The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-08-23
A Bridge
Fight
1t Broke an Ensasement.
BY cLARIsSA MAcKIE.
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

5 Copyright. 1910. by American Press 3
o Association g
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1t stretched across the salt marsh
and connected two villages Harbor-
head folk called 1t ''the red bridge"
while Portside people grimly referred
to it as ''the white bridge" AS a mat
ter Of fact, 1t had never been painted
| at all, and now. after two years ex-
| posture to wind and weather, the new
wood had taken on soft gray tints that
blended with the silver tide that ebbed
and flowed between the piles.
Although Harborhead and Portside
were connected by the new bridge
and the vehicles of both villages rum
bled to and fro over the planks. the
| Inhabitants were widely separated by
a growing bitterness.
Parson Lane of Poreside had pound
ed the pulpit vigorously over the mat
ter. "Pots Of paint Pots of paintP
he exclaimed one memorable Sunday;
Have my people drowned their souls
in pots Of paint? The good Lord made
1t possible for these villages to be unit
ed by a beautiful bridge, and you
wrangle over the painting of it as If
the color mattered! Brethren. see that
your souls are as white as you would
have the bridge painted. Let not the
red smirch of anger sully its purityT
After that sermon the bitterness was
intensified The Harborhead people
who weekly crossed the bridge to at
tend Parson Lanes church fluttered
homeward to spread the good mans
words far and wide with most unhap-
py results.
Noah Wade and Almirs Turner were
to be married in June Three times a
week Noah crossed the bridge to Har-
borhead to see his sweetheart. They
had never discussed the bridge matter
because they had been too happy to
talk about anything except their own
wonderful affairs
The Tuesday after Parson Lanes
sermon Almira waited at the front
gate for Noah. She could see him
stepping quickly across the bridge,
tall, erect, with his head poised high.
All the Wades were proud The girls
blue eyes did not soften at her lovers
approach. A new expression came
into them.
Waiting for mel" smiled Noah, TAX
ing the hat from his brown hair and
covering Almira's little hand with his
own sunburned fingers.
She drew her hand quietly from be-
meath his touch Yes" she said grave
ly. Come with me, Noah; | have
something to say to you. Let US go to
the orchard"
what is the matter? Are you in
trouble? Has anything happened?"
demanded Noah anxiously. falling into
step beside her,
Almlra shook her head. In silence
they went across the grass to the or
chard and paused in the shade Of the
gnarled old apple trees.
What is the matter, AImira 2" re-
peated Noah at last.
Il can't marry you. Noah" replied
Almira quietly.
"Why notY Noah spoke gruff1y.
He was angry at Almira's strange
manner, at the GOODNESS In her voice
and her sudden aloofness
She looked at the distant sails with
steadfast eyes. Father says l shan't
marry any one from over the white
bridge and don't know that / want
to-"
Personally l don't care rap what
color the bridge is" retorted Noah.
1--WE crossed it for two years to see
you. Almira. and now at this late day
you suddenly drop me and say it's be-
cause live over the bridge-a fimsy
excuse. Why don't you say outright
that you don't care for me and never
did," His face was growing winter,
and the hand pressed against the tree
trunk was clinched until the knuckles
were Iivid.
Suddenly Noah swung eway from
the tree and without one backward
glance tramped across the grass. leap
ed the fence into a winding lane and
disappeared along the shore road
After that 1t became known that AL
mira's wedding garments were care
fully laid away out Of sight and Noah
Wade no longer crossed the bridge
three times week.
Then followed a summer unprec.
edented for its lack of rain. Weeks
followed days. and months followed
weeks. while the sun poured relentless
ly down on the sister town and burned
the vegetation to crisp provinces.
Only the salt grass that was wet by
the tides remained green. Crops died
In the baked earth.
September came. fiercely hot. One
breathless evening Almira Turner walk
ed listlessly along the bridge. 1t was
said that whatever breeze there might
be would be felt on the long wooden
structure that united the two villages
yet In its way formed a barrier be-
tween many hearts.
Others were walking on the bridge
but it was noticeable that Portside
folks walked only as far as the mid.
die Of the bridge and then retraced
their steps. Harborhead people die
the same thing at their end, so there
was no passing over the bridge save
by those who had business to attend
to. Where friendly relations were es
tuDasne1 between FAMILIES in tine war /
ring villages 1t was considered most
amicable and polite to visit by way
Of the long road around the shore and
avoid the unhappy bridge.
Almira was thinking bitterly of
what her father had said when she an
nounced that her engagement to Moab
Wade had been broken. EIe had
stared incredulously at her.
why, Miry, honey, l was only jok
ing! Now. you go along and make 1t
up with Noah this minute. There'u
be bridges standing long after we poor
mortals are through trying to be hap
by In this world"
But Almira could not make It up
with Noah Wade. He did not give
her chance he went away from
Portside and found work elsewhere.
and she had not seen him through the
long summer. Now she was thinking
of him and of her foolish excuse for
giving him up.
A loud rumble Of thunder sent the
pedestrians on the bridge scurrying
home, but Almira fingered, watching