The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-05-17

"Pm so sorry" he said For min
ute he didn't say anything else. just
stood looking down at me. Then he
went on: you just must forgive me
somehow. 1 was rude, impairment.
stupid, everything ought not to have
been"
"You thought was a little girl?" 1
said.
81 wasn't so far wrong there. was L?
You're grownup little girl, that's
all. But what did you do with the
doll and the picture books. Miss
Kathleen" l said before l thought
There had never been any one to call
me Miss Lester. How could remem-
Der?
But before I could say another word
mother came. She saw the man, the
auto, my red face. Her eyes fairly
blazed. What could l do?
The man smiled down at me. Then
l knew that l hadn't anything to do
about it. How he managed it l dom
know, but in five minutes he had ex-
3,
steps, with mother near by in the lit
tie rocker. And they were talking to-
gether like old friends.
Next day it was past 4 O'Clock and
the little auto hadn't come. / was be-
ginning to feel so disappointed. Then
| saw big red car with top and
room in it for four or five people come
proudly around the corner from the
city. On the back seat was a lady
with lovely gray veil. She looked
my way and smiled.
The auto stopped in front of our
house. Up the walk came the lady.
"You are Miss Kathleen LesterY'
she said. She took both my hands. 81
am Wright Engleby's sister"
Then l remembered that Wright En-
gleby was the man in the little green
auto. And there he was in the big red
auto lifting his cap and smiling in just
the friendliest way.
Put on some wraps, please, Kath-
leen," said Wright Engleby's sister.
'You and mother, too, are going to
ride with u.s."
When l was ready Mr.. Wright En-
gleby picked me up in his arms and
carried me down the walk and set me
In the big red auto. And the next
minute he and his sister and mother
and were all flying away around the
curve.
After that there were many rides
fha Of NH
scrubbed till he shone But one day
instead of the big red car, up to our
house came the little green one. Some
how 1t looked like an old friend.
Mother kissed me. Then Mr. Wright
Engleby carried me out and put me in
the car.
On and on we went till we came to
streets that were crowded full of big
motorcars and Little ones, trolley cars
and trucks and cabs and all sorts of
vehicles. In one place there was such
jam we had to stop and wait.
In the midst of all the noise and
hurry the man in the automobile put
one big hand over both mine.
You will walk again and be we'll
and strong" he said, "but just as you
are now. little girl, / want to tell you
something. love you. Will you re-
members?
All through those long weeks in the
hospital. when was too sick and tired
and discouraged and hOlnesick to re-
member anything else. | thought of
those words. When at last was a lit
tie better Mr.. Wright Engleby came to
see me often, with flowers and fruits.
mo more dolls" he laughed. "You
are quite grown up now. Kathleen Ma
vourneen"
Sometimes his sister came and some
times mother. And l had a lovely
white capped nurse who took splendid
care Of me. And every other day al
most the great surgeon spent an hour
or so with me. By and by he told me
l could go home.
He told ME something else too. But
begged him so hard not to tell any
one else that he promised not to. And
the nurse promised too
The man in the auto and his sister
took me home. He carried ME up the
walk and set me down in my old
chair back of the vines
Mother cried over me little. Then
she and Wright Engleby's sister went
into the house.
Mr.. Wright Engleby came close to
me. He lowered up over me, strong
and big and handsome.
Remember, little girl?" he said.
1 nodded. l could scarcely bear the
sorry look in his eyes.
Just as you are. l told you then.
dear, end just as you are l want you.
Tomorrow you and mother and Annie
and l will take ride in the red auto.
Do you remember a little church
which stands all by itself In some
evergreen trees across bridge beyond
little vilage?"
Again | nodded.
''The clergyman is a friend Of NINE
I've told him about you. and he will
be ready. Will you?"
mot tomorrow" / said-"the day
after If you wish"
He yielded. Then he and his sister
went away.
Next day l sat behind the vines and
waited. l wore my blue linen gown,
the pretty silky coat Wright Engleby's
sister had given me on my birthday
and big. foppy hat. with blue veil.
By and by l saw the little green auto
coming. Then l did just what the
great surgton and the nurse had made
me do over and over again. stood up
on my two feet. l waved mother
away. l crept across the porch back
of the vines. When the auto stopped
in front of the house | stood quite
| alone on the steps of the porch.
l threw a kiss to the man in the
auto. Then / did what the surgeon
had told me could-I walked straight
down the walk toward the little green
auto. Halfway the man met me.
Nor 1 cried. Don't touch me,
please"
l walked. almost running, to Billy's
house and back. would have been
walking yet with the joy of it had not
the man caught me up and set me
down in the auto.
"Why didn't you tell me, little grip
he cried
"Oh. Wright" l cried. 81 was so
afraid! 1t seemed too good to be true
couldn't believe it would last. And
If 1t hadn't 1 couldn't have borne it
for your sake, dear. for your sake."
I'm quite certain the little green
auto had a mind of its own. Neither
of us had a thought to spare it just
then. But all by itself it rounded
the curve. and away. away. away it
few straight into the heart Of the glad