The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-05-18
By VIRGINIA BLAIR.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

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Nothing could be more unfortu
nate" said Miss Cynthia.
Maize agreed dejectedly. "If she
had come at any other time"
"She viii expect to be entertained"
Miss Cynthia chimed In.
Maize, tying on her veil before the
mirror, decided: I'VE can have some
good times with the girls. But there
won't be any men, and Constantia
can't exist without men"
Nonsense" said Miss Cynthia.
"She'n have to when she comes to Hill
ton"
Maize talked the situation over later
with Serena Sears.
''You see, l met Constantia at the
seashore the summer I went with the
Merrills, and had lovely clothes, and
we lived at the best hotels and did
everything in the most approved way.
81 told Constantia that when was
at home with Aunt Cynthia l didn't
have all the advantages and that my
outing with the Merrills was just their
farewell treat before they went
abroad. But Constantia can't under
stand what life at Hilton is, and she
will expect gay time"
'Well, it's an i'll wind that blows
nobody any good" said Serena senten-
tiously. Perhaps she will nven US up
bit"
"Constantia could liven. up a nun
nery,' Maize told her, ''but Hilton Is
hopeless"
Letters coming from Constant1a told
of her preparations.
'She is getting lots of pretty Clothes"
Maize reported to Serena, land where
is she going to wear themT
But Serena, true to her name, would
not worry. "She win delight our eyes
with them" she said 81 haven't seen
an up to date gown for so long that
I'd rather gaze on it than on a Rem
brandt"
The day of Constantia's arrival Ma
zie put the big old fashioned house in
order, while Aunt Cynthia baked de-
lectable things.
Serena Sears came in the afternoon.
"If Constantia hasn't the good taste
to enjoy this lovely old room and Aunt
Cynthia's tea and mullins and cocoa
nut cake she's benighted individual"
said she.
'But think Of Constantia trailing
pale blue broadcloth on this old rugI''
walled Maize
Maize walked to the station, but
she brought Constantia back in the
only cab the town afforded. 1t was
shabby and ramshackle, but the little
horse was plump, and so was the
driver.
1--WE feed people and animals well
in Hilton" Maize explained to Con
stantia. eating is our only diver
sion."
Constantia dimpled. ri think Hilton
is DEAR" she emphasized.
But after they had driven a little
way she said suddenly, MAIZE Lang
ley, don't believe have seen sin
gle man since we left the station"
''There aren't any," Maize Informed
her. II warned you. told you in
my letters that Hilton was deadly
dull"
Constantia's laugh rippled. ''Oh,
you goosie," she said, "as II cared
It will be a rest, If the girls are nice
a sort Of bachelor girls paradise"
Maize nodded. '"There is nothing for
men to do in these Hampshire hills"
she said, "and except few merchants
and the minister and the doctor there
aren't any"
"Well, l wish Bobbie Dwyer could
hear that" Constantia murmured
'fWho is Bobbie Dwyer?" Maize de-
manded.
"Bobbie," Constantia explained, with
elaborate and strangely earnest scorn
fitness, ''is a lord of creation. l was
engaged to him until one day he tried
to dictate to me! Then, of course,
broke it off and told him there were
some worse things than being an old
maid, and he flung back at me that he
should live single, for he could never
trust a woman again, and then told
him that an old maid was happier
than a bachelor, and he said If tried
it I'd find out, and, oh, wish you had
heard us!'' And in spite Of the trag
edy Of her recital Constantia laughed.
"And I'm glad there aren't any men
here-I hate themw
Mazie's face glowed. 1--WE will have
a lovely time If you feel that way"
she said.
Just then the ramshackle cab round
ed a curve, and there was the old
house, with Aunt Cynthia at the win
dow and the light shining out behind
her, and they went In and had tea
and mullins and little cakes, and Ma
zie Toasted her eyes on the picture
Constantia made in her modish gown.
The next day Serena Sears came
over.
'Mazie told me how pretty you
were" she said quantity, "and l told
her I'd rather see you than picture.
but you are better than whole art
gallery"
And that afternoon a lot Of girls
came. pretty and fiuttering creatures,
who hung about Constantia admiring-
| ly.
81 love girls" she said when they
mad gone away.
That night more girls came, and In
the afternoon there was a girls tea,
and at night a feminine galaxy came
over and sat around the fire and pop
ped corn and sang college songs.
When Constantia and Maize went to
Il 4z.Y-L nkk nCf 70
marked, Il love girls" but ner voice
lacked eager enthusiasm.
Several days later Serena Sears gave
| dance.
"Of course there won't be any men,
she said. "but we can all dress up and
dance with each other, and the girls
are crazy to see that white chiffon OF
| yours, Constantia."
But when Constantia was arrayed III
all her glory she surveyed herself
thoughtfully in the mirror. 1T seems
a bit wasted" she murmured. Robbie
always liked me in white"
The dance was not a great success
It lacked something, and that some
thing Constantia said equivocally was
men.
In the days that followed the girls
stfl futtered and admired, but Con
stantia looked at them with specula.
tive eyes.
'Tts a pity" she said over the tea
cups to Maize, that so many lovely
girls should not marry"
! II thought old maidism was the hap
NEST state" Maize ventured.