The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-08-22

was danger Of smash. He had fallen
In love with a girl at sight, had at
tempted to make her acquaintance
without an Introduction. been rebuffed.
had asked forgiveness. been ignored,
and was now In a desperate condition.
In other words, he was running away
with himself.
He at once left the house where he
had met with this second rebuff, went
to his room and walked the door till
morning. He was sure be had seen a
look of contempt on the girls face. he
was not sure but that there was min
gled with this look a threat meaning
If you force yourself on me again /
shall surely turn you over to the p0-
lice" Nevertheless all this merely add
ed to that wildly sensational condition
which will beget more Of the passion
OF love In a given time than any other
cause. One moment he would calm
himself down to realization Of the
fact that he was in an abnormal condi-
ton. the next another paroxysm would
sweep over him, and he would consider
the propriety Of blowing out his brains
This may seem overdrawn. but we
must remember the many actual sui
cides by young men or girls as result
OF this very love frenzy.
Rut he survived. Gradually he came
down to a condition where he could
take thought upon the matter and lay
plan for future procedure. He would
endeavor to gain the services of third
person, through whom he might gain
forgiv eness from the woman who con-
sidered herself insulted. The only per
son he knew who was surely acquaint-
ed with the girl was Charlie ricketts,,
at whose house he had met her. He
wrote ricketts, note asking for pri-
vate interview. His request was grant
ed, and Eggleston told him the whole
story. he had not gone far before
ricketts, endeavored to put in word,
but EggIeston insisted on telling 1t all
before receiving any comment
When the story was finished ricketts,
offered to introduce his friend to the
young lady, guaranteeing that she
would listen to an explanation and the
lover would be treated with considera-
ton. He added that It would be better
for Eggleston to be his own defender,
and ricketts, would not enter upon the
subject with the girl
A few days later Ricketts, wrote Egg
gleston. saying that he had arranged
with the young lady that the latter
should call on her on certain evening.
At the time appointed Eggleston call
ed and sent In his card with a wildly
beating heart. He was ushered into
coy reception room. where he found
the lady of his love- She rose as he en-
tered with reassuring smile. but said
no word Of welcome. Inviting Eggle
ston to seat. she took up an ear
trumpet lying on a table and, adjust
ing the small end to her ear, waited
for him to talk into the other end.
There may be such a thing as too
sudden relief Like a fash it oc-
rurred to Eggleston that on neither
Of the two occasions he had addressed
her had she heard him. He had come
to her to explain what he supposed
she considered an insult. His inten-
ton was to tell her frankly that his
excuse was the great love he had con-
ceived for her, but this unlocked for
situation was too much for him. He
didn't know what to say. The small
end of the tube was in the girls ear;
his mouth was in position to speak
into the other. The girl was waiting
for him to begin. but he couldn't be-
gin. Desperate. scarcely knowing
what he said. he shouted:
IT'S hot evening"
These four words were the beginning
of courtship that had been going on
In Eggleston for long while, but Of
which the lady was not conscious.
They have been long married. and Eg-
gleston Jokes about his first words to
his wife-the first. at least. she heard
having been so commonplace. But he
has never forgiven Charlie ricketts, for
not having told him before he met her
that she was deaf as a ferryboat.
Charlie says he tried to do so. but Egg
gleston wouldn't listen to him
If there Is any moral to this story
1t is that 1T is the listeners and not the
takers who win Eggleston should
have suffered Ricketts, to tell him that
the girl was deaf.