardIy at
the boarder and, taking his hat went
out of the side door to the shed where
he had tied his horse. He backed the
buggy into the driveway and waited
patiently until Ann Rose came re
luctantly out. Silently he assisted her
to the seat and jumped In beside her.
The big black horse carried them cas-
lily out of the yard and into a green
shaded road, where the setting sun
poured sitting golden streams through
the branches. When they reached
rise of ground, Wenzell pointed with
his whip to the horizon where a low
rim of black clouds stained the yellow
light.
"Rain tonight" he said speaking for
the first time.
81 guess pas hay II get wet then.
He's over tostown, and he didn't get 1t
all In" said Ann Rose lazily. She was
thinking Of what Chester Laidlaw had
said about her eyes, and at that in
slant they were very bright.
where's your ringY asked Wen
zell suddenly.
She glanced guiltily down at her left
hand and then extended the other with
a shamefaced smile. II changed it
for fun" she faltered.
'Then you amt ashamed of itY'
asked Wenzell slowly, and as she made
no reply he added, with furtive
glance at Ann Rose: II reckon that
Laidlaw fellow could hand out dia-
monds and such. They say he's
spender.
Ann Rose shrugged her shoulders
pettishly, her dark eyes seeking a new
ly built cottage that crowned a little
eminence.
81 thought maybe you'd like to look
at it, Ann Rose" said Wenzell in
softer tone. "Jim Putney has left
sample book of wall paper, and want
you to choose what you like"
''Mr. Laidlaw says we ought to have
cartridge paper In the parlor," OBJ
served Ann Rose carelessly as Wen
zell helped her down before the gate
''Laidlawl Has he been here?" de-
manded WenzeIl savagely.
The girl laughed uneasily. ''We
walked over last night in the moon
light told him about 1t being ours.
We peeked in the windows" she ex-
planned.
Il guess we won't pick out any pa
per tonight" said Wenzell deliberately.
"You better get in and I'll take you
home. Maybe you have an engage
ment to play croquet with the
boarderI"
They drove home IN silence, and 1t
was not until the black horse turned
In at the gate that Wenzell spoke
again; then his voice was hoarse and
rough with emotion.
II amt got the style Of that bank
fellow, Ann Rose, but you liked me
first If you like him better than me
lust say So / won't stand in the way. I
You've acted different ever since he's
been here. / may be slow, but under
meath | won't stand much fooling.
You know / think sight Of you" His
voice failed.
"You must have wanted to pick a
quarrel to get mad over such a little
thing as his looking at our house, and
here's your ring, Wenzell Beebe. Mr.. |
Laidlaw is gentleman anyway She
thrust the ring into his unwilling hand
and sprang from the carriage before
he could lend her assistance.
All that evening Ann Rose fiirted
desperately with Chester Laidlaw.
Mrs Baker looked on in stern disap-
provaI and when bedtime came she
drew her daughter aside: what do
you mean, Ann Rose, a-cutting up with
the boarder? Where's Wenzell? I
thought he was going to stay to tea"
"Wenzell is a slow poke, and never
want to see him again" breathed Ann
Rose Indignantly as she freed herself
from her mothers grasp and closed her
bedroom door.
A half hour afterward it Numbered
loudly and fash Of lightning cut the
outer darkness. Mrs. Baker hurried
around and closed windows. She
creaked into her daughters room,