The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-02-04
The Catch Of
heSeaSOn.
By cEcILY ALLEN.
Copyright, 1907, By E. G. PARCELS.

-g<<SFFSF<erTSS<SSS
"Wint, if you don't sit down and be
quiet you'll be overheard in minute.
I've warned you two or three times
now, and Pm through
Talk about being quiet" said Wint
You have clacked necessarily, like a
sitting hen, ever since threw my first
line. No wonder we don't get0a bite"
Whit Miller turned around to look at
his friend Jack Barnes. lighting his
pipe meanwhile aA1 tsnt b9o1aep
"All right, you clumsy old thing.
know what I'm talking about,n grinned
Jack. "You move about In this little
rowboat as if it was anoocean going
steamer. Look toiyour line thereF'
Wint turned suddenly at the mention
of the long awaited bite Clumsy he
might be, but Jack loved bis ,chum just
because he was clumsy and always
needed his help Ehefturn was fatal,
Wint lost his balances hisnfoot slipped
on the wet bottom, OF the boat, and
backward he went for cold and I'M
expected dip. Fortunately the water
was only FIVE feet deep, and Wint's
head appeared above the water ina
second, pipe In mouth and the fire still
going. znss55aioS Is y
Courses on you, Jack BarnesI You
did that purposely, and you'Il pay for
this" growled Whit as he tried to
climb aboard. .s
Jacks commissions Of laughter did
not help matters much, and when he
did stop for a moment it was only to-
heap GOALS of FIRE upon Wint's wet
head. ~ % @SD .7n
"My fault! Well. like that you
old landlubber told you to keep
quiet, but you knew 1t all Now our
days fishing is spoiled. and can stay
home and nurse you. Climb aboard
and let's get home before you develop
the measles or whooping cough"
1t was a very sullen pair that uua
locked the door Of their fishing hut an
hour later. Whit was shivering. and
Jack was muttering under his breath.
They hunted in vain for dry clothes. as
they had come down only for day or
two to rough it. Jack turned to his
friend with helpless expression.
'Wint, there's only one thing to do.
Wen have to pack up and go over to
Uncle WHIPS and see If they will take
you in You're sneezing your head of
now, and by morning yoA'M probably
have fine case of pneumonia. / hate
to do it. for Aunt Fanny doesn't APP
prove of me or my friends either for
that matter" added Jack.
Again the pair started of and walk
ed through the woods to pretty little
cottage set in among the pines. Aunt
Fanny Beal met them at the porch.
She was a woman who held her head
high at all times. but just now it
seemed to. be straighter than ever.
so it's you. is itp' she said as Jack
extended his hand. 'sWho is this per
son with yOup" she added as she
glanced at the figure of Whit. covered
with red mud and hatless. ssW
"Oh, say, Aunt Fanny, be easy.
We've had an accident. This q my
best friend. Mr. winthrop Miller. He
fell overheard, and we've come over
to see if you won't take us in for the
night until his clothes get dry,
Where's Uncle Will? He'll under
stand -
"Your uncle is in town. and Belle
and are alone. Blood % blood, and
you cannot deny your own. III take
you in for your mothers sake" whinedI
Aunt Fanny as she opened the door in
anything but welcome manner.
ssNever mind about me- Aunt Fan
n.y." cheerily answered Jack asshe saw
the door open for them. But Whit
must get dry. He's caught dreadful
cold, fear" aeis 4
"He doesn't look exactly frail. sug-
gested Mrs. BeaI as she glanced at
Wint's somewhat ample proportions.
However come in and go up to- your
uncle's room suppose you will Leave
this evening You know we have no
spare room" she added lest they |
should avail themselves OF Ronight's
lodging. lef a aGslG
Whit did not leave that evening nor
for many. many evenings thereafter.
At 5 o'clock that AFTERNOONS the doctor
was sent for He looked at the flush
ed cheeks and the parched tongue.
He listened to the wheeling breath as
it came SO hard and shook, his head
eve must have q nurse at enea
Mrs. Beal The man Is very sick. He
must have care or he viii die ] Will
send nurse and will call again later.
Good afternoon" and the doctor was
gone s a59s
For weeks Whit lowered between
life and the great beyond. No one en-
tered the room but the nurse, the doc
tor ard Isabelle Beal. Jacks cousin !
She relieved the nurse, and sometimes
even the doctor would cali her in to |
give a few directions Jack came
down every day or two, but never was
allowed to see his chum. Slowly the
big man made his fight. slowly his
eyes lost the CLASSY look. and finally
the day came when the nurse was no
longer needed. Isabelle could manage
with Jacks help at night. ra
81 say, nurse" said Whit one day as
Isabelle sat reading to him, Pm glad
that other nurse beat it. / like you
better" .f A
But you know Pm not. really a |
nurse at ali, Mr.. Miller" said Isabelle
as she blushed at the inferred compa-
ment I'm Jacks cOusin-Aunt Fan
ny's daughter, you understand. But l
love Jack, and I'll do anything for his
%v;ord~ and che ho1ap RI f.ood a oo IN |
Don't let's read any more" said
Whit "Just let's talk. don't care
whether you're a really truly nurse or |
not. II like you cause you're you, |
and maybe when your mother sees me |
dressed like white man she won't
think I'm such q terror. ! certainly |
did look like a day laborer out Of
job the afternoon landed on the front
porch"
81 know" said Isabelle as she laugh
ed heartily and laid down the book
1T must have been so funny. Moth
er's terribly proper, you know"
DAYS went on like this, and Mrs.
Beal was gradually won over to the
enemy's camp. Every one who knew
Wint Miller loved him-loved him de-
spite his careless, hapless ways, Tor his
kindly spirit and other things, but
mostly because he was he. In the days
that followed he had many nurses, as
all the family took turns wheeling him
across the room so that he might bask
in the sunlight, but his happiest hours
were when Isabelle was in charge.
One afternoon as she patted the PHI
lows at the back of bis chair and left
a glass of milk at his elbow be caught
the hand that had brought so many |
comforts to him during his illness.