The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-05-20

"Thank you; I'll think it over" said
Ernest Hartwell modestly, shouldering
his hoe. 81 believe somebody is look
ing for you, MI Finder"
Ezekiel wheeled sharply about tc
confront pretty girl, dark haired,
gray eyed, blue gowned, with sun kiss
ed cheeks and scarlet lips. "Well,
Miss Christie. how in thunder do you
do?" he beloved, delightedly squeez-
ing her hands
Very well. indeed. Mr.. Finder" she
replied. with provoking giahce at
Hartwel. who stood expectantiy near.
I'm glad to see you looking so hale
and hearty"
"W hat train did you come on? Con-
sara it all. Id have met you if I'd
known you was coming down today.
Maria said Yesterday that she'd got
letter from You, wanting to know eoild
you get hoard down here another sum-
mer for gaT and your aunt. But /
didn't know you was expected today"
Il couldn't wait another moment"
laughed the girl. aunt Phoebe is
coming tomorrow with all the trunks
and things | came down in the noon
train, and the stage brought me to the
house, but Nancy says Mrs. Finder
has gone to her ethical culture club
/ came on down here looking for you"
"Well, here be! Guess we might as
well go along up to the house, Miss
Christine" He led the way, inten-
tionally ignoring the expectant EN-
bryo farmer But Hartwell was equal
to the emergency.
Introduce me. please, Mr.. Finder"
he said humbly, and Ezekiel smiled
sourly and performed the ceremony
that made the sculptor acquainted with
Christine Davidson.
Miss Christine is like daughter to
me, Mr.. Hartwell" he said meaningly
as the girl released her hand from
Hartwelrs clasp and turned away.
And / am a plain farmer boy, and
I'm good,' murmured Hartwell obsti-
nately.
You're a%culptor and you'll starve
to death some day." was Mr.. Flinders
cheerful representation as he depart
ed for his own side of the rail fence.
The next day he came once more to
the rail fence and watched Hartwell
raking the accumulated weeds he had
uprooted the afternoon before ANY
time you say I'll bring Miss Christine
over to see the sculping, provided it's
all proper l told Miss Phoebe David
son about you-that's Christine's aunt
and she said you might be worth in
vestigating." he observed, watching
Hartwell's face.
1.-THE deuce she didr' calculated
Hartwell, his face growing very red.
See here, Mr.. Finder; just keep all
these ladies away from my place.
Understands He looked quite fierce
"Well. I'll be stumpedp' calculated
Ezekiel, backing off. 'You confound-
ed young puppy, you! l don't believe
you dast show me none of your sculp-
ing. I'll bet it's nothing but mess
Of mud pies"
would you really like to see some
Of my work p asked Hartwell with
outward seriousness, although there
were all sorts of kinks In his blue
eyes. He enjoyed his verbal Skin
mishes with his neighbor quite as
much as Ezekiel did and Ezekiel was
secretly proud of the fact that a real
sculptor lived cheek by jowl with him.
His one lament was that he could not
boast to his fellows that he had seen
any of Hartwell's work.
Eyes, I'd admire to look at it. Mebbe
I could tell you if it was good enough
for the soldiers monument. l know
something about art even il 1 don't
belong to no hysterical culture clubs
grinned Ezekiel delightedly as he
stumped down the path in the wake
of the young man toward the bunga-
low.
In the long, low building which
Hartwell used as his workroom they
paused a moment. while the farmer
gazed around at the several groups
swathed under canvas coverings
Smells damp in here,'' he said awk-
wardly as HartweIl removed the can
vas from large crouching lion model
ed In clay.
Lord love you, but he looks like he
would bitter exclaimed Ezekiel; then
he scanned the young man suspicious
ly. 81 scarcely believe you made that
there critter You don't look like you
had it in you, meaning no offense."
HartweI smiled and removed wet
cloth from a mass of modelling clay.
"Seeing's believing" he said cheerfully
and moved his fingers deftly, surely,
and with lightning rapidity, picking up
and laying aside a modelling tool, he
brought before EzekieIs amazed vision
a startling picture in miniature
Against background Of rough clay
was a rail fence Sitting on the rail
fence, one cowhide boot swinging non
Ezekiel Finder himself, looking like
an amiable scarecrow as he nibbled
blade of grass.
Ezekiel stared. open eyed, open
mouthed. chagrined almost to tears
"By gummy| he breathed heavily at
last Its met"
st is. Mr.. Finder" smiled HartweIl
why, if Little River sees that I'll
be the laughingstock from Upper Ford
down to Stepping Stone! l believe in
you, Mr. Hartwell.'' he said earnestly
81 don't want no more proof. You're
as consumed a good sculptor as
wanter see, only break the thing before
anybody sees IT."
How about your daughter?" asked
Hartwell, holding his hands above the
wet clay model.
"If l had one I'd make her marry
you jest to keep on good terms with
you. Mr. Hartwell. Now, Miss Chris
tine isn't my daughter, but I'll give you
| all the chances I can to-
you're too late, Mr.. Finder" inter
rupted Hartwell, the kinks coming
into his eyes. "Yon see. I've been en-
gagged to Christine Davidson for year
and we're going to be married next