The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-12-30

BRAVE LITTLE THING.
BY SUSANNA GLENN.

curve. Wonder how long it will be
before he name changes? / should
think Rcd might have been better OF
right here"
We always thought you and Rod
ney would make match of it, Jane"
the women added, especially since
you were both left alone, so"
Il suppose we know each other too
well to be very sentimental" smiled
Jane. But she slipped her hand into
her pocket and grasped the key to the
little Grey cottage to be sure she was
not having an unhappy dream.
But Jane did not have much time
to mourn the absence of Rodney
Grey from Grey's Crossing. She had
to keep the hens laying and the gar
den and the berry patch productive to
ensure food and clothing for the COM
ing winter.
People said Jane looked over-work-
ed, and that she must have a hard
time of it making living OF her lit
tie place. Seems to me-" they always
ended, that a nice little thing like
Jane has always been, ought to find
a good husband somewhere. They did
not know about the hours she spent
in loving care of that cottage across
the road. Mrs. Grey would have felt
SO dreadful to have had it neglected"
she told herself as if some excuse
were demanded for her own selfesd-
nation
At rare intervals letters came from
queer, outlandish places. Once Rod
ney wrote asking her to rent the place
If she could get anything for it. You
deserve something for the care you
have given 1t all this time" he said.
Once he sent a check that took James
breath, In answer to her statement
that the roof needed patching. do
what fixing is necessary to keep the
old place from falling to pieces" he
wrote, "and keep the rest for your
self" And when she returned that
money, after paying the local carpen-
ter for repairs. saying that she could
not think Of accepting so large a sum.
the longest letter Of all arrived.
You see, I've prospered out here,
Jane 1t said. Il had to sit down
and think how that check would have
looked to me in Grey's Crossing, not
to be really offended with you for re-
turning It,"
So Jane began picturing Rodney In
the place of the millionaires about
whom she read-Rodney riding about
in private car, Rodney in fine raj
ment smiled upon by beautiful women.
She could scarcely conceal resentment
when the neighbors wondered how
Rod was getting on. anyway" Each
fresh picture Of glory which she proud
ly yet reluctantly drew seemed to re-
move him further from her, but she
did not experience despair until the
night she heard of the petition for
changing the name of the Grey's Cross
ing postof1ce to Paterson" There's
no Greys here any MORE" explained
the circular of the petition. and the
Patersons have done a lot for the
town; it don't seem more than fair"
Jane took the pen he held ready for
her and bent above the paper II
can't do It," she gasped. It'll go
through without my signature, reck-
on. Maybe I'm old-fashioned, but l
never can agree to have that name
changed"
II suppose it will make a sight of
talk If Jay tells what said" she ad-
mitted to herself, and the thought kept
her awake at an unusual hour. 81
don't know what possessed me, any
way. never did like changes as some
folks do. The Grey house Is here, yet,
whether any of the family is or not"
And she lifted her head from her
troubled pillow to look across to
where she knew the dark bulk of the
house would be showing in the star
light. A bright light was shining
from the kitchen window!
Although Jane had lived alone so
long, she was timid little creature
after charming. feminine fashion,
but brave as lion in the face of duty.
i've got to go over there" she whis-
pered. I've got to see who is in that
house
Feeling about in the darkness she
dressed with all haste, and stole noise
lessly from her own door. She had al
most reached the center of the Grey
yard when the kitchen door was flung
suddenly back and Rodney Grey stood
revealed in the opening
Jane" he cried, as the light shone
on her white, scared face, II never
thought of this-I thought you were
asleep"
How did you get INF" gasped Jane
almost too weak to stand
II pried open that hook to the old
woodhouse door. 1t was dark at your
house SO l thought would not disturb
you for the key. l never thought OF
your seeing the light and being fright
ened."
Il should not have seen 1t once out
of a hundred times" she stammered
thinking of the reason for her wake
fulness. But I'm real glad to see you
Rodney" He went down the starlit
path then and shook hands with her
and insisted upon going with her
across to her own door You will
come over and have breakfast with
me2" she insisted. There isn't 8
thing in the house over there. you
know"
THAT is like you. Jane. Yes. IN
come. thank you"
No one could have guessed that the
exceedingly fresh and pretty little wo-
man across the table from Rodney
Grey next morning had not closed her
eyes the night before.
1T hasn't been all pleasure, by any
means" he was telling her in his old
impulsive way. AT first it was ex-
citing to make money, but that palled
after a little. for l didn't know what
to do with it, and I've never loved
money just for the mere possession.
I've travelled some, but that gets
mighty tiresome after a while A spell
back. l thought If l could get here to
the old place I'd be satisfied. but
don't know-it seems different than
thought, someway. l don't know that
| shall stay long, after ALL
But he reckoned without the rotten
old back steps which gave way under
his unaccustomed weight. twisting his
knee under him painfully. Jane heard
his call and summoned help. Jane
sent for the doctor and ordered q
! nurse from the city-a nice, cheerful
young man, she bargained for. "whc
Will be companion for him and cheer
him up"
In spite Of all this, Rodney was moi
cheerful In fact, he looked quite
| melanchnlv the aftor-nnnn lana ran1