The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-01-28

cOulQ count Ine passengers on ueck VI
one hand. Two husky men lurched
against each other as they turned the
corner, both mufHed to their ears, pufr-
ing vigorously at their pipes to produce
a welcome speck Of warmth.
BEG pardon-d didn't see you in this
rotten fog" said the younger Of the
two.
Rotten don't describe it, sir. It's
well, III be hanged! My pipe went
out in that collision, 1 guess. Got a
matchT
"Sure I have! But what good is II
out here? A torch wouldn't stay light
ed in this wind. Come inside minute
and light her up"
They were back on deck in a mo-
ment and, as so often happens on
board ship, in that time seemed to
have made friends. Arm in arm this
time they braved the wind and wealth
err The older man was talking.
Il suppose you think a man Of my
age ought to be in his cabin a night
like this. But you see, my wife is
sick in one bunk and my daughter
down and out in another. Guess you
and / are about the only ones to ven
ture out, aren't weY'
Guess we are, sir, unless, of course,
the girl with the sable coat is Oh deck.
Nothing keeps her below
"Girl in sable coat. Who's she?' de-
manded the elderly man, his attention
somewhat aroused.
"Well, l don't know. She is the
usual mystery found aboard boat Of
this character, Captain says she's a
titled woman from the continent going
over to see the States. Whoever she
is, she's sumner, old man. Here she
is now" he whispered as the figure OF
a woman passed them
The old gentleman turned, but too
late to see anything save the outline
Of a woman, clad in long sable coat,
which enveloped her from head to
heels.
Looks pretty good in the dark,
young man. I'll take better peek in
the daylight, and in the meantime
guess III go below and look after my
sick. Good night, sir"
Good night" said the younger man,
as he left his newly made friend at the
companionway.
Eaton Hollis. representing an Eng
fish syndicate and bound for New
York, was not ready to turn in. He had
no one below to look after and fell
into a long, steady stride around the
deck. He puffed at his pipe and won
dered what the girl in the sable coat
was doing. He didn't want to appear
officious, but he could rot help won
dering, and as he walked he kept his
eyes well open for the fur clad figure.
He did not have to look long, for she
passed him very soon. Try as he
would he could find no plausible ex-
cuse for speaking to this evidently self
reliant young woman Of title. so on he
strobe
Just amidship he heard a voice-such
voice that today he can shut his eyes
and hear it in his dreams-saying:
"Oh.. 1 beg your pardon, but would
you help me to open this door, sim
ply cannot do it."
He sprang to her side in an instant.
but the door did not yield so easily.
do you want to go in? You know
the moon is just coming up, and ]
think the storm is all over" Hollis
had grown bold Of sudden.
''WeIl, really, do not want to go
in, but you know my maid is dreadful
ly i'll, and it seems cruel to leave her
alone" answered the sweet voice.
"Oh, bother the maid! Take my
arm and let's see how it goes driving
double-you can fight the wind SO
much better with two abreast" urged
Hollis, as he extended his left arm
She looked up at the strong features
and then at the glimmer Of the moon
breaking through the clouds, hesitated
for just a moment, then without a
word took the proffered arm. and of
they went &
The next morning broke clear and
bright, and the girl in sable had chang.
ed her raiment to a suit which bespoke
the art Of England's best tailor. That
night her gown was of soft, clinging
material which showed her figure to
perfection, while the cloak that COW
cred her shoulders was the envy Of
the women passengers. With every
gown were bits of jewelry that seemed
to belong to them and to just suit her
who wore the gorgeous raiment. Hol-
lis stared as did the rest, then shut
his eyes and lived over again the walk
of the night before, with her frail arm
clinging close to his strong one and
that sweet, distracting voice chatting
In his ear ats
He started up as from reverie as
the purser passed him. Hollis offered
him a cigar.
Il say, purser, who's the woman
over there that nobody speaks to and
every woman on the ship envies for
her clothesW
"Oh, that is the Countess of Brienne.
Beautiful creature. isn't she? Cad, but
she'd make good show piece for some
of those newly rich Americansv he
murmured as he passed on with the
cigar in his mouth.
Hollis turned in disgust at the last
remark, to be confronted by the beau
tiful creature" His attempt at an ex-
PLANTATION was cut short by her rip
ping laugh.
"Oh, don'tr' she cried laughingly. II
was tickled to death to hear it You
see l had no idea ! was going so well
making such big hit as it were. /
am going out for few turns on deck.
Shall it be single or double breasted? p
she asked naively.
Don't you want to change your
wraps?" suggested Hollis as he glanc-
ed at the beautiful drapery that was
about her
"Oh, no, it doesn't matter" careless
ly remarked the countess.
They circled the deck only once, be-
cause the crowd was inconveniently
large, and soon they were seated side
BY side in their chairs. The air was
chilly, and Hollis offered to go for
extra wraps, but just then the maid
same up and asked If she would be
needed again that night. The countess
asked for coat. The pale faced serv-
ant soon returned and heedlessly threw
the sable lined wrap over the feet Of
her mistress. Hollis was dumfounded
with this display of extravaganza, yet
stared in blind alteration at his COM
panion.
II suppose all men are FOOLS" he
ventured to remrak.
ooh, are they?' answered the count
ess, with ring Of disappointment In
her voice "You see, am very young
and don't know. but now you are q
man Of the world, man of expert
ence. and suppose you know.
thought some day might meet man