The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-12-08

est payment, Wnlle the storekeeper In
the town a dozen miles away was
growing suspicious and was demand
Ing payment Of an open account. His
crops-only punk stacks Of discolored
wheat straw standing Imply awaiting
the threshina.
But LundQuist was forgetting all
this az he sat on the bench before his
abode. Hilda was coming to him.
Hilda, from far-off Norway Six years
1t had been since he had gazed into
her eyes-si1 years since he had
stolen aside in the crush at the en-
barking and kissed her many times on
her willing lips. The thought Of 1t
brought smile to Lundquist's sun
tanned visage. The dog saw it and
wagged his tail In recognition OF his
masters mood.
Two years ago she would have
come. but he set his teeth firmly and
sent her that letter which had wrung
his heart. Watt" he had told her.
Wait till Fortune smiles more bright
~ on these bleak Dakota prairiesl 1t
was Q bitter thing to do, but Lund-
Quist saw no other course.
Only last year she was prevented
from coming by the sickness of her
mother. Nothing. not even poor
crops, now stood in the way of her
coming, and she was now IN mid
ocean on the steamer that was bear
ing her westWard-to Carl.
In q little box under his bunk he
had every letter that Hilda had writ
ten him. They were good reading
during the long winter evenings.
The steamer agent had said that
she would reach Quebec on the 14th.
1t was now the eth.
On the 18th Lundquist went to
town. He walked up and down the
single street, keeping close watch on
the depot until the afternoon train
had passed. He rode the IL miles
home in moody silence.
The following day he went to town
again and in the evening. when he
went back toward home, his face was
haggard and wan from his days vigil
He was getting worried What could
be keeping Hilda? Had something
gone wrong? LundQuist slept little
that might.
Ola jim, for the first time in
months, parked piteously. and his
master, starting guiltily, made haste
to throw some bread to the animal.
Pore Jim!" said he. "Ay forget
yo' eh?"
Lundquist essayed a laugh, but 1t
died away holloway.
The next day he had stalked by the
post Office five times in sulky silence
when he heard some one call his
name. He paused and entered.
Banks, the postmaster. had letter
in his hand.
Letter for you, CARL" he said.
Game this morning"
Lundquist took it In his hand and
edged away to corner Of the little
Office. 1t was a queer letter-all in
print, like a newspaper Lundquist
bent over it and wrinkled his brow
Read it for you?" suggested the
postmaster, expectantly.
ia! 70 read HEM" assented
Lundquist, perplexedly.
The letter was cruel stab to the
eager listener. Hilda was detained in
Quebec. The medical authorities had
examined her and found her suffering
with an affection Of the eyes that
would prohibit her entry unless
speedily cured. To do this a suffi-
cient amount of money must be ad-
yanced by Lundquist to insure pay
ment of the medical expense incident
to the treatment.
The postmaster, hearing suspi-
cious sound, paused in his translation
and glanced up. The listener was
staring at him wide-eyed. his whole
soul pouring out through his blue orbs.
Il confused him and he crumpled the
paper nervously. Lundquist brought
himself together with jerk
How much money hem say?"
"A hundred dollarsl" was the post
masters response.
Won hunderd dollars!" repeated
the stricken youth. Won hundred"
He reached out and took the sheet
! from Banks fingers and placed it in
his pocket. Then he went out, old
Jim close at his heels. with his tail
down dejectedly.
An hour later the two emerged
from the door of the bank. Aimlessly
they strolled along the dismal street
until they came to where the team
was tied. A mile out on the open
prairie the youth turned in his seat
and shook his clenched fist at the re-
ceding town. Once he glanced upward
then settled firmly In a straight
stare ahead, and SO remained till the
cabin was reached.
That night he did not go TO bed.
He sat and walked and babbled to the
dog till daybreak. In the morning
he eyed the rising sun with bloodshot
eyes His body quiyered with the
protests of abused nerves and his
cheeks were sunken from lack Of nour-
ishment
Won hunderd dollars!' he said bit
teriy.
That day he visited the bank three
different times. The last time he
stood In the doorway and told the
banker few of the hot things that
ranked in his brain. Old Jim stood
| aside and snarled.
\ He visited the store and asked for
food. When the storekeeper suggest
| ed pay, he cursed beneath his breath
and left the place. He went to the
| post Office with a. letter he had writ
ten to Hilda-a letter filled with
scalding tears and heart burnings
The postmaster spoke to him, asking
II he was sending the money on to
the girl. Lundquist clenched bis
teeth tightly and rushed out to con
ceal the tears that stole unrepressed
down his cheeks.
Two days later letter came. II