The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-01-19
Copyrighted. 1903, by Associated
Literary Press.

hair puffed out under plumed hat.
Mother is waiting in the motor
she said breathlessly. eve are on
our way to the charity bazaar, and l
want some money"
The judge kissed her. "Now it's
divers turn" he leased.
"Oh, father" she reproached him,
with sob, you know Oliver and
have had to break our engagement be-
cause mother won't hear of it," And
she hid her face on the judges Shout
der.
The Judge glanced at Oliver. "Tell
her," he commanded, and the boy be-
gan halting tale.
AS he proceeded Roxane interrupted.
you mean that some one has left you
a fortuneY'
Oliver nodded
where did he live?"
"Tm not sure" the boy stammered
81 wouldn't inquire too closely into
1t, Roxane," the judge advised hur-
riedly. "The less said about that rela-
tive Of divers the better"
With her face shining. the girl went
swiftly to her lover. ooh, Oliver Oil
YER" she said. chow happy l amv'
For moment he hesitated; then he
gathered her into his arms. tits worth
everything to know that you are mine
Roxane," he said huskily.
The rustic of silk skirts in the hall
brought him out of his rhapsody.
"It's your mother" warned the
Judge, and when the rather stout lady
In mauve entered she found two sol
emn young people on each side of the
judges desk. That Roxane's plumed
hat was slightly over one ear and that
a golden hair strayed across divers
coat collar were details which escaped
her.
81 thought Roxane was never COM
ing down." she painted.
81 found Oliver here" Roxane ex-
planned, land. oh, mother, a rich rela-
tive has left him a fortune"
"a fortune Oliverr scoffed the stout
lady "Why, he hasn't rich relative
in the world
"The fact remains, my dear" the
judge asserted blandly, that he has
had fortune left him by a distant
cousin"
"What cousinY was the demand.
you needn't tell me. James"
'Tut. tut" the judge cautioned.
Don't accuse the boy Of lying"
I'm not accusing anybody" Mrs.
vandiver stated. 81 merely asked you
what cousin. James"
The judge mopped his forehead The
sudden arrival of the ladies' of his
household had not given him time to
perfect details.
"I'm not sure Of the name, Abbie,"
he stammered. Perhaps Oliver can
satisfy you"
But Oliver weakened. II think Mrs.
Vandiver is right" he said unsteadily.
Until can offer satisfactory proof of
my good fortune it will be well for me
to give up Roxane."
"Oliverv' The wall was from his be-
trothed, but he went on, There may
be some mistake"
"Of course" said Mrs. vandiver,
with aggravating sureness. "Come on,
Roxane." And she dragged her unwill-
ing captive from the room.
Left alone, the conspirators stared at
each other.
"Now you've done it." said the judge
disguste4y. "Why couldn't you bluff
1t out?7
mot with Roxane's trusting eyes on
me-" said Roxane's lover.
"WeI, If you knew Roxane's mother
as well as I do" the judge growled.
you would know that it's the only
hope"
After a depressing silence Oliver
ventured, Perhaps if you approached
her differently you might get better
results"
The judge smiled. How do you
meanT
Oliver blushed. "Oh, well, I've some
times thought. sir, that If you appealed
to your wife's sense of romance
"Abbie's sense Of romance" the
judge calculated.
''You must have some memories that
would make her feel tenderly toward
you-toward u.s.
TT has been so long" the Judge muir
INJURED and found himself suddenly
curious as to when he had ceased to
think Of Abbie as the princess in his
fairy tale. When had he ceased to
write sonnets to her ringlets, odes to
her eyebrows?
"You see. I'm afraid we're beyond
romance" he murmured. "She
wouldn't understand"
'It seems to me-" said the wise
young Daniel, that a woman Is never
too old to resist an appeal to her
heart"
The judge pondered. 81 asked her to
marry me on Oct. 10 twenty-five years
ago"
''There," Oliver exclaimed, "and to-
day is the 14th. and tomorrow is an
anniversary. Oh, you've got to take
advantage of that, Judge"
81 took her to ride in my buggy" the
Judge rambled on sheepishly. 'There
was big round NOON
He stopped suddenly. But of course
we've grown sensible since then" he
said wistfully.
''Well, you just ask her to go to-
morrow" Oliver recommended, and
then the judge gave in.
The next evening he presented him
self at the dinner table armed with
long paper box.
For you, my dear" he said to his
wife as she came in with Roxane,
heavy eyed and pensive.
The box, being opened, showed rosy
carnations.
1.-THE nearest thing could get to
pinks," the judge explained.
''Why pinks?" his wife demanded.
"Abbie," he reproached, ''have you
forgotten that twenty-five years ago
you wore pinks"-
Mrs. vandiver's expansive features
expressed blank surprise. What
happened twenty-five years ago?"
al know" Roxane interrupted.
There's the picture on fathers desk
you have on blue dress and bunch
Of pinks-you said you looked that
way when he asked you to marry
him.
The blush that stole Nd toward Mrs.