The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-10-06


refined cruelty of the rich toward the
sensitive souls among the poor, what
has happened? Have you hurt your
self? Have you lose your purseY
Maggie was nothing if not demo
cratic. She did not ask Miss Natalie
Burgess who she was or what she was
doing there.
"Tom Devery's gone to the beach
with that bleach blond at the next
machine, Polly Mcguire. Get that, will
your
But you must know lots of other
young men who would be glad to take
you to the beach. saw them hanging
on the cars like flies"
Maggie, who had wiped her eyes
now turned her scornful gaze upon her
would be comforter.
Il don't want to go with those fell
lows want just Tom"
The sudden break in her voice, the
sudden gathering Of mist over her
blue eyes, brought revelation to the
petted daughter of millions.
II want just Tom"
1t was like an echo from the night
before.
Not that she had put it into words.
Not that she had so much as admitted
to herself that she wanted to see one
Thomas Witherspoon Brainard. But
suddenly, like a flash Of lightning
across a dark landscape, she. saw the
panorama Of her own heart.
She wanted Tom, the other tall,
clean cut Tom, and she had always
wanted him.
what came between you and
TomT she asked.
what came between us? What
comes between every girl like me and
what she wants-trouble. Working
overtime till Pm that ugly you can't
cross your fingers at me, and the two
children sick at home, and mother TAX
ing all | earn-I know she can't help
that-and me so shabby in clothes nc
man would want to take me to the
beach, and Tom is that particular.
And Polly Mcguire she can spend all
her wages on herself. She's got new
organdie that you can see through TO
the pink silk slip. OH
But If she's wearing that to the
beach she is dressed in very poor
taste" said Natalie severely. "And a
man who will forget you because your
clothes are shabby is really not worth
fretting for"
Maggie sat up very straight.
''What do you know about wanting
clothes? l bet you've got a dress for
every day in the year, and when he
comes you have an awful time think
ing which one he'd like best, cause
you've got so many. But when you
haven't one good dress to your name
and things go wrong at the factory
and, well, I said few things and he
raid some, and he threw me down"
For a few moments Natalie Bargess
sat quietly stroking the head of her
newly acquired acquaintance and who
had once more retired to the ques-
tionable comfort of the cushion Then
very gently she said:
"Don't cry any more. Maggie. | guess
being thrown down is something most
women have to bear some time In their
lives. 1t was not a question of dress
with me, and / am quite sure had
said nothing. We never had a word.
He lust left town and never even said
goodby."
Maggie stared at her, speeches. with
wonder. Her own troubles were for
gotten. Some man had thrown down
this radiant creature In soft gray SILK
and shimmery plumesl
"We are going to my house, Maggie,
and find a dress for you that will quite
outshine Polly's organdie, because 1t
will be much more appropriate, and
then we are going to the picnic, and
you are going to mingle with the
young people as If Tom Devery did
not exist, and when he comes to make
up with you, as he surely will. you are
going to meet him halfway. Do you
understand"
Talk about Cinderella and the ball!
Her experiences were as nothing when
compared to Maggie Connolly's trip
that afternoon. The wonderful rows
Of clothes-presses which open when
Miss Burgess maid touched button,
the many linen frocks from which II
was hard to select just the trimmest
one for Maggie, and then the selection
of shoes and hats and gloves, for the
two girls were nearly of one size.
And at last the spin to the beach III
Miss Burgess car, the routing of Polly
Mcguire and the recapture of Tom
Devery! In her excitement Maggie
almost forgot her benefactress.
But Natalie did not forget Maggie
and traced her through the Neighbor'