The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-04-11
shed never get in it In the world"
remarked Mrs. Parker dryly.

remarked Mrs. Parker QryIy.
run 1t up into the garrett"
The crib was next removed, after
which the dolls. sets of dishes and 9TH
er toys. Then Lane went down aud
told Miss Marie Bingham that her
rooms were ready for her.
Mrs. Parker had been in the Lane
family long enough to have taken care
of Willard Lane when he was a kid.
She was the only woman upon whom
he could rely for advice, and as soon
as she came downstairs he said to her:
"What am to dog VIII It be prop
er for me to keep her hereY
an the first place. Mr.. Willard, l
understand she has no other home.
Some people win think it right for
you to give her home here with me
for chaperon. while some will talk.
But If we're going to listen to what
people say of us we'll be hearing
something disagreeable all the while.
If she's happy here see no reason
why she shouldn't stay"
"That settles it; she remains"
Marie Bingham was of an age to
be treated either as a woman or one
just emerging from childhood, espe-
cially by her fathers old friend The
tomb, as he had called his house,
seemed to have thrown of its Sc
pulchral atmosphere from the day she
came into it. For some time after
her arrival she felt deeply the loss of
her father. But youth is quick to
throw or sorrovm aud ovor 6,1ntnev
this period she was cheerful Beyond
this was the presence of young girl.
It seemed that the very atmosphere
had been changed. The servants were
better contented ard easier to man
age Mrs. Parkers heart. that had
been supposed to have CONCEALED with
age. came out to the motherless girl,
and she. was happy in having some
one to care for. As for Lane, it SEEM
ed to him that he walked lighter,
hreathed freer-indeed. that the whole
world had taken ON brighter hue
Three years passed. years that Lane
afterward referred to as the happiest
Of his life. From the first he was In
terested at having the direction of a
young girls education, the same as il
she were his own daughter. Her in
come was a slender one. entirely In
adequate to give her special advan-
tAges. He supplied the deficiency,
keeping her in ignorance of the fact.
\ must ind some young fellows for
her. he said to Mrs. Parker. .'She
needs to associate with young men OF
her own age"
Mrs Parker looked up at the ceiling
and said nothing.
So Lane hunted up some of the
younger members of his club and took
them to call upon his ward. She ap-
peared to enjoy their society, but It
was not to be expected that she would
fulnH the purpose for which he had
brought them-that Is. that she should
marry one of them. Her twenty-flrst
birthday was near at hand, when by
the terms of her fathers will her in
heritance was to be turned over to her.
and though her guardian had trotted
up number Of attractive young men,
she had shown none Of them any pref
erence
The day she was twenty-One Lane
handed in to the chancery court ap ac-
count of his stewardship. His ward
surprised him by asking for copy Of
It he gave 1t to her, and she perused
1t carefully.
II can't make this out" she said to
her guardian. what has been the
average income from the estate since
fathers deathT'
"About $780,"
"How much have you charged me
for board?"
There hasn't been any income for
board. It has all been needed for
schooling"
"And how much has been drawn for
schoolingT
Nothing has been drawn for school
ing. 1t was all needed for board"
She looked up from the paper. There
was revelation for him In that look.
She put out her hand and rested it on
his. He drew her to him and kissed
her
The next morning Lane said to Mrs
Parker. II have a surprise for you"
what is itT
Marie is going to turn down all the
boys to marry the old man."
'Tutl That's no surprise"