The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-06-30
Rutb's Hunt
Mebltable.
By ANNE HEILMAN.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Associated :
Literary Press.

lawn, past the garden Of many hued
roses and away to the woods, all white
with dogwood and purple with violets.
She held letter In her hand. Not in
many long year had Hetty's face
worn such an expression of woe.
"If you please, ma'am," awakened
her from the trance. She turned to
the cook and gave her orders for the
day. Then, with a sigh, she opened
the letter and reread it:
Dear Aunt Mehitable-Papa and Jessie
! Miller will be married Tuesday morning
and sail for Europe the same day on an
extended trip. So shall leave college
and go home to look after you.
The Strings are here for the wedding.
You know they are related to Jessie
Fred looks as old as his father. They
have made a mint Of money mining in
| Colorado and intend to buy back their es-
| tate and settle down as our nearest
neighbors again. No place like the south
they declare. Papa invited them to make
| our house their home while negotiations
are pending. Business will detain Mr..
| Stirling in Boston for few weeks, but
| Fred will come to town with me. Expect
US on Thursday. Your loving RUTH.
"Jessie's a dear soul / hope they'll
be very happy" Hetty murmured to
herself, "but never thought John
would marry again. And Ruth coming
back year before l expected! This'll
never seem like home to me any more"
Hetty Peters was single. She had
never had a lover, had never looked
for one and, incredible as it may seem,
had never wished for one. She had
been altogether too busy, first, In look
ing after younger sister and brother,
and, second, in caring for her delicate
| mother, to consider her matrimonial
prospects. The brother and sister had
grown up, married and moved north
Her mothers death had left her alone.
When her elder brothers wife died
she had gone to live with him, and for
several years her existence had been
happy If monotonously uneventful.
Now came the disquieting news of
Johns second marriage and Of her
niece's unexpected return.
Ruth had decided prediction for
managing everything and everybody
she came In contact with. Her aunt
had always trembIed before her. Ruth
was the only one who remembered her
baptismal name, and Hetty detested 1t,
but Ruth persisted in calling her Aunt
Mehitable.
perhaps she intends to marry
Fredy' Hetty. reflected hopefully. IF
she does, Of course he'll have to give
in. He was nice looking boy when he
left. l remember 1 kissed him goodby
he seemed such boy, and he Is a year
older than l am"
On Thursday Miss Peters was at the
station when the northern train ar
rived While she was watching the
outcoming passengers from one car
hand touched swiftly her arm, and
pleasant voice exclaimed, "Hetty, you
have not changed a bit since we part
ed"
1--WE grown fifteen years older" she
answered, giving her hand to tall,
bronzed, handsome man, whose dark
eyes were scrutinizing her admiringly
81 know it." he replied. $50 have r.
Erred, loosen that checkrein Aunt
Mehitable, how could you drive this
horse in such a condition? You really
need some one to look after your
And Hetty realized, with pang, that
Ruth had come back to her own.
mo tea for me-" she commanded at
the dinner table. Aunt Mehitable, I'm
surprised at you! Any doctor will tell
you that fannie acid is a rank poison.
It's positively criminal to use tea or
coffee when one can have fresh milk"
The next morning R1th's sway be-
gan.
Gust upY' she called out as Hetty
made her appearance at O'Clock
1--WE been up for hours. ] shall move
the breakfast time an hour earlier, and
you must come for a walk every morn
ing before breakfast. 1t will do you a
world of good" And Aunt Hetty, real
izing the futility of argument where
Ruth was concerned, miserably acqui-
esced.
rs it possible you sleep on feather
bedY exclaimed Ruth that evening,
Unexpectedly invading her aunts room.
Don't you know that feathers are not
after you, Aunt Mehitable"
"I'm not SO old as that" protested
Hetty.
"It isn't altogether matter of age;
it's temperament. You take life like a
grasshopper You really do need some
one. OF course you'll have me untiP'-
Until you marry" suggested Hetty.
81 have been thinking of it." Ruth
admitted complacently "By the way,
how do you like Fred?"
81 think he is in every way desira-
BILE. l don't believe any woman could
ask for better husband"
'sI'm glad to hear you say So" said
Ruth. 'Was his father a good hus-
bandp
Il do not remember Fred's mother.
She died when l was very young. But
always understood they were very
happy"
Il met Mr.. Stirling frequently at
Jessie's," said Ruth. He came to
Boston on business. If Fred is like his
father I'm sure he'll make a good hus-
band. We were talking about you
this afternoon. He thinks you look
younger than 1 do, and be thinks, as !
do, that you need some one to take
care of you He really takes great
interest in you, Aunt Mehitable."
HE takes great interest in you APP
parently, which is more to the point"
evacuated her exasperated aunt. do
you mean to pretend that you don't
~, he of
''Why, of course" asserted Ruth as
she rose to leave the room. 'Of course
l hope Fred is going to be fond of me.
| shall have that feather bed taken up |
to the garnet tomorrow morning. Aunt
Mehitable."
In the days that followed Hetty |
found herself taken in hand and "look- !
ed after with thoroughness that re-
duced her to the verge of melancholia. |
All her actions and movements were
regulated by her energetic niece, who |
decided what she should eat, what she |
should drink and wherewithal she
should be clothed.
Ruth is so systematic" said Hetty |
Loyalty when Fred awkwardly attempt
ed to condoIe with her. "She has such |
executive ability. She's really wonder
full"
'She is, indeed" Fred assented.
"She is perfect example of what the
higher education can do for woman.
But, joking aside, l don't think she's
an awfully good sort, and I'm fonder
of her than any other girl l know.
This is a very pleasant day. Can't you
come for row en- the river, Hetty?"
"N-no. | have some work that must
be attended to-" she faltered.
you haven't given me any of your
attention since I've been here" he
comnlained. "You're not treating me |