The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-02-11
II Double 81
Gloper1ent.
By ANNE HEILMAN.
Copyrighted. 1907. by c. H. sutclitfe.

my dCrosS tne fOtu anu lie SAdLy Sht
above
'They won't come" she assured her
self. Cousin Emma II never venture
out such a day as this. IHi be the
first Christmas I'VE ever spent alone" "
She sighed unconsciously as she re-
entered the silent house.
Mrs. Blake lived In the outskirts Of
the village of Clifton. She kept a boy
to do the chores, had a cow and chick
ems and lived in a comfortable way on
a tiny income. She was Aunt Hes
ter to all the young people Of her &C
quaintance, which was considerable,
for she was popular, this worn woman
of fifty. Her sad blue eyes and faded
brown hair had compelling charm
even under the rusty black hat which
she wore in winter and summer alike,
and when she smiled your, heart went
out to her. You could have told her
your most intimate troubles, sure Of a
tender understanding and sympathy
and that the confidence would go no
further a3 go3
The bright, shiny little kitchen bad
the incipient smells Of good things for
dinner in it, and Mrs. Blake set to add
ing yet another savory odor, l.v..,,,
Might as well finish getting the din
ner now I've started 1t" ran on her
low monotone She talked to herself
for company. Mercy me-sleigh bellsl'
hastily opening the door. Charlie
Brock and Elvie Lee of all people!
Hurry in and I'll get you some hot cef-
fee It'll heat you up. Why, Elvie,
what was your father thinking of to
let you ride out in such weather.
''Father doesn't know anything about
it, faltered Elyie miserablY, ~ 4. 4su.
Mrs. Blake's glance went from one
to the other as she poured the steam
ing coffee. There were little humorous,
indulgent creases in her face. ''You
are running away" she said.
Elvira hung her head and began to
cry.
Don't scold her, Aunt Hester"
burst out Charlie. ''It wasn't her fault.
1 asked her to go"
"wen, what's she crying about?'
questioned Mrs Blake severely.
Didn't she consent, or did you carry
her away by force, Charlie ~ iea1 54
"Of course he didn't" protested Ell
vira II said I'd go, but wish L
hadn't I was sorry right after we'd
started, and IL made Charlie stop
here instead of going to the minister's.
ought to go back home. know ia
Their II be worried" And her lip began
to CULVER again. 2sa 6s &
"Well, he won't be worried long"
said Charlie, turning from the window.
Hes coming down the road now"
Elvira sprang to her feet. aq
Don't let him come in, Aunt Hes
tery' she cried excitedly. He'll be
mad at CharlieF'
"Let him. fiercely from Charlie. II
don't knows l care" %
Don't say anything hateful to him.
pleaded the girl piteously, will you,
Charlie?' M s..af As,9
Don't worry, Elvie,' replied the boy
soothingly. 81 won't hurt him."
Il didn't mean thatT cried EIvie,
trembling and clinging to him. Il
don't want him to hurt your
would you care, Elvie?"
Elvira sobbed Historically, her face
against his coat. M
"Of course I'd care''-in mufled tones
you know I'd care" sa8ae f.as 4.
Meanwhile Mrs Blake watched the
houndering horse far down the road.
Hell be here directly" she warned.
You'd better get ahead of him."
But Elvie shrank back.
81 don't want to run away" she
walled, still clinging to her lover. 'l@
Over her head Charlie looked with
despairing eyes at the older woman.
With swift determination to help him,
she took the girls trembling hands in
hers "Elvie," she demanded, do you
love Charlie Brock?" II,
"Of course I do" answered Elvie,
looking at her in surprise.
''Well, then, l don't knows I ought
to advise it, but your mothers dead,
and your pail never let you marry
Charlie, because he's toeldpoor. but
that's no reason for separatin' young
hearts. You've both got love and
health and strength, and, Elvie, you're
twenty-four and ought to know your
own mind, and if you love Charlie and
amt got the courage to stand up In
front of the minister, why, just stay
here and let your father take you back
home. But If you want to marry him
you'll go now and have the words said
before your father can pull his horse
out Of the drift, and I'll get my wraps
and go with you" 5s
AS she disappeared into the adjoin-
ing room Elvie looked up into her
lovers face. ''I'n do 1t, Charlie,'' she
whispered aunt Hester's right. She
always is. I'll wherever you co.
son second thoughts I've determined
to stay and have it out with the,
squire said Mrs. Blake as she hustled
the young people out to the cutter and
wrapped a warm rug around the trem-
bling girl. Don't worry, Elvie. m
make it all right with your father.
Mind you come straight back here for
your Sic ulSC0 pAAAAh9AJ oO
they drove rapidly away. III
But when Elvira's father faced her
at her own Preside a few minutes lat
er there was no smile on her tired
face
Eyes, 1 helped Them" she said def
antly, breaking the silence of thirty
years.
1T wasn't your business" Squire
Lee clustered, but she stopped him
with quiet dignity.
eyes, it was, Samuel. 1t was my
business not to let Elvira spoil her life
as you spoiled yours, for you amt been
happy any more'n / have. amt say
in that Elvie's mother want q GOOD
woman, but the Lord makes two people
for each other and puts them into this
world to meet and marry and die to-
gether, and If they go against his plan
MIN they suffer.
He started eagerly to speak, but she
went on rapidly.
81 didn't have enough money for you,
and you shilly shallied between me and
Ida and finally married her without
sayin' a word to any one, and so at
last 1 married Isaac. He was a good
husband" A sudden impulse Of 10y
atty toward the dead surged within
her.
''Hetty," a joyous warmth breaking
into the squires voice-"Hetty, you
said-you said any more'n You Were.
Do you mean that you've cared, too,
all these years? Have you, Hetty?'
with compelling eyes on hers.
EYES," she answered simply, "Pve
cared. And there hasn't been day in
all these years when I've seen you
growing harder and harder that amt
said to myself, He'd been different If
he'd married the woman he loved FL
vie's just like you. She'd keep Charlie
of and on, and some day she'd go and
~. - IL H4n r0fCAY9-