The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-01-28
Copyright, 1907. BY c. H. sutcnrs


form, on which rested flag draped
casket. Behind this were two closed
carriages and then long string of We
hicles of all descriptions.
Hank Flagler Joined his guests at the
window.
There goes good man." he said in
the hollow tones that seemed most ap-
propriate to the occasion. 81 tell you,
there wasn't better man in all SEQ
vile county. He was always doing
something. First it was the engine
company He got it the steamer. Just
kept at 1t until It had ITO come. He
said Granville was getting too big
for the old hand engine. He was
right What chance would there have
been of saving the Vail block if there
hadn't been a steamers?
Zone of the leading citizensT' asked
Bevan as he proffered a cigar. Flag
Ter nodded.
Zone Of the best" he declared. 1--WE
were all sorry when he went to the
Philippines guess he stirred them
islands up. Only out there four years,
and he came home with cool hundred
thousand Yes, sir"
But why go to the Philippines 2"
questioned Bevan. 1T would seem
that so clever g, man should have no
dificulty in getting ahead nearer
home"
: ''But Fred was in a hurry" explain
ed the hotel man. you see, he had
always been in love with Bessie Brew
ster. Bessie loved him, too, but she
was an ambitious little thing. She
wanted Fred to get ahead faster, and.
that meant the Philippines. He left it
all to her too. bet she must be all
broken up. That's her in the second
carriage, l guess. l see Betty Harvey
in with her.
"Of course the family is In the first
hack / rode In that hack the night
got married. Lem Spriggs he says
there's been enough yarnish on that
old hack to pay for new one, and l
guess he's right Old man Hardness
had it when he set up in business as a
livery back in 1875 Every t'other year
they slap on some more varnish, and
1t looks as good as new again"
Flagler ratified on with bits of infor-
nation as the various carriages passed.
The first heavy fail of snow was upon
the ground, and a few sleighs were in
the long procession. Bevan heard a
little of the running comment The
mention of Betty Harvey had reused
a chain of thought He had run up
from the city to argue with her and
had found the whole town upset by
the arrival Of Fred Greyson's body
Betty was busy comforting her friend,
Bessie Brewster, and would not even
see him.
There was small hope that he would
be able to get speech with her, but he
decided to wait until after the funeral.
He wanted to make one last appeal.
The two had met at the shore during
the summer Betty had given her love
to the clean young engineer, but when
he had asked that they might be mar
ried soon she had shaken her head.
Stumbhngly she had explained her
reasons for refusal. She was an heir
ess, and in the little town in which
she lived she feared that the people
might despise her sutton as a fortune
hunter.
Ever since she had come into the
money at the death Of her father her
friends had warned her against the
wiles of the fortune hunters. She did
not for an instant believe that Bevan
cared for her money. but she was too
proud Of him to be willing that he
should SO be classified by others.
Much the same feeling had led Bes-
sic Brewster to refuse to marry Fred
Greyson until his fortune should match
her own. Greyson had gone to the
Philippines, where he believed that
fortune might be acquired quickly. He
had made his pile" but on his way
home the fever had taken him. From
Manila the journey had been made In
q metallic casket.
The last Of the carriages had passed.
The dead march still sounded clear
ly on the crisp, frosty air, and Bevan
fell In with the crowd that escorted
the procession on foot. The road
wound up the side of the hill to Gods
acre, where the yellowed headstones
cleaned darkly against the freshly
fallen snow.
The fire companies made a hollow
square, within which the Masons form
ed for the funeral service. Betty Har-
vey stood with the chief mourners,
supporting her friend, but before the
short service was concluded she had
to lead the bereaved girl back to the
carriage. Rapidly the hack drove
back to the village. Vance Bevan had
been there to help Betty lift the girl
into the carriage, and he had sprung
to the drivers box to be of service
when they should have reached home.
1t was he who bore the fainting girl
INTO the house, he who summoned the
doctor, and he was waiting when at
last, Bessie having fallen into the mer-
ciful oblivion of sleep, Betty stole soft
ly from the room.
care you still hereY she asked in
surprise as she came up to Vance.
II must go back to town tonight" he
explained. Before 1 go had to see
you"
1--WE have been all over that before, .
pleaded Betty Cant you understand
how 1 feel about 1t, dearT
"And does this not change your
mindT" he asked. Look, Bettyl
have come to let you decide for me.
Already l am making progress In my
profession. l am .classed as one Of the
rising young men among the engineers.
My reputation has obtained for me an
offer from South America. 1t is to go
down there and make the survey for
a railroad. 1t will make me rich In
three or four years.
"As matters are now cannot make
the same money here in ten or fifteen
years, but l can support you comforta-
bly,. You can give away your fortune
to charities II you want 1 can make
enough for two Shall | go or stay?"
rs there any question:" asked Betty.
-Four years is long time, Vance, but
1 can wait that long to see you escape
being called fortune hunter. Was
there need to askT
"They represent four years that can
never be replaced" reminded Bevap-
There are excellent probabilities that
l may come back home, as Greyson
did. If it were my only opportunity
should not hesitate, but have
chance here. 1t is for you to say"
For a moment the girl hesitated. All
her life she had been taught to despise
the title Of fortune hunter. She loved