The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-12-19


ed to say something that he did not
finish, either stopping or turning what
he had intended to something else
Finally. when we had been out more
than an hour. he said. with tender
ness in his voice:
daisy. wish to give you u nice
Christmas present this year, some
thing Of importance. / wish you to
name what you would like"
] began at once to think over those
things that would most please me.
Had been older / would have known
better than to choose jewelry or any
gift that 1t would not be proper for a
woman to accept from a man not a
relative or fiance As it was, l said
that would like bracelet
You shall have it." be said. "and
there Is something else I'm going to
give you-something that wish you
to have. The bracelet will be your
| present: the other will be mine. What
] mean by that is that. while your heart
Is set on the bracelet. mine is set on
the gift have myself chosen for you"
This was Greek to me, for / hadn't
the slightest idea of what he could be
thinking. With the curiosity of child
began to ask him all sorts Of Ques-
tons about this gift that he had cho-
sen for me. Was it wood? Was 1t
metal? Was it paper? Instead Of be-
ing pleased at these questions. they
| seemed to bother him There was
look on his face that could not un-
| derstand
When we drove up to the house Mr.
Nelson wouldn't come in. saying that
he would cal Christmas morning with
the two gifts. ran In and poured
everything he had said to me in my
mothers ears. manifesting the same
chfldlike delight. In which / noticed
she was not especially sympathetic.
When / told her that had chosen q
bracelet she WINGED When said
that Mr.. Nelson was going to give me
something else that he had especially
chosen for me she seemed interested,
though she made no remark. When
had finished my story of our ride
she said:
"Daisy. you will be eighteen next
April. At your age was preparing
to be married don't know what
keeps you so childish. You should re-
member that am getting old. that
you are woman, and 1t is time you
were thinking of the life before you"
I must have been very stupid, for I
nd not connect what she said to me
with George Nelson or any other man.
Indeed. didn't know what she meant.
She didn't explain, 80 continued In
| the dark.
On Christmas morning George Mel
son drove up to the house in his two
wheeled cart and, hitching his horse
to post. came in. was watching
him from my window and noticed that
he had no packages in his hands. from
which inferred that what he was In.
tending to give me of his own choos.
ing was not bulky. He wore q fur
lined overcoat. and there was plenty
Of room for ordinary sized packages
In the pockets. I went downstairs
and found him and mother in the IL
brary. There was very pleased look on
mothers face. and, seeing her holding
something in her clenched hand. | In.
ferred that she had received present,
though how it could be of much value
and so small as to be concealed in her
fist. could not guess. Mr.. Nelson
handed me box. which opened and
found a beautiful gold bracelet set
with rubies. He permitted me to feast
my eyes on 1t for a while then drew
forth another box. no bigger than G
walnut. This opened and took out q
ring set with handsome solitaire
diamond.
'aThis Is what / have chosen for
you," he said
Twas as web pleased with it rs with
my bracelet. So intent was on both
that for some time did not raise my
eyes, and when / did caught mother
and Mr.. Nelson looking at each other
meaningly. But 30 stupid was l that
/ did not realize what was passing be-
tween them. I slipped my ring sue