The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-01-02
! Her New
|Year'sCaller:
He Brought Her an Ac.
. ceptable Gift
Rv CI.ARISSA MACKIE
BY CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright by American Press Assoc
citation. 1911.

1 - 81
I Copyright by American Press Assoc
Z citation. 1911.
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The old fashioned custom of paying
calls on New Years day still existed
in Lanelea The housekeepers Of that
prim and lovely village were always
plentifully supplied with loaves OF
frosted plum cake, pitchers Of sweet
cider and pots of fragrant, steaming
coffee and. after an early and conse-
! quently hastily prepared dinner. were
dressed and ready to receive callers OF
both sexes, for such was the Lanelea
custom. The ladies of the village took
much thought in planning their recep-
ton hours so that all might have time
to pay calls as well as to receive them.
These calling hours were usually an
nounced in the columns of the Lanelea
Weekly Times.
II wonder If Estelle Freeman will
receive calls tomorrow" remarked
Mrs Eddy Skinner to neighbor on
the last day of the old year.
81 don't know why she shouldn't"
protested Mrs. Smith. "She always has
done it and has had real cream in her
coffee instead of condensed milk-like
some folks
They were passing the old Freeman
place, and there had been a brief
glimpse of Estelle's pink shawl In the
leafless garden.
Once the handsomest house in Lane
lea, the Freeman place still bore indi-
cations of its past grandeur.
It was a huge old house, much too
large for Estelle's slender form. In
summer, when the GOODNESS Of its large
rooms was welcome, 1t was the most
comfortable house in the village. In
winter its rooms were of arctic tenn
perature, except on New Years day,
when somehow Estelle managed to
have great fires in the freplaces In the
double parlors and dining room. The
rest Of the winter Estelle spent in
four rooms Of the west wing, and the
library became her sitting room.
do you see any signs Of New Years
calls?" pursued Mrs Eddy Skinner as
they paused beyond earshot Of the
Freeman place.
Mrs. Smith cast backward troubled
glance at the old house. mo, don't
she admitted "Of course Estelle al
ways airs the parlor curtains the day
before"
"And opens all the windows and
draws up the shades" added Mrs.
Skinner. did you see all the shades
were pulled tight, same as every day? p
eyes, but maybe she hasn't got at it
yet. Folks can't do everything like
clockworkw Mrs Smiths good hu-
mored face wore a resentful look now.
"Freemans always do things by
clockwork; you know that"
That's so, but folks change some
times"
"Freemans never change their minds
or their ways, but guess Estelle will
have to do both now Mrs. Eddy
Skinner pursed her mouth mysterious
ly.
Don't be so secretive, Hannah" said
Mrs. Smith angrily. IF you've got
anything to say about Estelle Free
man, for the lands sake say it and get
it over with"
"Well, Estelle's. going to lose the
place tomorrow" said Mrs. Skinner
triumphantly. She was not a hard
hearted woman. but merely one who
placed a high value upon her ability
to be the first one to impart matters
of gossip, whether good or bad.
MOP calculated Mrs Smith sharply.
Eyes. 1t seems she was possessed
to keep the house after her father
died, and, contrary to Lawyer Aliens
advice, she has paid the interest on the
mortgage out of her little principal In
the bank until it's all gone. She has
not paid any interest for two years,
and they're going to foreclose. I'm sure
I don't know what Estelle will do"
"She viii stay with me till she knows
what to do" said Mrs. Smith quietly.
And for awhile the other woman was
silenced. Presently she spoke again:
knowing about the foreclosure, Of
course was sure Estelle wouldn't feel
as though she could afford to receive
tomorrow"
"And so you took it upon yourself
to leave her name out Of the paper
and to tell Tom, Dick and Harry that
they needn't call on Estelle Freeman
tomorrow because she can't AFFORD to
entertain Humphl guess Free
mans can hold their own with any
body in Lanelea." averred Mrs. Smith
loyalty.
"Well, declared! cried Mrs. Skinner
angrily, and without further parley
she whisked around corner and went
toward her own neat, white painted.
glaringly furnished. unmortgaged
home.
Mrs. Smith stared after her for an
instant and then appeared to forget
the existence Of Mrs. Eddy Skinner.
Her kindly eyes were turned back
ward over the way they had come.
where the line of neatly painted pick
ct fences was broken by length of
overgrown, unkempt privet hedge that
surrounded the Freeman place
Suddenly she wheeled about and re-
traced her steps until she came to the
ragged hedge. where she pushed her
bulky form through the narrow gate
way. Instead of going around TO the
side door that Estelle always used IN
winter, Ellen Smith marched up the
broad front steps and rang a pea,
through the empty rooms.
Estelle opened the door. her fair.
sweet face betraying surprise at the
sight Of Ellen Smith at her front door.
Ellen Smith was an old friend who
was privileged to enter the Freeman
house at any intimate door without
knocking
sWell, Estelle, can l come inf" FL
len was inside the great, cold hall as
she asked the question.
"Come into the library. I've got a
nice fire there" said Estelle, leading
the way down the hall to a door In
the south wing.
Mrs. Smith sank heavily into the
rocker and loosened the veil tied over
her head. She cast aNguick glance
around the room and notch that Estelle