The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-08-20

"Wish me good luck, Nellie" whis-
pered Steve as he took kiss from her
trembling lips.
1t happened that Harold Spen-
Ger had Jagged on his errand Of love
until the same moment that marked
his arrival at the smithy Of Ellen'S
father also witnessed the approach Of
Steve Morris. sudden fame of jeal-
ousy scorched Harold into instant ac-
ton. He dashed breathlessly up to the
giant blacksmith who paused in his
forging Of redhot iron to stare curious
" at him, half expectant of some i'll
news. From the corner of his keen
eyes Michael Dugane also saw the
more leisurely approach of Steve Morris
and all at once he understood the sit
uation
Good afternoon. Mr.. Dugane," shout
ed Harold shrilly above the creak Of
the bellows and the ring of iron.
"Well?" roared Michael fiercely.
"Who calls me Du-gane? Orm plain
do ye be wanting"
II want to- want to- Harold
thrust nervous fingers inside his col
lar and eased his CONSTRUCTED throat.
ELLEN told me to ask you"
Steve Morris. standing near, heard
and paled to the lips He understood
now what Ellen had meant by a fair
show" Did she care SO little for him
that she let her father decide whom
she should marry or was 1t that she
was trying the mettle of the two suit
ors? Old Michael Dugane was known
as an irritable. hot Drained Irishman,
whose sense of humor cropped out in
the most unexpected places and who
loved to torment the unwary by mani
festations Of ferocity At heart he
was warm hearted enough and devot-
edly fond of pretty Ellen. the eldest Of
FIVE girls
Now Michael tossed his sledge to
the earth packed floor and rolled his
grimy sleeves higher above his brawny
arms. He wagged his gray beard omi-
nously as he walked around the anvil
and stood over the dapper form of
Harold Spencer.
"Ellen told you to ask me-whatT'
he beloved
Under the conclusion of that voice
Harold Spencer almost swayed where
he stood He had deeting mental
vision of Ellen Dugane. the desirable
then the gigantic form Of her parent
blotted out the hope of Ellen forever.
Michael as father-in-law was impos-
sible. Angry rage took possession of
fairly In the face of the astonished
blacksmith
ELLEN told me she'd marry me If
you'd say Yes but l decline the honor
of being your sOn-in-law. Mr.. Dugane.
You're not the kind Of father-in-law
want" And so. like small, splitting,
spiteful kitten, Harold Spencer turned
his back upon the ferocious form of
the blacksmith and marched out Of the
smithy and straight back to Krietz-
mans clothing store
Michael Dugane looked amazedly aft
er the little strutting form of the clerk.
Then he lifted one black. hairy fist and
shook it. The little divil, the little
diyilr' he muttered slowly, while a
humorous smile trickled around his
bearded lips
In this humor Steve Morris approach
ed him, white faced and resolute.
Good afternoon, Mr.. Dugane," he
said simply. You know who l am
and who my father was, and you know
1t amt right to harbor grudge against
me for some little good for nothing
quarrel you had with my father. I've
come to say that Nellie and me love
each other and I'm going to marry her.
II you've got any objections Wen fight
1t out nowp' And Michael's prospec-
tive son-in-law tossed aside his coat
and hat and faced the elder man.
whist. Go easy now" warned MI
chael Dugane, holding out his hand to
Steve. "Ye're the very one I'd picked
out for me Nellie" And Steve never
knew whether this was surrender to
the inevitable or an outcropping of Mi
chael's concealed sense of humor.
A little later Steve went back to the
buggy.
Nellie" he said decisively, II told
your pa that you loved me. Is it
trueY'
"Of course" whispered the thankful
Nellie.