The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-10-01
Ole Lonely
House
Which Has Wonderful
Healing Powers
By cLARIssA rfAcKIE

LONELY House, situated at the head
Of beautiful glen. Absolute solitude
guaranteed. Admirably adapted for
| sufferers from melancholia. Complete
recovery guaranteed. Excellent table
Farm products. Address Mrs Nook
Lonely Glen. N. Y"
"rm not exactly suffering from mel
ancholia. but have a longing to be
entirely alone for awhile" said Paul
Gerrick, throwing aside the newspa-
per with a yawn. II believe III pack
my grip and take my fishing rod and
camera and try the month at Lonely
House"
He sat down to write a letter to
Mrs. Nook. attracted by the oddity of
the advertisement That absolute soil
tude might be a care for melancholia
had never impressed him before, and
he felt strong attraction for the Lone
ly House. and he was curious to know
just who his companions might be.
Paul Gerrick had a whole months
vacation to spend as he chose. He
had shaved all through the spring
mORths in order to obtain this four
weeks vacation from his desk in the
big insurance company where he was
minor official He was to spend the
vacation at Sandy Point, the summer
home Of the Belthorpes, on Massachu
sets bay. He was deeply in love with
Nancy Belthorpe. and when he accept
ed the invitation to become one of the
large house party he had counted on
the visit for an opportunity to tell his
love to the girl whom he was sure was
not Indifferent to him.
The very first night at Sandy Point
there had been dance on the lawn,
and after he had waltzed with Nancy
to the tune Of one of Schubert's most
alluring melodies he had left her in
the shade of a rose arbor while he
brought her an ice. When he returned
she was standing there in the door
way, her back toward him. The moon
light fell on the white curve of her
neck and the CLEAN of her golden
hair. He set his small tray on the
ground
Dearest" he began softly, his arm
about her when she turned suddenly
and released herself. why, Paul Ger
rick exclaimed the girl; you getting
sentimental in your old age-and with
me?"
He looked aghast into the laughing
face of Grace Adds, a girl who was
engaged to young Belthorpe, Nancy's
brother There within the arbor stood
Nancy, her face pale in the moon
shine. her eyes sparkling dangerously
There was no time for apology, ex-
PLANTATION. Tim Belthorpe came up.
the ices were served, another partner
carried Nancy off. and he did not have
another opportunity to speak to her
that night
The next morning he prowled around
the rose garden before breakfast until
he espied Nancy cutting flowers down
sunny path He approached her diff
fidently.
Nancy" he began humbly, but she
turned a severe profile toward him,
and her dark eyebrows went up in
quiringly.
There is something l must say to
you If you viii listen" he went on des-
perately.
Il am quite sure there is nothing
that you can say that would interest
me, Mr. Gerrick,' she said indiffer
emily, and his pride stung to the quick,
he had bowed formally and departed.
1t was easy to arrange for recall to
town. and before sunset he had left
Sandy point. and there yet remained
thirty days of his vacation.
He had dined at his club, and after
the lonely meal he picked up the news
paper and there read Mrs. Mooks odd
advertisement. Two days later he had
her reply. and shortly afterward he
was on his way to Lonely Glen, deep
in the heart of the Catskills.
A long, wobbly looking stage was
backed up to the platform Of the tiny
station, and Paul. who was the only
passenger for Lonely Glen, entered the
musty vehicle with very much the
same sense Of depression that might
have assailed him had it been hearse.
LONELY House. eh?" queried the an
cient driver from the corner of his
mouth Il guess Mrs MOok's got a
house pretty near full by this time.
I've been carrying boarders there day
in and day out for nigh a week now"
"How long has Mrs. Nook been TAX
ing boarders?" inquired Paul absently.
one eye on the beautiful panorama Of
woodland. rocky glens, waterfalls tum
bling into moss trimmed pools and
steep winding road showing cool yistas
of mingled light and shade
Give or six years. And the funniest
part Of it is there's more folks get en-
gagged and married there at Lonely
House than | ever heard tell of in any
other place Here you be, sir"
The house was low. rambling af-
fair painted soft wood brown that
mingled with the bark of the trees and
seemed to become part of the forest
A wide piazza enclrcled it, and there
were little rustic summer houses scat
tered among the trees. AS he went up
the front steps the door of the house
opened and a tiny little lady stepped
forth She was like quaint, old fash
Toned miniature with her soft white
gown and folded fichu with rose tuck.
ed In its depths. Above her serene
face was crown of snowy hair tina
added dignity to her small stature She
held out a small white hand in well
come.
Il am glad to see you, Mr.. Gerrick,"
she said simply. Il liked your letter"
''Thank you. Mrs. Nook" he said
heartily. I'm mighty glad 1 came
here; but, honestly. I'm just overflow.
ing with questions ! want to ask you"
He placed a chair for her and sat
down on the top step. tanning himself
with his hat
You're not reporter, Mr. Ger
rick?" she asked anxiously.
NO. indeed I'm just curious to
know why you open your house to
those who desire solitude and how il
is that they all pair off and get mar.
rled''
He smiled winningly at her
She laughed merry tinkling laugh
with just tremble Of old age about
it. You've been talking to Tobias
Hopp" she said in reply.
III Tobias is the stage driver,
plead guilty."
"Yes. that is Tobias, He is such a
sour old bachelor that / have seriously
thought of inviting him to stop at
Lonely House for a spell"
Paul Gerrick was startled. This
isn't a-er"- He stammered to an
embarrassed pause under her amused
cerrtinv