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

AA6SION WAS USHEHED INTO THE DRAW
ING ROOM.
grizzly gray hair on each temple.
Marston felt at liberty to gaze on it,
but not to read the letter. SO from the
picture he turned to the subscription.
The letter was signed your grateful
friend, Sarah Sherwood"
Marston was satisfied to have open
ed the letter. There was something so
pleasing in the lady's face that he felt
assured she would not blame him for
doing so. Virginia had evidently been
kind to her. He wondered what Vir-
ginia looked like. In fact, he wonder
ed whether she was young and fair or
q skinny old maid. He would have
liked to know what the old lady had
to feel grateful for. But none of
these things could be known because
to read a private letter was not to be
thought Of
He replaced the missive and the pho
| tograph in the envelope and. after or
dering his dinner at his club. sat down
at a table in the writing room and
wrote a brief note to Sarah Sherwood
stating that he had taken the liberty
of making dead letter Office of him
self that her letter might the sooner
reach its destination. This was all
| that was required in the premises. and
had he stopped here there would have
been no story But he was impelled to
say that be could not have helped see
| ing the photograph which he presumed
| to be a likeness of the sender of the
letter. If so. judging by the character
as expressed in the features. he had no
fear of being blamed for the course he
had taken with regard to its return.
Now, in the first place. letter from
stranger written from a prominent
club has a standing. Club members
must pass the ordeal of an election and
ton In the second place, a letter from
a man to woman including a compli-
meHt is not likely to pass unnoticed
| In the third place. brief note Of
] thanks from the recipient Of a favor
| to the person who has conferred it Is
always in order. The lady. who signed
herself Mrs. Sherwood. expressed warm
appreciation Of Mr.. Marston's act.
which she referred to as a kindness
But this WIS not all. Within a few
nays ne received brief note from Miss
Virginia Martin mot Marston) thank
| ing him for the return Of the letter to
the sender AS Mr.. Marston had step
| ped out of his way to commend Mrs.
Sherwood's features, so did Miss Mar
| tin express pleasure at MIR. Marston's
| appreciation of the dearest old lady In
| the world"
Here were two paths leading to an
acquaintance with an elderly lady Of
pleasing appearance and young lady
upon whom Mr.. Marston's Imagination
had already begun to play like heat
I lightning in a summer night. That she
was young was apparent In her note,
as to her appearance-w she might
be as homely as lighted pumpkin
face, but such supposition did moi
accord with the fancy excited In Mr.
Marston's brain.
Letters of thanks having been rece1v
ed from both the sender and the re-
cipient of the letter. they being per
feet strangers to Marston. 1t would
seem that there was no occasion fol
any further correspondence. But, Il
love cannot feed on fancy, fancy mas
be called the germ of love. 1t is CUES
tionable If love can be born without
being warmed by imagination, and once
born he usually becomes vigorous. He
will not only catch at straw, but II
Is remarkable how he will pull himself
along by means of this slender assist
ance. Marston spent several days hunt
ing for some slight excuse for follow
ing the matter further. He finally de
cided that there was less risk Of being
considered presuming in laying his me-
through the older lady.
Be it understood that he was moi
looking for sweetheart or wife
i Surely the latter was especially just
what he did not wish. The truth u be