The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-04-12
ESTABLISHED 1875

heard he is very bright He'll prob
| ably break his neck some day riding
across country. He's a terrible man
on horseback"
''That would be n pity" said Miss
| Woodbridge ympathetically-"he's so
| handsome"
! Whether the lady meant that it did
not matter If homely men broke their
necks is not of Importance to this
story. The order to send to the asylum
was countermanded, and Mr.. Thursby
was permitted to bang away till mid
day. when he came to the house with
a bagful of quail and asked to see
the mistress. She met him, vainly en-
deavoring to suppress smile.
81 have only killed these BIRDS" be
said, "for the pleasure of the hunt
leave them for their rightful owner"
"You are Mr.. Thursby, believe,
from Virginia"
81 am, and at your service" A low
bow.
THAT you may not think we Tennes-
seeans less hospitable than the people
of the Old Dominion l will ask you to
remain for a dinner on the birds you
have shot"
THAT Will certainly be an honor as
well as a pleasure" Another bow.
Miss Woodbridge entertained MIR.
Thursby till the quails were cooked
and the repast was announced. Then
she took his arm. and they went into
the dining room. Never a smile cross
ed Mr.. Thursby's face. His hostess
said nothing about having mistaken
him for a lunatic, and he made no
reference to his fantastic dress.
The servants on the plantation either
had not heard the explanation as to
the guests habiliments. or. If they
had. it made little impression on them.
The opinion among them gained ground
that he was a ha'nt, though many Of
| them declared that he was a lunatic.
| The Drawer of the colored children
| fiattened their noses against the din
| ing room window panes to observe the
specter. Aunt Eunice. who had been
Virginia Woodbridge's NANNY" was
very much disturbed.
"Wha' To- yo niggers let yo' mist'ess
alone wild dat lunaticker for she
asked the men. "Yo' gwine let him
shoot herr"
At this white headed Uncle Peter
went off and returned with his gun
and said be was 'gwine to kiver de
ha'nt." Miss Woodbridge. while dis
secting a quail, discovered him stand
ing in the doorway leveling a shotgun
at her guest.
For heavens sake, Uncle Peter,
what are you going to do? Don't
shootr'
Don yo' bodder. Missy GIMME.
got de drop on him."
"Oh, that's nothing" said Thursby.
1--WE seen him for some time. 1t
hasn't spoiled my appetite"
And be helped himself to another
quail.
Uncle Peter was finally persuaded to
go away with his gun. and the meal
proceeded. Then when it was finished
Miss Woodbridge and her singular
| guest spent some time together in the
drawing room. after which the guest
departed
Miss Woodbridge was so well pleas
ed with Mr.. Thursby that she deeply
regretted he was so freaky But when
the next day she received from him
several dozen pairs of gloves. with
letter stating that her leniency with
him had enabled him TO win a bet that
he would shoot with her permission on
her plantation. she did not consider
him so freaky after all Indeed. she
considered him very clever.
After this Mr. Thursby continued his
mad pranks at craftsmanship and 9TH
er feats, devoted himself to Miss
Woodbridge and practiced law. His
associates were divided as to whether
he were really crack Drained or very
clever till he won an important suit
by an expedient similar to the one by
which he had won permission to shoot
on the Woodbridge premises. From
that time forward all agreed that If
he were mad there was lot Of meth
cd in his madness.
This impression continued to grow
Ill it was concluded by the people Of
| Mr.. Thursby's section that they had
better send him to represent them in
| Washington, and he was elected to
congress. He took Miss Woodbridge
| with him.