The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-12-28

THIS IS THE PIN, is TT NOT?'' SHE ASKED.
wrinkled face almost hidden in the
depth of an old fashioned Quaker bon
net.
lis the breeze too strong for your
asked the girl. smiling down into the
bonnet. and then, seeing the great tears
which were flowing down the burrows
on the tired little face, she added i'm
pulsiveIy, "Can l help you in any
way?"
Il am afraid no one can do that, my
dear" replied the little old woman
painfully. Il am going on a sad jour
ney today"
II was evident that her need of hui
man sympathy was very great. but
she checked herself suddenly, embar-
raised at the realization that she had
been on the point of contding in a
stranger.
With an expectant look in her soft
eyes the girl waited. Perhaps" she
suggested feeIingly. you would like
to tell me all about it,"
For a moment longer the woman
hesitated. and then, treasured by the
kindly interest in the girls face, began
her story.
Its my son." she quavered. He is
in great trouble. and I'm hurrying to
him. 1t is years since I've been on
a train, years since I've been in
city, and it will all be very strange
and hard for me. He doesn't know
Pm coming. Henry doesn't. but if his
mother can help him she is going to
be right there Just yesterday it hap
pened. He was going in on this very
train to the city. where he lives. The
car was filed. as it is today, my dear,
and he sat beside a lady just as we
are sitting. She wore one Of those
dresses. he wrote. that are fastened
way up the back, and through the fas-
tening was pinned diamond horse
shoe. She was leaning forward all
the time, looking through the window.
so he remembers the horseshoe very
distinctly as it flashed and glittered ID
the sun. Well. why they should say
he did it-those men-I can't under
SldDO. QulCSo lucy MCAO ohAANNs' ~
blame it on some one when the lady
missed it. for it was gone, the dia
mond horseshoe. There one minute
and gone the next. and the men. two
of them across the aisle. say that
Henry-my Henry, who is as honest
as the day unfastened the pin and
slipped it into his pocket. Quick as be
was. they declare. they saw him do it.
The trainmen were called, there was
great commotion. and there be had to
stand and bear it all-the prying eyes.
the DISGRACE. Oh. they searched him
well. but no pin was found. | could
have told them many miles away that
upon my boy. So"-the grief stricken
voice choked bitterly they locked
him up there in the city. He had no
money to give a bond. and this morn
ing early they are to swear his hon
esty away-the men who say they saw
him to do it and the lady who lost her
diamond horseshoe But if a mothers
prayers can help
She could go no further. She saw
her boy again as when she had first
seen him the day he was born. She
saw him as. having kissed her. ne too
died away to school, She saw him A-
he began to grow from boyhood to
youth and from youth to manhood and |
remembered how proud she had been
of him. What a fine man he was go
ing TO be!
And now where were all these hopes?
In twinkling they had vanished.
With misty eyes. the girl leaned for
ward gently. The little hand in its |
dainty glove was laid upon the toll
worn hand in its cotton one. Tel me
more about your boy" she urged soft
ly.
Almost eagerly the old woman con-
tinued: He has always been such d
good boy. poor, like his father and |
grandfather before him. but honest al
ways and honorable as they were. His |
father wanted to paint pictures when |
he was lad, but had to stay at home
and work on the farm instead. Ii had |
been great disappointment until the
day of his death. so when Henry want
ed to be IA painter let him 60 He
has had hard times. Pm afraid-he is |
looking 10 poor and white and thin
nnd when our neighbor called to see |
him there in. the city he found him
living in such a crowded place way up |
near the roof But that's for the sky
light. Henry says. Artists like to be
high up. and I'm not to worry"
She paused and regarded the girl
questioningly for moment. The girl
nodded Understandings. and the other
resumed: But things were beginning
to look so bright. He was to paint
rich mans picture as soon as he could
earn enough to buy the necessary ma
terials-canvas. brushes and things. |
And now to be locked up and branded |
a thiefp'
Il am glad you have told me, and
thank you" said the girl very softly. |
IF Henry's mother has such faith in |.