The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-04-21
Curing a Fad
By w. F. BRYAN.
Copyrighted. 1908. by Homer sprague.

barely had time to develop an interest
In one pursuit before Florence Hovey
was of at new tangent.
Dick had just learned to handle the
diabalo when he was called upon to
abandon the Elusive spinning reel In
order to spend his afternoons amid dim
lights and odors Of incense while
burly Buddhist proclaimed the tenets
Of fasting and modification Of the flesh
to the end that the soul might be en-
abIed to quit its earthly tenement and
soar through. realms of space.
And then came Battery. His advent
enabled Dick to resume an intimate
connection between soul and body and
also permitted him to take Florence tc
luncheon occasionally until Batterly's
artistic notions engulfed Miss Hovey
even more completely than the Hindoc
religion had done.
Battery knew the value of what &C
tors call dressing the part" and there
was small danger that any one would
ever mistake him for other than what
he was. The black velvet coat, the
straight brimmed high hat and the peg
top trousers above sharply pointed
French shoes were all delightfully."- sug
gestive of the Latin quarter. Florence
discarded shirt waists and went in fol
soft, clinging gowns designed by Bat
terly. The phraseology of the studio
supplanted the words of affection which
Dick Fennister had received despite
the reigns of other fads.
Things began to look serious, indeed
for Fennister, and none knew it bet
ter than himself. Battery by his very
selfishness was the sort of man to at
tract women, and Dick Fennister fear
ed that If he sought to exercise his
rights as a f1ance this would serve only
to mark the termination of their Ell
gagement and precipitate Florence
serious interest In the artist
Things went from bad to worse, and
there came the day when Dick called
to take Florence for walk only tC
find that she had gone with Battery
Later it developed that she had gone
to his studio to pose for her portrait
and that Mrs. Hevey had accompanied
them as chaperon, but this did not
tighten the situation much.
Thereafter Battery called daily tt
escort his sitter to the studio, and with
mournful interest Dick watched the
trio pass the club window.
light of resolve flashed into his eyes
and with positive cheerfulness he
turned from the spectacle. Harry Full
ton, passing him in the hall, was scan
dallzed to surprise him performing Q
dance Indicative Of solemn JOY.
"Your own dear he asked when
Dick saw him and had subsidized.
"a poor thing" admitted Dick, "bu'
my own. 1t is the outward indication
Of the joy that rises within me-"
TITS all right then" was the sarcas
tic retort. ut seemed rather the out
ward indication of an inward collie"
He passed on, and Dick headed fol
the coat room. Ten minutes later be
quilted the club.
Mrs. Hovey rather enjoyed the after
noon promenades down the avenue
Batterly's eccentricities, aided by rea
cleverness with the brush, had made
him something of a social lion, and
she was proud to have him In leash
She enjoyed the attention which tbs
artist attracted, but this afternoon
there was a new expression on the
face Of those whom they met.
In spite of the occasional "Very clev
err" and s'How originate which fell
from the lips Of passersby there was
fash of levity In the eyes of nearly
all. Both Mrs. Hovey and Florence
anxiously, if secretly, felt various por
lions of their dress to see if some dis
arrangement of their toilets had arous
ed attention.
But several furtive touches assured
them that all was well, and so they
gave more attention to Battery, who
reveled In this afternoon parade down
the fashionable thoroughfare with the
aristocratic matron and her remark
ably handsome daughter at his side
He had scorned the suggestion OF 9
carriage, declaring that the walk clear
ed his brain and enabled him to do his
best work.
'aThis picture shall be my master
piece" he declared, ."if only l am able
to do justice to the subject. Seei Ev'
cry one stares at the beauty / an
struggling to reproduce upon canvas
It shall make me famous"
"You are already that" reminded
Mrs. Hoyey. 'You win make Florence
famous instead"
mo; she is already that" replied the
artist. at needs none to tell that she
is the observed Of all observers. To
day l notice it as never before"
'Do your" asked Mrs. Hovey uneas
ily. 'It does seem to me that we are
attracting unusual attention"
at is the gown" said Battery com
placently. TT is a triumph. 1t is
10y to see ones ideals so fittingly
realized" He glanced with frank pride
at the somewhat conspicuous costume
he had designed for Florence and
which she was wearing upon the stree
for the first time. He was inordinate
" vain, and even the indirect hatterJ
of curious glances was as incense t.
his soul.
They had almost reached the sid'
street on which Battery had his stu
dio In an abandoned stable whose
rough and dilapfdated exterior served
only to heighten the effect of the lux
urious furnishings within. Suddenl,
Mrs. Hovey gasped and clutched thu
artists arm.
Were it not for the clutch and thu
feel of bone and muscle beneath sh'
could have sworn that Battery wal
advancing toward them with his pomp
Gus deliberate stride. Battery, too
saw the vision and stared.
ut would seem a double" he said
.Ten me, do you see one who look
ike meT'
"Two-three," said Mrs. Hovey Il
gasps, while her eyes filed with fear
at cannot be a delusion, since w
both see it." said Battery In relieves
| tones. what can 1t Der
ssThere's anotherr' almost screame'
Mrs. Hovey as third figure came Int
view. "What can 1t meanT
The question was quickly answered
for the first of the false artists wa
now abreast of them, and, glancin
over her shoulder, Mrs. Hovey faced
new surprise On the black velvet Goa
was neatly lettered: Bedding, the Ar
list. Best Photos So Per Dozen"
ut is an advertisement" she gaspe'
.'and-and"-
'The people think Mr. Battery is on
of Them" said Florence indignant!
"Oh, there's Dick! He'll take us hom'
We need not trouble Mr.. Battery"
| Fennister, perceiving that he wa
----.-..z t,,,-sod forward ElOrpQC