The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-06-25
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A Case Where the
Little God Cupid
Takes a Hand
By CLARISSA MACKIE
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. .

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The piazza of the summer hotel was
fecked with white and colored gowns
relieved here and there by the more
somber hues of mems garments. At
Seahurst there was a proportion of one
male guest to every seventeen of the
opposite sex. Polly Skinner had fig
ured it out on the back of a picture
postcard she had just received from
Dick Westford who should have been
there if he had not loved the Maine
woods better.
Think of his impudenceY' complain
ed Polly to a group Of her friends in a
corner of the piazza. II wrote to him
that it was lovely down here on Mizzen
island, and he merely sends this kodak
postal showing himself sitting around
a camp fire with half a dozen perfect
ly stunning looking men. all wearing
flannel shirts and looking contented
and happy, without a single girl in
sightr She passed the card around
for inspection.
81 suppose everything is very messy
there" remarked Bell Sears after a
casual glance at the pictured group.
Ella Frond balanced her slender
form on the piazza railing and looked
pettishly over toward group of mar
ried women, whose husbands sat in
tanned submission near by reading the
morning papers.
Polly was figuring rapidly on the
postal card Dick Westford had sent,
and it was then that she announced
her statistical figures.
"Just fancy. girls; there's just one
man to every seventeen women in this
hotelv'
did you count in Billy PinckneyT
"Of course l did" laughed Polly.
"Well, he hardly counts, he is SO
girly," complained Lily Deane. HE
actually asked me to show him how
to embroider, said he'd always want
ed to try it, it looked so fascinating"
What did you say"
II promised to give him a lesson
this morning. And here he comes
now, the borep
Lily looked up and smiled in sweet
contradiction as Billy Pinckney drew
near.
He was soft looking youth with
pale hair, long nose and kittenisn
manners. His clothes were remarka-
bic for their color harmonies and their
variety. Now he was wearing a suit
of pale blue flannel with shirt to
match and ring on one white hand
with a turquoise sunk deep in the
gold
He was a dream In blue.
"Ah. Miss Lily" he murmured gent
ly, with a significant glance around
the group Of maidens, 1--WE have an en-
gagement to sit on the beach, l be-
lieve?
Certainly, Mr. Pinckney. Excuse
me, girls" And Lily dropped her EN-
broidery in her silken bag, slung the
ribbons over her arm and departed
toward the sandy beach.
The five remaining girls watched
the couple out of sight, and then they
exchanged glances.
'fWe have come to this pass" said
Polly solemnly, when even the atten-
lions of Billy Pinckney are looked on
with envy. Nay, don't expostulate,
girlies. feel that way myself. I'd
rather go walking with Billy and lis
ten to his inanities and shudder at his
lavender and pale blue flannels than
to sit here and gossip with youl There,
don't you all feel the same way? All
in favor say aye"
"Ayev they shrieked in chorus.
1--WE are desperate. Some fine day
Billy Pinckney win propose to one Of
us, as is his habit. and through sheer
ennui one of us will accept him.
ugh" shIddered Bell, with a glance
over her shoulder at laxative group
of elderly women. Imagine having
Mrs. Pinckney for a mother-in-lawg'
Don't worry" laughed Amy Wrenn
would never permit it to go as far as
that"
"How could she stop it?" asked Bell
Trust her cleverness. She wouldn't
make a big fuss and bother over the
engagement-oh no! She'd be perfect
ly sweet and lovely and all that, but
she would invite whole lot of men
down here to cut Billy out She knows
he wouldn't stand chance beside any
other man. declared Amy contemptu-
ously.
why not do it?'' asked Polly coolIy
do what?"
Zone of US become engaged to Billy.
or, at least all Of us pay him so much
attention that Mrs. Pinckney will be |
come alarmed and send for help of |
some sort wonder what she would |
really do?" Polly's cheeks were pink |
with mischievous excitement.
''She would communicate with Billy's |
nearest male relativeand- mercyr Amy |
Wrenn suddenly sat up straight and |
beckoned her four companions to a |
secret conference. When the heads |
were close together she whispered. |
did you know that Dick Westford |
was Billy's own cousin and the near
est male relative as well as the finan- |
cial agent and confidential adviser of
the Widow Pinckney and her fair
son?'
NO cried Bell, smothering a desire
to laugh.
Eyes asserted Amy. with a glance
at Polly's flaming cheeks. ST Mrs |
Pinckney sends for Dick he may come
and bring all of his friends to put us to
rout."
"Oh, joyw murmured Ella Frond, and
the other girls echoed her words. Only
Polly Skinner was quite silent She
didn't object to the scheme. for she
knew that Billy Pinckney was immune
from real sentiment, for he was the
son of his mother. and Mrs. Pinckney
was as cold and unsympathetic as q
block of marble.
And Polly did want Dick Westford
to come. only somehow she'd rather
he came because he wanted to be there |
ney sent for him.
Still, it was taking long chance on
Mrs. Pinckney sending for Dick West
ford, but the plan was worth trying, for
Seahurst was deadly dull without any
men around.
For a week there was plenty Of ex-
at the Seahurst hotel. To be-
gin with, our five girls completely
Billy Pinckney and show
cred so much undivided attention upon
the pale youth that his head was quite
turned.
I'm the whole cheese here he grin
ned to his adoring mother one evening, |