The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-10-26

IT ISN'T ALWAYS SAFE ~ DE bOhh OR
ANYTHING"
course to pursue if we expect to sue
coed in our pet scheme"
"Well?" The colonel glanced up be-
wilderingly and with sort of meek
Difference into the animated face Of
his companion.
Miss Drusilla lifted her dainty,
porcelain-like fingers and marked off
her sentences upon them I'm clear,
futy voice "Just this. you stupid
man: They must be warned against
each other Every obstacle we can
think of must be placed in their way.
Sentiment must be tabooed. Cool
down all their advances with cold wa
ter and plenty of It, There's nothing
like it at this stage, mark my word.
And failure after all these years
would be horrible disappointment to
US both, john"
The colonel listened to his old
friends admonitions with unconcealed
admiration. What a diplomat was
Miss Drusilla! What an excellent life
Suc MOulQ A0NC L1d0C AOA a
man. He heaved an involuntary sigh
of regret for his squandered youth and
reached across the table to press the
porcelain fingers. There was a tacit
smile, hand pressure, and the colonel
took his departure.
Half an hour later fresh, sparkling
face was framed In the doorway, and
a musical voice addressed Miss Dru-
siIla in tremulous accents. MAY l
come in. aunty, dearY The question
was finished upon a hassock at Miss
Drusilla's little slippered feet.
Where in the world have you been,
PenelopeY she questioned very stern
ly, with a deprecatory glance at the
young girls vivid cheeks and the
tumbled straw gold hair above them.
"Where haven't been. rather? Oh.
aunty, it was just the dearest, jolliest
time in the world! We, Jack and l.
rode-yes, actually rode-up that steep
crag to Lovers leapT
Lovers leap!'' echoed Miss Dru-
silla, with very grave brows. "And
you not yet eighteen, Penelope|
Penelope's blue eyes flashed a swift
challenge to Miss Drusilla.
"And you went alone with young Mr..
Weyman to the very top of noun
tain, my child" She paused in her
stitching and looked seriously into the
young face at her knee. ut was most
indiscreet. Don't think of repeating 1t.
And. by the way. Penelope. don't you
think you are rather too familiar with
this young man, calling him by his
given name on a fortnights acquaint-
ance and scampering through the
woods with him on all occasions?
What do you know off,
KNOW! Why, why. know that he's
Just splendid-that he-that THAT we
oh. aunty. you can never guess what
a dear he is-that's all
Miss Drusilla's lips settled perceptf-
bly,. Every well. my little one; he may
be all that you say-and think. Natu-
rally l am in no position to judge
However, prefer to have my niece a
little more circumspect and dignifed.
1t is not always well to allow oneself
too much intimacy with any-stranger.
Remember, girls Of your station are ex-
pected to submit with all grace and du-
tifulness to the arrangements which
have been made for them by their
matrimonial particularly.
Let there be no foolishness, Penelope"
But. father, am 1 not twenty-one
years of age?"
twenty-five, to be more exact,
young fellow. But remember also that
1 am forty-four and you are still In col
lege. Penelope is mere baby. she
ought to be in school herself in short
frocks. Recollect that you have repu-
tation to make In your profession; that
you cannot afford to throw away your
opportunities In any such absurd fash
ion, so don't fritter away your time
over sentimental nonsense"
Young Weyman was silent a moment
trying to down the vehement words
that struggled to his lips. His face
was flushed, and his eyes belied the
calmness of the tone in which he re
piled:
al have always respected your opin-
ion, father. in everything, but in this
case l fear that / cannot abide by 1t.
There is one thing which is every
mans privilege-the choice Of his wife;
consequently 1 mean to offer myself
to Penelope this very evening"
"And If she refuses-if she is already
betrothed to some one else?"
Impossible! That Isl
The colonel smiled broadly. But his
head was turned away. When he look
ed back again his face was decidedly
stern. ut isn't always safe to be too