The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-04-12

you. What influence do you propose
to bring to bear upon herY
None"
do you know herP'
"No; have never seen her,"
every well: I'll bet you $50 you don't
shoot this fall on Miss Weodbridge's
plantation"
II take the bet''
The rays of the rising sun were
streaming in through the windows, the
music ceased, and the jewellers began to
take their departure.
1t was about O'Clock that Virginia
Woodbridge was out among her dew
covered fowers-none had yet been
nipped by frost-when she heard a
voice behind her.
MAY l beg boonY
Turning, she saw a young man
dressed in white satin. His coat, trim
med with gold braid, was cut in the
fashion that we call "clawhammer,"
with two long extensions in rear reach
ing almost to his ankles. From his
vest escaped a profusion Of ruf1ed
lace. His breeches were tight to the
skin and reached only to the knee; his
stockings were silk; his shoes were or
namented with enormous silver buc-
kles. In the hollow of his left arm
was gun; from his shoulder were sus-
pended shot pouch, powder flask
and game bag. AS to head covering,
there was none. The figure was bow
ing low before her with his right hand
ON his heart.
The first idea Miss Woodbridge had
of this singular apparition was that he
was supernatural; the next. that she
was confronted by lunatic.
Il have called" said the visitor, 'to
ask your kind permission to shoot a
few birds on your plantation"
1t occurred to the lady that to refuse
the man would be tantamount to an in
vitation to shoot her. No man in his
senses would go hunting in such cos
tune, and. although this poor dement,
ed creature looked harmless enough. ii
was impossible to say that refusal
would not rolse him.
Certainly" she hurried to say az
soon as she could gain speech. Hunt
all over the plantation"
The lunatic bowed again, thanked
her for her kindness and strobe away
AS for Miss Woodbridge, as soon as
his back was turned she darted into
the house and locked the door behind
her. Then when she was sufficiently
recovered she sent for her overseer
told him how by her presence Of mind
she had saved herself from being shot
by a lunatic and directed him to send
to the insane asylum, short distance
south Of her estate, and ask them to
send at once and capture the lunatic.
BY this time perpetual bang" was
heard without A darby rushed in and
began to talk with eyes wide opened.
Missy Ginnie, dere's a ha'nt down
| in de medder KILN all de bobwhite.
He dressed like a ghost. all in white,
with stars and things on he breast.
| Wha' all gwine to do?''
For heavens sake, don't try to stop
him." said the mistress. "If you do
| he'll kill you"
"Oh, no. I'm not gwine to stop him.
AS soon as l sor him l run like de
debbil was after me. Ebery time he
shoot, down comes thousand quail
Never mind the quail. / don't care
how many he kills If he doesn't kill
any one else before we can get rid OF
him."
| At this juncture the housekeeper en-.
tered the room and asked what was
| the matter. When informed Of the
| facts she smiled and said:
Il saw your lunatic go by my win
dow. He's Tom Thursby. that Virginia
scapegrace."
And sane?" asked Miss Woodbridge.
Perfectly"
Then why appear here in such cos
tune and ask permission to huntT
81 don't know. There was a mas
querade ball in the city last night, and
not an hour ago l saw some OF the
masqueraders rolling along in theiI
carriages on their way home. Perhaps
Mr.. Thursby was one Of them and
took fancy to do some shooting"
But why in such costumeY
''No one knows what Tom Thursby
VIII do. He's singular. But ! have