The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-11-01
ESTABLISHED 1876

mas Sucn lovely tenor voice. When
he sings he thrills me- He used to sing
parts from Faust. and | almost
wished had been Marguerite Mr.
Mieklejohn is very versatile. He is the
best whist player. the best billiard
player. the best horseback rider. the
best swimmer
did you tumble out of the boat
when he was here that he might swim
ashore with you"
How ridiculousI" She pouted. Tom
linson asked her to go on with the cat
alogue Of Mieklejohn's accomplish
ments, but she turned away from him
as from one who had slapped the fac
Of her idol and. pulling on the port
rudder rope. headed the boat for the
bungalow.
After dinner Alice sat at the table in
the living room with her mother, her
brother and Tomlinson-that is to say,
she was going to sit there, but the
guest spoiled 1t all and drove her away
by asking If MFR. Mieklejohn read poet
ry to her by the dim light of the kero-
sene lamp. At this reference to the
dear departed Mieklejohn Mrs Stetson
cast frightened glance at her daugh-
ter. Roy was reading a book on the
game of football and was oblivious to
the shock to his sisters sensibilities.
Alice arose and, with her eyes bent to
the floor, left the room. TomIinson
could have bitten off his tongue. for a
long evening was before him with no
other companions than an elderly lady
and boy. the room in which they
were being lighted by dim lamp.
Mrs. Stetson retired at and Roy half
an hour later. Tomlinson vowed that
II the period of this seclusion ever ex-
pired-it seemed to him that 1t never
would-he would not get into such a
trap again. Besides. he was much
piqued after having been sought by
finer girls to be completely ignored.
considered a parsonage Of no impor-
lance whatever compared with the i'm
macuiate Mieklejohn. A desire came
to him to supplant Mr. Mieklejohn and
when he had done SO leave Lake Was
sapogie with his nose in the air.
The next morning Mrs. Stetson, evil
IDENTIFY still concerned about her daugh-
ters sorrow suggested another boat
ride. Alice didn't seem to care what
she did SO long as Mfr. Mieklejohn was
absent She yielded possibly TO her
mothers wish. The boat was taken
out, and the guest of the house, with
the listless girl. again left the bunga
low
Tomlinson bore the references to
Mieklejohn. gritting his teeth. but
making no reply. His object was
rather to draw Alice's attention away
from this remarkable man to other
subjects from which he might the
more easily direct it to himself He
exerted whatever lady killing faculties
he possessed for an hour. at the end Of
which time his companion seemed
really to have plucked up some inter
est In her surroundings. Then for an
hour she failed to mention the lost one.
Tomlinson was encouraged.
Two weeks passed. each day being a
gradual drawing away Of Alice Stet-
son from man who was absent to
man who was present. All the deli
cious little hooks which. bordered on
the lake were visited again and again.
and at last Tomlinson chuckled to
himself;
Nov bring on your Mieklejohn.
One bright morning they were drift
ing idly through some PUSHES. There's
nothing like some rushes. some smooth
water, a little brush and few over
hanging trees. with man and girl
love. Tomlinson was making an effort
to complete the shattering of the sa-
cred image Mieklejohn. He oyershot
the mark and made use of the word
'1ove." Had Miss Stetson been sitting
at the other end of the boat from him,
possibly what happened might not
have happened. at least not then. But
they were sitting side by side. Alice's
head fell on Tomlinson's shoulder
What could he do? He completed the
transition. The burden was removed
from the shoulders of the dear de-
parted and placed upon those Of the
newcomer.
This Is letter written by Alice Stet-
son to her bosom friend Molly Bawn
announcing her engagement:
"You see, dearest, mamma knew
from Mrs. Tomlinson that Ned was be-
set by a lot Of society girls of that
class which is trying to live in swell
dom without having the means to do
so. Mrs Tomlinson was afraid some
| Of them would get him and, knowing
| what plain. modest unassuming girl
| l am. without bit of deception In my
nature. she asked mamma to invite
Ned here. hoping he and | might make
look at me after all the fine ladies he
had met This set me to thinking. and
| l determined to be as unlike them as
| possible When he came pretended
to have just parted with somebody
elsa Mr. Mieklejohn. | called him
talking about what fine fellow he
| was. how ] missed him. and all that.
till Ned got so mad every time l men,
| toned his name that | thought he
would murder me- Now Pm afraid
he'll murder me when he finds out that
Mr.. Mieklejohn is a myth.
We're going to be married during
the holidays. and | wish you to be my
first bridesmaid. We're not going to
have splurge wedding. but quite gay
enough to warrant the prettiest gown
you can invent"
Not a PhIanthroplst