The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-08-04
Changing Places
With Jimmie.
By W. =. BRYAN.


piazza tapping the floor with the TIP
Of her daintily booted foot and slap
ping at her habit skirt with a silver
mounted crop.
1t was perfect day for ride. The
sun kissed the peaks Of the low chain
of hills to the west. and in between
was the bright green OF early summer
Nature was In her kindliest mood, but
Jacqueline did not share 1t.
The groom was slow about bringing
her mount around and while she wait
ed a dozen couples had cantered past
waving their hands gayly to Jack
But no cavalier waited to assist her,
and no smart cob whinnied impatient
~ over the delay In the appearance Of
her own horse.
horse to the block. he would assist her
In the saddle with the perfunctory care
of hireling. and she would go canter
ing of alone to her ride.
It was this fact and not the slow
ness of the stable hands that brought
the frown to Jacqueline's face For
the first time In her life she was tired
of being the boy OF the family.
When stalwart John Norwood had
leaned over the cradle to look down
into the blinking eyes Of his fireborD
the baby had seized the proffered fin
ger I'm sturdy clasp and her father had
chuckled WITH delight
-She's shaking hands like the little
gentleman she Is" he declared. Then
line that he might call her Jack
He seemed to ind comfort for his dis
appointment In her sex by making his
little daughter as boyish as possible.
In her youth, thanks to bis training,
she had been given over to tomboy
tricks. When she was thirteen and
baby brother came to share her reign
she regarded the newcomers appear
ance with contempt
I'm the best boy" she declared
with emphasis, and she took pride in
her fathers assurance that she was
indeed Jimmie became his mothers
pet, while Jack still chummed with
her father. and as the boy grew up
delicate and pallid Jack seemed to
gain mannishness by contrast.
She was the golf champion Of the
country club not In the ladies' class,
but by virtue of having beaten all the
men She could ride wherever man
went, could shoot straight and handle
cue. She was voted good fellow"
but now, ON the eve of her twenty-sec-
ond birthday, Jack turned rebellious.
Her thoughts were interrupted by
the appearance Of the groom with her
horse. and presently she was cantering
down the drive to the highway. Once
trot. The cliff road was accounted one
of the most beautiful in the state. but
Jack gave no heed to the beauty of
the scene.
PHI Mintun had cantered past with
Bess Farley just before she had start
ed out, and his careless greeting had
wounded her.
She had been good chums with Phil
ever since she was a little girl, and
he had always given her the same
careless greeting Of fellowship, but this
morning 1t had Jared. She knew that
he did not really care for Bess.
He had said 80 more than once. but
Mrs. Farley would not let Bess ride
unless there was some one with her
who could keep watchful eye on her
mount, so Phil, being neighbor, had
come to the girls relief.
As with Phil. SO 1t was with the
other men. They were all good chums,
but they were only chums. Jack
could not recall a tender speech ever
made to her, and. carrying her intro
spection further, she did not blame the
boys for regarding her as one Of them
selves. Even In the evening her thick
dark hair was severely done and her
dress was in keeping.
It came upon her with all the sud
denness Of revelation that she had
missed the pretty speeches which she
had pretended to despise and that her
heart cIamored for the rights of young
womanhood
With lips that pressed hard together
she turned her horses head toward
home. She scarcely recognized the peo-
she had almost reached the house that
her attention was attracted. She heard
her brothers voice raised In appeal.
and through sheer force Of habit she
prepared to come 10 his rescue.
The boy never had been permitted to
fight his own battles, and In younger
days Jack had sometimes come to his
assistance with her own sturdy fists.
Now she refined In her horse and drew
near the hedge which separated her
from the little boys
There were q dozen of them, sturdy,
tanned youngsters with dirt on clothes
and countenances, and In their midst
stood Jimmy, immaculate In blue vel
vet, with long golden curls.
IT'S not my fault" he said In ag-
grieved tones. "I'm not old enough to
buy my own clothes yet You fellows
might let me play with you"
'4Q'wanF' was the unfeeling response.
I'VE don't play with girls"
I'm not girl" asserted Jimmie. 81
tell you it's not my fault"
Boys don't wear velvet dresses" re.
minded his tormentor. Come on, fell
lers. Lady James going to cry"
With burst OF derisive laughter the
boys ran of. For a moment Jimmie
made as though to follow them. but he
knew as well as the others that pur.
suit was impossible.
Jimmie had never had a chance to
tougher bis legs In exercise. With
uuiverfng lip the boy turned toward
the house, and Jack urged her horse
closer to the hedge
~Jimmie," she called warningly, III
you dare to cry 1 shall spank you. Go
get your pony and come back to me-"
what are you going to dor demand
ed Jimmie.
"Never mind" she said. you do
what I tell you. Do you want really
and truly TO be a bogT
do Ir repeated Jimmie, shifting at
the folly Of the question. II amt either
. boy or girl"
Neither am l." said Jack. Hurry
up, dear"
She waited beside the road until her
brother Joined her on his pony, and to-
gether they headed for the town. 1t
was long after luncheon hour before
the two returned. and Mrs. Morewood
was pacing the veranda In an agony OF
apprehension.
She had no fears for Jack. but she
lamented that at times Jfmmie's pony
had shown signs OF wiidness, and the
two grooms were already securing the
country, while the mother was promis-
ing herself that the boy should be at
tended ON future rides.
Mr.. Morewood said nothing, but