The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-03-10
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
ANOTHER FOOL GIRL
By DONALD ALLEN.

| ehAOdQ INV.
Miss Cynthia Basset, the old maid,
had opened a millinery store in the
village Of Hinkley with the $500 left
her by the will of an uncle.
There were two dry goods stores. q
grocery. drug store and wheat ele-
vator at the depot, and while the 700
Inhabitants boosted of the enterprise
Of their own town all felt that there
was something lacking Hinkly had
no millinery store. The nearest one
was over at Brownsville, twelve miles
away.
But the long-felt want had been filled
at last, and there was rush to the
new millinery store to pat Miss Bas-
set on the back.
I'm a-asking Jest 5000 more for my
house and lot than l was yesterday"
exclaimed Deacon Snyder as he stood
at the door and peered in; and half an
hour later real estate was on the boom
from the red schoolhouse to the white
bridge.
Miss Basset had to have an assist
ant. and she had engaged Minnie Long,
the belle Of the village. She was not
only the belle, but she had natural
knack of hattrimming. She could take
a bow, rooster feather and buckle
of some sort, and out of an old hat
create such a dream of headpiece
that the minister would stop in his SER
mon to gaze at it and wonder If it
wasn't his duty to warn her against
Satan's wiles. He could prove that
jaunty hats had led more women into
the downward path than any other one
influence.
Miss Minnie had been engaged to
Roscoe Dayton for three months be-
fore the great millinery event He was
a young man and had just started out
as builder. They were to be married
at the end of three more months.
Hinkly was only quiet village, and
yet 1t was seldom without its stran-
ger, most of them being agents for
one thing or another. A good-looking
man, who claimed to represent lamp
house in the city, but who was just
then taking a brief vacation, was one
of those at the grand opening Of the
millinery emporium. He was there to
smile over the enterprise" of the
thing. That was his first sight OF
Minnie Long, and he made VOW with.
in a minute
Roscoe Dayton was not a plug" OF
young man. He was ambitious and
hustler, but he wasn't up to date
with young man from the city. Nc
one, not even Minnie, expected him to
be. He didn't have the clothes, the
cane, the two watch chains, the smile
the bow nor the glib tongue. He had
had no rival thus far. and there had
been no jealousy on either side.
Mr.. Claude Barrie, as the lamp house
agent gave his name, tarried in the
millinery store long ten minutes. and
when he had departed woman voiced
| the opinion of a dozen others when
she whispered:
IF that young fellow stays in town
week there's going to be trouble for
somebody"
There was the beginning of trouble
within an hour. A busy-body met Ros-
coe Dayton on the street and called out
to him:
You'd better have your eyes peeled
young mani"
I'm always looking" was the laugh
ing reply.
You know that lamp house agent
from the city?"
Saw him on the street yesterday"
He's charmer, amt he?"
Maybe"
HE was charming Minnie Long
down at the millinery store. Say
they are sure stuck on each other!"
/ Nonsense"
| Minnie, too, would have laughed al
the idea, but week later Roscoe felt
1t his duty to say to her: Il hear that
young Barrie is caller at your house
why, yes, he has called" was the
reply.
Haven't you become acquainted
very rapidly?
so you are jealous, eh?"
Il don't like him. He Ia q stranger
to US all. He may be what he claims
to be, but no one knows Is It fiirta
ton or what?"
Cant | even look at another mar
across the street because am en-
gagged to your"
You can't have Irritation with 6
stranger without the whole village
talking about it."
THE whole village had better tail
about some one else. Mr. Barrie has
not only told me all about himself. but
given me the highest references"
But why has her"
Because he has That's all have
to say about it,"
A day or two later the young mar
disappeared and did not return fol
five days. The lover was told thai
Minnie received a etter-supposedly
from him-every day, and also thai
she mailed reply. 1t was after the
young man had returned and paid al
evening call that Mr.. Dayton sought
an interview.
TT is gossiped that you intend t.
break the engagement with me- Is Il
true or only gossip?"
81 have made up my mind to one
thing sure" was the reply OF the girl
q was born and reared here. | have
never been fifteen miles from the vii
lage have never seen the rea
world have been a clodhopper al
my days F"
And you have made up your MIND
to-"
ITO go to tie city and see things ant
be somebody.
It's this lamp house fellow that has
put the idea into your head" quietly
said the lover. What win you do in
the city,"
Il shall be stenographer at SIS per
week. Miss Basset pays me 50, ane
what is life here?"
Your father and mother-are they
willing?''
II haven't talked 1t over with
them yet. 1t is none ct your business
to question me the way you have.
am not going to marry anyone In this
poky old village"
Very well. Goodnight"
Mr.. Dayton could have argued and
recriminated and advised and threat
ened suicide and violence, but he
walked calmly OUT of the house. He
could have gone to the girls father
and mother and had his say, but he
didn't approach them. He could have
gone to Miss Basset and begged her
to advise the girl, but he did not go
near her
Minnie had expected a row over the
parting. There had always been row
in every love story she had ever read.
and in hor nin11a and dfoo pDofntrnonf of