The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-12-30
ooo.oooooooooooooo
UNCLE DAMS LETTER
Nv InAh AopEWEII


consent to my marriage with you. Aft
er l am twenty-one. why of course
can do as please"
You won't be twenty-one for anoth-
er six months"
Il know it-but we can wait, Jim
my" said Ethel hopefully.
I'VE can't wait much longer If am
to accept a position with the Plow.
share people. They want me to sail
for Germany on the fifteenth of Octo-
ber."
"Jimmyl And today is-the fifteenth
of September" Ethel caught her
breath sharply.
-Four weeks. II Miss Weeks would
only recognize our right to love each
other and to consent to your marrying
me before sail we could spend our
honeymoon in Germany" grumbled
Jimmy.
Ethel was silent; her face was
turned away from the young man but
he could see that the pink lips quiv.
cred and the violet eyes were heavy
with tears.
Dearest" he cried sharply, don't
-"
A commanding voice broke In upon
his words Ethel" called Miss Felicia
Weeks in her deep tones,
Il must CO." said Ethel hurrtedly.
you were about to show me your
uncle's letter, Jimmy"
"Oh, yesl 1 haven't read it yeti
thought we could read it together. l
almost know what the old boy is going
to say, though Bless you my chill
dren, and briAg Ethel to see me-Im
sure she's the prettiest giH in the
world That's Uncle Danny Lorimer
the best uncle any chap ever had
Take his letter, dearest, and then send
1t on to me after you've read it. Good
by, sweetheart. l won't say farewell
to Miss Fehcta-I know she detests
the very sight of me-" He dropped an
other kiss on her lips and on hsr wet
eyes and swinging through the gate
went down the road, vanishing almost
Immediately in the velyety black shad-
ows cast by the tall locust trees.
In the same instant Miss Felicia g
firm step crunched on the gravel walk.
Ethel" she called once more and
then. discovering the girl leaning
against the gate post looking like a
slender ghost In her pale gown, why
do you not answer met" she asked In
a displeased tone. why are you here p
Il have been saying goodnight to
Jimmy said Ethel bravely.
JIMMY Ethel, you know that will
not tolerate that 20 lg man about the
place-why do you meet him clandAs-
tinelyY"
Aunt Felicia, when have l met any
one clandestinely? Jimmy called upon
me this evening and you met him in
the veranda have told you that am
engaged to him and l have a-per-
perfect right to accompany him to the
ga-gate and say-say goodnight"
Ethels voice was a mixture of fear
and defiance.
There was something aws4nspiring
about Miss Felicia Weeks. She was
tall and finely propordoned and was in
her severe way very handsome wom-
an. Ethel had heard that her Aunt Fe-
licia had been great beauty and a
belle in her day-twenty.fve years
ago. But the once ietty hair had
turned to silver and the glorious dark
eyes had grown stern and the ripe lips
were compressed in a hard line. The
a
ures and their compilations in open de-
fance to old Father Time, and Miss
Felicia was no exception to the fam
lily rule. So now, as she came down
the walk, tall and stately In her f1lmy
black gown, the moonlight full on her
fair face, Ethel marveled that one who
was so beautiful and who must have
been greatly loved by men, could be 80
hard-hearted
Jimmy Vanstone was everything to
be desired In the way of nephew-fn-
law-save that he wanted to marry
Miss Felicia's niece. Felicia Weeks
wanted her niece to brighten her
lonely household. She had adopted
Ethel when the girl had been orphan
ed in her childhood and she had pic
tured future where they would live
happily together. tasting the best that
the world could give them of travel
and pleasure. She had not counted on
Ethels falling in love at twenty, and
she felt fierce resentment that all
her plans for the future were to be
upset by mere romance.
Miss Felicia believed that she had
left romance far behind-and she also
believed more or less happily that she
was none the worse for the expert
ence
so you persist in saying that you
are engaged to Jimmy Vanstone? ?"
asked Miss Felicia in cutting tone.
Yes, auntie."
you fly in the face OF my wishes p
Not that, Aunt Felicia But, l
can't help loving him, can II" de-
manded the girl with a fierce little
gesture
is love everything In the world?'
demanded Felicia scornfully. Must
my life be spoiled because you fancy
yourself in love with that young man
Why, If you did not marry for ten
years it would be time enough. Think,
Ethel, Of the years of delightful travel
we may enjoy. Give up this foolish
idea Of being engaged to Jimmy Van
stone and"
He wants me to marry him before
the 18th of October-and go to Ger.
many with him. 1t could be our hon
eymoon," said Ethel quietly.
A fierce jealousy took possession OF
Felicia Weeks. SO Jimmy Vanstone
could shatter all her plans for the fu-
ture with love words from his guile
tul lips! They would enjoy a honey
moon in Europe, while she, the lonely
old spinster, would stay at home
alone.
In that moment she hated Jimmy
Vanstone, and her pretty niece. and
she mentally censured the cruel sal
hshness of youthful love.
You cannot marry anyone without
my consent, Ethel; and shall not
give it," she said firmly.
Good night, Aunt Felicia" was
Ethels quiet reply as she passed the
older woman and went into the
house.
She read Mr.. Daniel Latmers letter
to his nephew before she went to bed
and the tears that wet her lashes were
chased away by irrepressible smiles
She tucked the letter under her pillow
and went to sleep with a smile on her
lips. Felicia, pausing in the door
way with lighted candle as was her
custom, saw the smile and her heart
strings frightened
She does not care-she does not
care for mel" she thought jealousy