The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-07-02

lar reticence, for Brown never told
whence or why he came to the town
or anything of his past or what he
might hope for in the future.
Brown had not been long in his
adopted home when it was noticed that
he seemed either to be looking for
some one or was conscious that some
one was looking for him. a boy
one day walking behind him down the
main street noticed that at every cor
ner he would turn his head to the right,
then to the left, or vice versa, before
crossing. The boy saw him cross half
dozen streets. and he never failed to
look in both directions.
Brown was a handsome man, and
this, taken in connection with the mys-
terry attending him, attracted the young
women of the place to him. A number
of them at different times endeavored
to secure some notice from him, but
to feminine charms. This added to the
wonder the man excited In every one
and led to the theory among the young
er persons that he had been crossed In
love and among the older ones that he
feared some woman he had wronged
men of the town who believed that
woman was looking for Brown; but, as
to Brown having injured her, they
thought it more likely that she had
got him in her tolls and made it hot for
him.
Brown attracted grew instead Of de
clining. He was pointed out to stran
gers as the town curiosity, and they
carried the story of the mystery to
other places. 1t is quite possible, even
probable that this had some effect in
fastening the name Of Brown on the
town.
With every month that passed the
mans watchfulness increased. He was
seen at times to start, but so adept
was he in concealing the cause that
those who noticed the starting either
thought that they were mistaken or
that 1t was merely a nervous twitching.
One girl in the town, and one only,
refused to put up with Browns indif-
ference. That was Ellen Wykoff 1t
was apparent that she was trying to
penetrate the armor which protected
him from those who sought to gain an
inside view of him, and her efforts
were watched with keen interest.
For awhile he paid 40 more attention
to Miss Wykoff than to any of the
other girls When in the morning he
sauntered down the street she would
waylay him at her gate and attempt to
engage him in conversation The only
AdornEnent In the town was a flower
bed she cultivated in the front yard
of her home One morning she was
seen to offer Brown a posy. He ac-
cepted it, but without fervor. and aft
er having passed q few blocks away
from the donor, where she would not
see him. he dropped it.
All these incidents were observed by
the watchful citizens, and some OF
them did little spying. But that was
after Miss Wykoff had seemed to
make some Roadway with Brown. II
they wished for information they must
get 1t from another source than FL
len, for she proved to be very close
mouthed. She had not been consider
ed SO before she sought Browns at
tentions, and every one was surprised
at her reticence "Can 1t be-" they said,
that this impenetrable man makes
any one with whom he comes in con-
tact impenetrable?"
Ellen Wykoff's efforts to break
through Browns shell continued, In
creasing the while up to certain
point, when it seemed that she had sue
ceeded. At any rate, her efforts ceased
and apparently from the fact that
Brown seemed to have yielded. After
that the two were often seen together,
even to taking walks in each others
company. and Brown no longer threw
away any posy the girl gave him.
But here arose another cause for
tongue ciatter. Was the condition be-
tween Brown and Ellen Wykoff that
Of lovers or of friends? There were