The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1912-08-20
Asking For
Ellen
How She Tested Their
Mettle
By CLARISSA MAcKIE

Harold Spencer, clerk in the clothin
store of Simon Krietzman, delicatel
brushed grain Of dust from bis pal
mauve coat sleeve and glanced merry
Ously at Ellen Dugane.
"Nellie"- he began softly.
"Ellen| corrected Miss Dugane loft
lily.
"But Steve Morris calls you Nellie,
protested Harold Indignantly.
ELS your name Steve Morris?" de
manded Ellen.
"Of course it isn't Well. If you will
treat a fellow that way when he
asking you to marry him.
rs that what you're trying to do?
interrupted Ellen Dugane, with mis-
chievous eyes.
"Of course it Is" responded the tor
mented Harold, hopping his brow
with snowy handkerchief, yet vague
ly relieved that the phrasing of tn,
momentous question was not now nee
essary ''Wtll your
Twill II unused Ellen Dugane
pressing slender forefnger agains
her white forehead where her darl
curling hair grew low over straigh
black brows and blue Irish eyes
why should marry you, HaroldY'
Because / love you, Ellen. ISM
that enoughY' he asked boldly.
1T might be enough for you, but til
not enough for me-" decided Ellen.
Harold's long, pale face heightened
with disappointment But he be
gan when Ellen faced him with 6
queer light in her eyes.
you've met my father, haven
you" she demanded.
"Yes," wavered Harold.
"Well, you go and ask father If you
can marry me If he says Yes III
do It" Ellen resumed the slow rock
ing of her chair
IL don't know him." protested
Harold-"that is. not very well. I've
met him only once"
when was thatT"
ain the hall one evening last week
He was coming in just as / was going
out. He seemed to be put out about
something" Harold's tone was remi.
niscent of past unpleasantness.
Ellen giggled Il thought 1t was
some one else who was put outp' she
cried significantly. There. you needn't
be minding my jokes. Harold Only
was saying you've met pa-you go and
ask him If you can marry me. and il
he says Yes I'll do it,
I'm not afraid of Mr.. Dugane." an.
bounced Harold with all the bravado
be could summon to down the grim
recollection of the great brawny black
smith whom he had met in the little
front hall one evening
Ellen looked little anxious as she
watched her sutton striding briskly
down the street toward the edge of the
village. where her fathers smithy stood
beside the road. convenient to the ne
cessities of the farmers as they went
to and fro.
Il WONDER wonder If Harold will
iare to go and talk to pa" unused Ellen
doubtfully as Harold's dapper little
form disappeared from her view. IF
he does Her fair face paled as she
thought of the resnlt either way.
That was on u Saturday afternoon.
and for Harold Spencer it had happen
I'd to be half holiday from the store
1t was also half holiday for Steve
Morris, young market gardener, who
mad also been paying court to Ellen
Dugane. Now he drove up to Ellen's
door in shiny top buggy drawn by a
ylistening black mare named Nellie.
A few minutes later Ellen and Steve
were driving toward the mountain
road, Ellen with deep flush on her
cheeks that had not been there before
Steve was a handsome. black haired.
black eyed young man with a strong
Thin and a resolute mouth that was
very tender now as he looked down at
the face Of the girl beside him.
Nellie" he half whispered-"Nell
look at me-
But Ellen's fair. rosy face was turn
ed away toward the distant hills
do you mime you don't want TOP
he insisted
"l don't mind looking at you. Steve
Only-only | have to be fair to every
body" said Ellen in a distressed tone
AN the coQuetry was gone aud she
was only girl being wooed by the
pan she loved. In the instant she had
what Steve Morris meant
to ask her that afternoon she realized
that In fairness to Harold Spencer.
whom she had sent on a hopeless
quest to her father. she must withhold
her answer to Steve until Harold had
proved his valor She wished she had
aot been so sure of the slim youths
"You have to be fair to everybody.
darlin'? What do you maneT' Steve's
arm was stealing around Ellen's slim
waist.
"I'll marry you if father says Yes"
Oreathed Ellen quickly You go and
ask father. and If he says Yes I'll
marry you"
1.-THE diyil you Will" quoth the as
fonished and indignant Mr.. Morris.
his arm. Pm not ask
In your pa If can marry you. I'm
askin' you. Nellie. darlin'. If you love
me well enough the little house is
ready for you. and I'll send old Aunt
Bridget a-packing back to her husband
s. soon as you'll say the blessed wurrd
Come. now. Leavin' your pa out and
not missin' his company at all. at all.
could you be happy with me?"
"Yes. But. Steve. you've got to ask
him anyway. and if he says Yes IN
marry you right away" repeated FL
len almost tearfulIy. She was so tired
of reiterating this parrot-like sentence.
iii be handicapped with his dislike
for my father" said Steve gloomlly.
There was the old quarrel in County
Antrim that made them as quarrel
some as dogs with sore heads Your
father'll he throwing a sledgehammer
at my head. I'm thinking"
ut will only prove how brave you
are. Steve. if you ask him in spite of
everything. urged Ellen.
"Oh. I'm not afraid Of him." boosted
Steve as be skillfnlly turned the buggy
around Oh the narrow road. ITO
prove it I'm going right back and ask
him this very mint
Where viii You leave me. Steve?"