The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-01-21
Copyright, 1907. by E. @. PARCELS.

two girls ana boy. Inc boy was III
kits then. and that was five years ago,
SO he must be about eight or zine
years old. Aunt Mary says he has
been Ill with typhoid and that she re-
members with hope for his health that
the air at Pinecroft is healing"
But we can't have him, mother.
Think of having an eight-year-old boy
on our hands the whole summeri We
can never get enough cooked for him
to eat, and he'll be drowned regularly
once a week and break all his arms
and legs on the other days. And |
wanted a quiet. heavenly rest this sum-
mer before have TO go back TO that
awful Office. And it will be-well. the
other kind of time with Tommy
around. that is certain
"But. Madge. can't refuse Aunt
Mary. She was your fathers favorite
aunt and always so good to him. No,
Tommy will have to come, whether we
want him or not"
'WeI, then. when?'
1.-The letter says next Tuesday I'M
less they hear from US that it is not
convenient"
Tell Aunt Mary have the small
pox or that l died suddenly at the
news-anything Please, mother!'
81 was wondering" said her mother,
whether an eight-year-old boy would
be afraid to sleep in a room by him
self. Shall we put a bed in the alcove
off my room or fix up the south cham
berw
"AIl the boys I've ever seem" an
swered Madge, were afraid neither Of
the things under the earth nor of those
upon it. Give him a room to himself,
and then you'll be saved the everlast-
ing clatter of fishing tackle and knives
and toads and things in your ROOM"
Still grumbling, Madge helped her
mother get ready the south chamber.
AS she worked she grew interested and
even took from the walls Of her own
room some interesting prints which
she thought would be suitable for a
boys room.
81 can't see, though, why Aunt Mary
didn't take the little wretch abroad
with her-the sea air would do him
good. Take out all the fancy things,
mother, as you value them"
eff you only understood big boys as
well as you seem to understand the
small ones you would not be twenty
four and still SINGLE" leased her moth
er.
81 do, mother" said Madge vehe-
mently. 81 understand them altogeth-
er too well, and that's the very reason
| am still single"
There was no immediate reply to
this, and Mrs. Vaughn tt med her at
tention to the room.
sect all your old picture books and
put them on that shelf, Madge, and l
think III bring Jiln's old hobbyhorse
down from the attic. He may despise
it, but you never can tell"
81 suppose l could make him some
kites,' said Madge. There's all that
red and blue paper and miles of yellow
string. Perhaps If | make big one
he'll get fastened to it and fly off to
Mars. And while Pm up in the attic
Pm going to bring down some of Jim's
old oyeralls."
Arrangements were finally complet-
ed, and Madge rather looked forward
to the coming of the little boy, so that
when Tuesday came she willingly
drove to the station for him, though
she protested that st. Lawrence and
his gridiron were as nothing to the
torment she was undergoing. She took
along a bag of cookies, "just to stop
up his mouth so he can't ask ques-
TONS" she explained.
The train was late, and Madge got a
little cross as she waited in the open
trap with the hot sun beating down
upon her. The pony was restless, and
she dared not leave him to go inside
of the station. When the train finally
steamed in, however, she gave the
seins to a porter and went to find her
young charge. She watched the few
who came out of the coaches nervous
", with one eye Oh the dancing pony,
but as far -as she could see no small
boy was on the train. Fearing that he
had not heard the name of the station
called, she spoke to the conductor, who
told her that no such person was on
the train.
WELL" she thought 81 suppose
should be glad of it," and was going
back to the trap when it occurred to
her that he might some way have got
past her into the station and might be
waiting for her there She looked in.
No one was there but very tall
young man, who was leaning back
rather Imply against the seat, pale as
from a recent illness. Madge gave him
more than passing glance because
she wondered who he might be. Young
men at Pinecroft at this season were
q iarity.
Looks SICK" she muttered, cor a lit
tie daffy.- She was getting into tn
cart when quiet 81 beg your pardon
caused her to wheel around. Tn
, strange young man, hat in hand, wa
certainly speaking to her. She merel,
looked her surprise.
"Are you not Miss Vaughn, ant
weren't you expecting me?' Her blu
eyes widened into positive stare o
amazement
I'll am Madge Vaughn, but you
YOU must be mistaken" she said.
81 am DIR. North-Tom North, m.
mother wrote" He was blushing
little at the queerness of her reception
"You you are little Tommy
why She began to laugh merrily
and the young man laughed, too, bi
stiffiy, for he did not understand tn
joke. "You have the advantage me,
he said.
Madge sobered at his tone and real
lied that she was not displaying an
marked hospitality, She held out
repentant hand, which the young ma
took eagerly Were sort of cousins
l guess" she said Anyway, if 20
are Tommy North we've been lookin
for you, SO get in, and we'll start"
81 can go away If it is not CONVEX
lent" protested the man.
Convenient! After I've worked 70
three days getting picture books an
kites and little blue overalls ready 70
you? No, sir; you will have to use a
those things"
you see," she explained as sh
drove along, I'VE got the impressio
from some one that you were abou
eight years old. Your mother neve
mentioned your age or height, and S
we got ready for small boy, and-an
here are some cookies brought alon
so that you would not ask questions 0
the way home" She thrust pape
bag into his hands,