The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-06-11
man Pike Shrugged be- shoulders and

tAnA I Ike SuIUSStu uSE SuOuluerS anu
smiled rather wryly.
1T seems the men folks have got up
a league of their own" she admitted
reluctantly.
But women don't smoke" protested
the bewildered Ariana.
ut isn't a smoking league-it's an
anti-gossip league!" Mrs. Pike leaned
back in her chair and looked at Ariana.
'Philo Standish got it up"
whats it forY Ariana's voice
sounded very small indeed
"For the protection of men folks
from women's gossip and unnecessary
chatter" said Mrs. Pike.
''What have they said about it," ask
ed Ariana. She lived with widowed
mother, and there were no men In the
Willis family to bring home news of
this description.
why, they all promise not to marry
any woman who gossips about her
neighbors."
What are we to talk about, thenT'
demanded Mrs. Lemuel Skinner impa-
tiently. She was an arrant gossip.
"Oh, household matters and things
like that!' laughed Mrs. Freeman Pike,
who was widow
''And exchange cake recipes" shifted
Ariana.
And tell each other we've each got
the best and kindest husband in the
world" sneered the pretty girl near the
door.
Ann Baker chided the girls moth
er. What are you talking about hus-
bands for? You amt got anyw
"And not likely to have" retorted
Ann with sudden spirit, and, being near
the door, it was easy for her to slip
out into the hall and make her escape
from the house.
The remaining leaguers exchanged
glances Of commiseration with Mrs.
Blake. "SheIl get over it, Mrs.
Blake comforted Mrs Freeman Pike.
"She wouldn't never be, happy with
Benny Hall SO long as he smoked CT
garettes. If he wouldn't give 'em up
for sweet pretty girl like Ann there
amt no hope for him."
Mrs. Blake moved uneasiiy in her
comfortable rocker. 81 don't know"
she said slowly. "Otherwise Benny's
nice boy and works industriously.
He told Ann he just smoked 'em be-
cause they was sort of stylish. He
said he'd stick to cigars or a pipe Ii
she'd only marry him."
A nurmur of disapproval went
through the room.
at says tobacco in any FORM"
quoted Mrs. Pike, referring to the pur-
pose of the league.
Meantime Ariana had been thinking
hard
"It's great cause" she said meek
ly, land we ought to be willing to suf-
fer for 1t, only hope that deserving
the men In this way won't result In
their going right straight to the bad"
There was stunned silence In the
room Then:
II never thought Of thatP'
"a mans got to have a woman's
gentle influence"
"She can do more In quiet way
than to desert him and keep him riled
up. Lemueps hardly spoken to me for
a week.
''Nfr. Blake has been so disagreeable
all the week that the children declared
there wasn't any peace at home any
more along with my belonging to the
Home Protective league and their pa
Joining the Anti-gossip society,"" COM
planned AIMS mother
Seems to me If we're going to have
a Home Protective society it's poor
policy to begin by breaking up homes
and estranging families" ventured
Ariana timidly
There's some truth in that, Ariana,"
nodded Mrs. Pike. "Of course men
folks are hard to change. They're set
in their ways. but I've got some ideas
that might work out. Suppose we get
our sons 70 promise not to begin to
smoke until they're twenty-one. Like
as not by that time some Of 'em won't
want to. And we might spend our eff
forts In having social club to meet
around at different houses once a week
and let men, women and children join
in and have good time. And l guess
that'll promote good feeling all around
and kind Of protect the homes
"And shut off that Antigossip socie-
ty," put In Mrs Lemuel Skinner 80
energetically that everybody laughed
outright
"Shall we do itF' asked Mrs. Free
man Pike. looking around at the inter-
ested faces
"Let'sp' was the unanimous decision.
Late that afternoon Ariana Willis
went home by the road that led past
Philo Standish's wheat field. In her
hand she carried small parcel wrap-
ped in white paper. Her face was first
flushed and then pale with inner ex-
element.
Philo saw her coming and happenet
to be near the fence. He was smoking
half heartedly at the clay pipe and
took pains to relight it as Ariana ap.
preached To his surprise, she cana
straight TO the fence and called him.
'Philow she called softly.
He turned instantly, and his hand
must have been shaking, for the pipe
dropped clumsily from his fingers and
was shattered on the same stone that
had witnessed the breaking of another
one.
What is it, Ariana r. he asked, ig-
noring the incident
Ariana held out the little package.
"Tm glad you broke your clay pipe,
Philo. I've brought you nice, newone"
Philo reached both hands and drew
Ariana close to the fence He put the
pipe in his pocket and spoke tenderIy.
THANK you, dear. I've thought may,
be you'd compromise on letting me
smoke once day and"-
mo, nor cried Ariana
'T'd like to feel was doing it for
you, Ariana. Do you know that fool
lsh league organized has busted up"
"When?" demanded Ariana.
'This very instant" declared Phiic
as he kissed her on the lips