The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-03-10


When Hildegrade Farney spoke In
that tone it was time to stop. But the
thought that was uppermost in both
their minds, though unexpressed, was
the fact that Percy Graham was the
owner of three millions. In these days
of large fortunes it was not an astound-
ing sum, yet to Aldrich 1t doomed large
as a mountain. He knew that Hide
garde was what he phrased straight
stuff" and that this latest caprice OF
hers might not last the week out.
Still, as even the faintest possibility
of losing her gave his heart terrific
wrench. and since Hildegarde's aunt,
Miss Norris, looked on Percy Graham
with an eye of worldly wisdom as well
as critical appraisement, it behooved
young Aldrich to see to his laurels, and
he knew it.
Percy Graham had money and an
abnormal supply of cheek. Aldrich had
brains and pluck and an income from
his growing law practice of such pro-
portions that he did not hesitate to ask
Miss Farney to share it with him.
That Hildegarde should really care
for Percy Graham was an idea too pre-
posterous to be countenanced. But
slasl There was no sure way of fol-
lowing the labyrinths of the feminine
mind. Aldrich Strengthened suddenly
and looked at Hildegarde.
81 was a beast Just now" he said
quickly. what / said Of Graham is
true, but it's not my business to run
him down. II you want good time,
20 ahead. Only-just remember once
i IL . "Ass Gums we We Deen,
won't your" And Aldrich swung him
self over the porch rail- and smiled
back at her as he took his way to the
hotel farther down the beach where he
was spending his vacation.
AS he walked he caught sight OF Per-
CT Graham's automobile racing over
the smooth sand at the edge of the
surf line. As he had turned back to
look at Hildegarde, SO now he glanced
over his shoulder at the speeding car,
only in this case his lips opened, not to
smile, but to give vent to volcanic
word of one syllable.
Two afternoons later as he went
briskly up the nasturtium bordered
path that led to Hildegarde cottage
she hailed him from the porch where
she and Percy Graham were sitting.
"Why, Bobby" she cried, where
have you been hermtting this perfect
ageT
1--WE Just been asking Miss Farnsy
about you," drawled Percy Graham.
Aldrich glared at him cheerfully.
"Thanks. Always glad to have my
friends inquire. All, good afternoon,
Miss Norris" as Hildegarde's aunt ap-
peared in the doorway, while behind
her appeared the face Of pretty Irish
servant. Miss Norris looked unusually
perturbed THAT red haired boy from
the village grocery store has been
frightening Mary Ellen with absurd
tales of band of gypsies." =
"Gypsiesl WhereY Hildegarde's
face was alight with interest.
"At the back Of the pine woods fall
tered Mary Ellen. "'Tis kidnapers
they are, and tbs at night they prowl,
| Thomas says"
when did they conner demanded
Hildegarde.
"'Twas this morning the terrible
creatures pitched their tents. Thorn
as saw them"
'sTrust Thomas for seeing anything
In a radius of twenty miles," sighed
Miss Norris. "Oh, Hldegarde, you're
not going
"We're all going, aunty," cried Hide
garde, ain Mr.. Graham's carp
"'Tis flying in the face of evil for
tune they are" walled Mary Ellen,
"and it's myself that will lock up all
the doors and sit close by Julia, the
cook, till they come back again."
The road through the gypsy camp
lay through an undulating bit Of coun-
try. Pines grew on either hand, east;
Ing a twilight gloom, deep, cool, i'm
penetrable. Hidden brooks tinkled
over moss and pebbles. Bird songs
sounded through the stiffness as clear
| ly sweet as silver flutes.
Suddenly turn of the road brought
the gypsy camp into view. some three
or four tents pitched in meadow
against a background Of birch and fir.
In the foreground by a huge black
caldron sat a weather beaten bag, her
black mantle falling about her in
| Witchlike folds, her piercing eyes gar
ing out from under a shag of grizzly
locks.
Other picturesque figures appeared
ut the tent doors-a dark, somber look
Ing man smoking a long pipe and two
comedy Romany girls tinkling with
metal chains and earrings.
"Fascinating!" whispered Miss Far
ney.
The weather beaten crone left her
seat by the fire and hobbled forward.
simultaneously Graham and Aldrich
Miss Farney's hand. She picked up
the money, looked at the givers mar
rowly and then bent to her task.
"What a Romany reads had best be
read alone" she muttered, with a
twist of her thin lips.
Aldrich laughed.
II guess we can take a hint, eh,
Graham?" he cried, and the two men
strolled toward the tents and waited.
1t was as much as five minutes before
Hildegarde and her aunt Joined them.
Hildegarde quite pale and Miss Norris
with a furrow between her brows. II
have always said there was something
weird about gypsies," said Miss Nor
ris, ''and that old woman's knowledge
is actually uncanny,"
As to what the fortune teller had