The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1908-08-25

| had stumbled on quaint village far
| from the haunts of fashion. In sim
pie gowns and with her hair In braids
she rejoiced at the freedom from dress
and social routine that had been her
portion all winter. In her Bingham
sunbonnet she might have passed for
the daughter of farmer, and for the
moment Guy Paulton took her to be
such when he came upon her in the
little woodland where Edith spent most
| Of her time. Her back was turned to
him as he parted the bushes and tram
pied down the ferns.
Edith started at the sound of his
voice, but promptly drew the all con
cealing bonnet down in front and man
aged to stammer an answer to his
question If she had seen any soldiers
about.
For the first time she noticed that
he was in uniform, and she immedi-
ately realized that the rough service
dress was most becoming Paulton
| was built In heroic mold, and. though
he looked well In the conventional
dress Of a man of fashion, the heavy
! blue shirt, open to display his fine
throat, and tight fitting riding trousers
emphasized the good lines of his pow
erfully muscled figure.
Edith shook her head.
"You are certain that there have
been no soldiers about" he asked
again, mo chaps in brown un4formf"
Haven't seen any" denied Edith in
nasal tones. You're the first soldier
I've seen since the county fair. Is it
paradeT'
Its game of war;" explained Paul
ton. "They divided the militia into
two armies. The browns must beat
the blues to win, and of course we
blues are anxious to see that they don't.
l am supposed to be scouting"
Like real soldiersT she asked inno-'
Gently.
AOf course" was the impatient reply.
''That is the whole idea, to train us
like the regulars"
Edith giggled In very good imita-
ton Of Dolly Spence, the village airt
81 didn't know that real soldiers
| stopped to talk to girls when there
was war on" she suggested as she
raised her hand to the bonnet the bet
ter to adjust its shade.
The movement was fatal to conceal
ment. Paulton noticed that her hand
was unusually white for girl who
worked about the farm, and the next
instant he recognized the slight hligree
band that circled one Of the slender
| fingers. 1t had been his mothers, and
how often he had suggested to Edith
to wear 1t!
1--WE are like regular soldiers also
because we are not above . pleasant
little Irritation" declared Paulton smil-
ingly, 81 believe that regular sol
der would kiss such pretty face as
yours!'
sHow do you know that 1t Is pref
typ demanded Edith from the securi-
tv of the sunbonnet's shade. 1t hurt
her to think that Guy would firt with
anv girl he met, but she was deter
mined to carry the game as far as she
dared.
"In take the face on trust" an
| nOunced Paulcon calmly. AL Adr
in love and war, they say, SO your face
must be fair, since this is mimic war"
"Maybe it's only make believe fair,
since this is make believe war;" sng-
gested Edith coquettishly.
ITO the contrary, this is very real
war" declared Paulton, "and am
obliged to place you under arrest"
"What forY' demanded Edith, not
| without some alarm. you cannot
draw country folks into your games"
"You are wrong" retorted Paulton.
at is the soldiers duty. to take into
custody those enemies of his country
whose sentiments threaten the success
of campaign"
But am not your enemy" pro-
tested Edith. 81 won't be taken pris-
oner"
Perhaps" assented Paulton, 'but a
stern duty confronts me. must take
you a prisoner and hale you before a
court martial unless
He paused tantalizingly.
"UnlessY" She told herself that II
he demanded a kiss as the price OF her
freedom she would never believe In
men again.
''There is bat ono way ont OF 1t, !"
continued Paulton. prove your 10y
altv to your country by marrying one
/ Of Ms protectors, There d . parson
f------r----s -e----