The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-07-09

didn't know what he wished. Per
| haps it was the instinct of the hunts
man that was influencing him. At
any rate. he finally took the risk of
breaking the conventional bonds that
separate strangers and wrote another
note to Mrs. Sherwood Stepping
clear over the line, he expressed a
curiosity to know why in her letter to
Miss Martin she had signed herself
your grateful friend" He was
aware that this request was trespass-
ing on ground forbidden to him, a
stranger. But this interest had been
excited In him by seeing Mrs Sher-
woods picture, which gave the i'm
preston that kindness was to be ex-
pected from her rather than that she
should receive kindness.
This letter of Marston's placed the
matter In the position of an episode,
an adventure-call it what you will
and its development depended upon
the future course Of the woman con-
cerned. Mrs. Sherwood wrote In
responsive vein that she had received
so many acts Of kindness from "Vir-
ginia" that it would be impossible for
her to single out any one for especial
mention. Indeed. she gave Mr.. Mars
ton the impression that Miss Martin
was an angel.
To this Marston replied that young
ladies who could elicit such encomiums
from elderly persons were rare and
| their acquaintance was desirable. He
regretted that he had no better claim
to make Miss Martins acquaintance
than the return of misdirected let
ter. He didn't under the circum-
stances feel warranted in asking per-
mission to call upon Miss Martin, but
he would feel grateful to Mrs. Sher
wood II she would permit him to pay
his respects to her since he was de-
sirous of meeting one of whom Miss
Martin had referred to as the dearest
old lady in the world"
| When Mr.. Marston opened the reply
to this note he took out photograph
of girl whose expression was de-
lightfully feminine. One would know
upon looking on her features that any
nice old lady would speak kindly of
her. Mrs. Sherwood wrote that unbe-
known to virginia" she had sent this
photograph that he might the better
determine whether 1t was worth his
while to make the young lady's ac-
quaintance. requesting him to return
It, she having perfect confidence from
his being a member of the w. club
and from the few words he had writ
ten her that she ran no risk whatever
In doing so.
Mr.. Marston's condition was like
that of a CRATE fire in which kindling
wood has been swapping. Now bright
fame shot from the coal. He began
! at once to make excuses for retaining
the picture. In a few days he wrote
expressing his thanks for the loan and
his admiration Of the picture and ask
ed how long he might be permitted to
retain it. Mrs. Sherwood waited a
week before replying, then said that
she would leave the time OF its return
to his own inclination. To this he re-
piled that on the following Wednesday
evening he would do himself the honor
to pay his respects to Mrs. Sherwood
and would bring the photograph with
| him.
| The call was made, and the outer
wall Of the citadel was taken. During
| the visit he made an appointment.
through Mrs. Sherwood. to call on Miss
Martin and the following evening was
ushered into drawing room dimly
lighted by rose and violet lamps and
saw for the first time, dressed in her
most becoming costume, Virginia.
| Thus the citadel itself was captured,
Or. rather, was the citadel captured or
was John Marston made prisoner?
One afternoon a month after Mars
ton had stood before his friends side
board he stood there again.
81 hear, John" said Taylor. that
you are going to marry"
81 am about to enter into paradise"
81 thought you considered marriage
more like the other place"
TT may be, but the doors are jew.
eled and the interior is concealed by a
profusion of flowers. The entering is
worth a century Of matrimonial mis-
cry"
Its dream, isn't itT'
"You bet"