The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-05-04

and grow up, joe" she added. MAY
be you can help me little bit then"
"Humph! You'll be married-with
grandchildren-almo that time,
Joe giggled, lodging the apple his sis
ter flung at his head. They were out
in the orchard, picking basketfuls Of
red beauties.
At least they had been picking them
until Joe's incautious recital Of certain
choice bits Of gossip had sent Marina
into a tantrum.
"Say, M'rina, was there ever any
thing to Miss Pete's tale" Joe asked
as he came upright again. II mean
were you ever real sweet on the Dicky
birdp Say truth cross your heart. But
If you were I'm ashamed Of you. Dicky
bird is the limit
'No, he's gone beyond it; he's sim
ply insufferable- always was" Marina
flung in. Joe whistled softly, then
stuck out hand, saying: shake
You'll do after all. But the way Miss
Pete told it she had me real scared. 1t
was awful the way she reeled it of to
Jimmy going home from prayer meet
ing last night
''You didn't listen7 Walking along
behind p Marina demanded. Joe closed
his eyes and elevated his eyebrows. Il
amt no professional eavesdropper," he
said, "but the roads as free to me as
anybody, and 1t amt my fault IL Miss
Pete talks SO you can hear her twenty
yards off / heard-without listening
She said Dicky made love to you morn
ing, noon and night and gave you
ring-the most beautiful solitary
worth mint of money-she saw you
have it on"
at came out Of a prize package,
guess. 1 threw it away as went
home" Marina shifted.
Joe giggled again and went on: miss
Pete surely can make up story. She
said you told her you was engaged to
Dick when you went visiting the Went
worths."
Marina became crimson with anger
Even Joe, and he was critical young
brother, thought that she looked pref
ty nice. She felt that she must relieve
herself.
"Of course l saw Dicky, and three
times day" said she. Mrs. Went
worth is his aunt, and he lives with
them. He can't help being conceited;
he's the only single man under thirty
In their town. Such dead town it is,
even Dicky is an event
ko ha etc 4oha
all of us that Dicky was my last OPP
portunity But l never dreamed he'd
be mad enough to traipse over here
once a week as he has done ever
since"
'She told Jimmy you were in dead
earnest until you was tempted by a
richer man." said Joe. "Myl But she
did roll that out with long sigh,
most a meow"
Marina flushed again. "Jimmyl
What did he say?' she demanded. Joe
looked oracular "Oh, not much of any
thing. Only enough to keep Miss Pete
going until he got her safe through
her own door" he said. "She came
near yanking him in by force, but he
managed somehow to pull a-loose from
her. Then-welI, you ought to a-heard
him. can't repeat it; couldn't go to
Sunday school If l did"
"But he listened to herE And how is
he ever going to bear the TRUTH" Ma
rina cried. half sobbing. ooh, how
hate a mischief makerl OF course l
can't 20 to Jimmy and tell him-I can't
even let YOU
"Oh. l guess there amt much need
of that Joe gurgled. He had flung
himself fat on the grass to laugh and
was kicking his heels high in air. Il
come on home with Jimmy, at least
as far as my road was his.
'He never asked me word, but ne
knew I'd been bound to hear Miss
Pete. And he was as glum as a ghost
and as sour as a pickle until sprung
my scheme on him. Then you ought
to a-seen him dance and caper! IL
was all | could do to keep him from
hugging me right in the middle OF the
road"
"Your scheme? What was itf
don't understand" Marina began, her
eyes wondering.
Joe gave a joyous whooping yell. Il
might maybe show you better'n l can
tell you," he said. Says l to him:
.Jimmy-John, you're pretty white and
heaps the best of the lot that's running
after Mrina. don't believe she's dou-
BILE crossed you, but we'll try to find
out before I'm gray headed In the