The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-06-27
ESTABLISHED 1876

changed from the happy young man
Of three months ago, and In his seri-
Gus, brooding face she read bitterness
and sorrow. She WAS afraid, and she
was ashamed and yet she did not
know how to make amends. Perhaps
1t would come out all right, she argued,
although she had doubts, for the Sc
cors were proud, too. and would never
make the first advances.
Dusk was falling when Henry drove
into the yard again.
After Henry had eaten his supper
he went with his mother to the high
hill back of the barn to watch the dis
play Of rockets from all around the
valley.
They reared up into the armament,
broke into rainbow showers Of stars
or sent streamers of red fire down to
earth with their dropping sticks
THAT one fell on the barn. HenryP'
cried Martha suddenly. 81 wish ia
let you renew the insurance on 1t as
you wanted to, but--there, guess it's
gone out Oh, look Henry; it's awful
like a Judgment" She pointed upward
where by a strange freak Of circum-
stances six great skyrockets, like blaz-
ing comets, tore toward the zenith
from all points Of the compass. Just
above the Fame house and barns they
poised an instant and then broke all
together in a fiery rain that fell on the
Fame farm buildings like heaven sent
disaster.
"Oh. Henry, that was awfulP' cried
Martha, almost hysterical with fear.
1--WE better get down to the house and
see that everything's all right. l wish
I'd let you renew the insurance"
Henry spoke not word as they hur-
ried down the slope. When they reach
ed the barnyard the barn was afire In
dozen places where the cinders had
ignited the dry shingles. While Mar
tina flew to telephone to the hose COM
pany Henry tore open the barn doors
and led the frightened stock into the
pastures. Then he rolled the carriages
to place of safety, threw a canvas
cover over them and turned to the
house.
Through the dormer window Of the
attic there glowed a red light, and a
little tongue Of fame licked the roof.
He called his mother. and they worked
frantically to remove their choicest
possessions from the house, for there
was nothing else to do until help came
from the village. Suddenly Mrs Secor
and Alice appeared and worked side
by side with the mother and son.
When the hose company came 1t
brought half Of Little River with it,
and before long the house was denud-
ed of its contents while the fire burn
ed slowly downward, checked little by
little by the streams Of water pumped
from the artesian well.
The three women, Martha Fame, Mrs.
Secor and Alice, huddled in one cor
ner Of the yard. Somehow or other
their. arms had become interlaced, and
once Martha Fane's quivering lips had
pressed against Alice's dark hair.
TITS judgment on me for being
proud" she moaned continually.
Long after midnight the fight ceased.
AuO OdAA lay ucdp u bulUluSrlUk
ruins. The house was Quilted by the
devastating fire, and the household fur
niture Of careful Martha Fame was
heaped about the yard
Henry came and placed his arm
around. his mother. II guess we're
poor enough now, Henry" she sobbed
mot penny Of insurance on any
thing and not place to lay my head"
Mrs. Secor took her arm and gently
led her toward her own house. Poor
or rich. Martha Fame. my house Is
yours as long as you want to stay
there. Uncle Benjamin will watch
over the ruins and the furniture. He
doesn't mind, because he can sleep all
day tomorrow. Maybe it's all for the
best, Martha. You know you never
liked the upper floor Of that house.
You can build 1t to suit now
II guess It's judgment come direct
from heaven to straighten out whole
lot of things" said Martha Fame meek
~. She looked back over her shoulder
at Henry and Alice following. "You
take good care OF Alice. HenryY' she
called in a meaning tone, and Henry
responded with his old boyish cheert-
ness:
"AIl ripht mothar r WIN