The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-03-31


said that she was tired of the hum
drum life she was leading, and wanted
variety and human sympathy. Well.
she's found it,"
What do you mean?"
Bart, / believe that Lucia has fall
en- in Lowell"
If Bart had been a woman he would
have shrieked; as it was he turned
pale.
"Incredible!" he gasped.
Its true. 1t seems that those two
little acting girls are under the charge
of man calling himself Henry Nor
ton. He used to be balloon acrobat.
but had bad fall. His brother, now
dead, was also an actor, and had
trained the children. Morton is travel
ing with them as their guardian. l
wont say that he is not polite, dig
nified gentleman, but he has fascinat-
ed Lucia. and hate him. Well, that
isn't the worst of it."
What next?"
why, somehow the two children
have caught the measles and can't go
on with the show. Morton has can
celed their contract and Lucia, soft
hearted Lucia, has turned the house
into a hospital"
you don't mean to say that she has
taken those two children?"
Yes, do, and Morton is there, too.
helping nurse them"
It was all true. Without pausing to
analyze feelings or motives, Lucia
Warden had drifted into new envi-
ronment The curtain had risen on
the prospect of a new delightful life.
Hers was heart that had gone hun
gering through the world, and now
she lavished all the riches of her
warm, sympathetic nature on the two
little waits under her roof
Never had an ingenious, true-souled
little woman more appreciative
friends. After the hardship, uncertain
ties and discomfort of half season
of roughing it with the circus, the lit
tie children snuggled down in the
pretty, coy home of Miss hucia like
birds housed in cherished nest.
Their uncle would scarcely leave
their presence. His ministrations
were assiduous and untiring. When
Lucia came into the sick room, sort
of glorified contentment came into his
bronzed, serious face.
Lucia learned the history of the 1T
tie ones, left under a years contract
with the circus company, with which
their father and uncle had been con-
nected.
THAT is all over now" Morton told
her, with profound satisfaction. 1T
has been providence that their illness
came at a time when your kind heart
opened the doors OF your beautiful
home to the homeless and distressed.
AS soon as the little ones are well
| enough, / shall seek quiet village
like your own, engage in some small
business and make them forget the
old artificial life we have led"
He told her how he had never mar
ried because of the hard round of du-
ties, the broken fortunes of his broth
or and his family had required. She
read in his face the steadiness, the
depths of longing of matured mind.
1t seemd as though their meeting had
bridged chasm of two loyal souls
seeking an empty heart to make of
it a palace of love, fidelity and hap
piness.
And then one evening, as they sat
IN the glow of the freight and the
shaded lamps, the little ones asleep
In each others arms, like cherubs,
Henry Morton boldly, bravely told this
superb friend that he loved her.
She was waiting for the declaration,
for she was hoping for it. How true
how manly he seemed, as the actual
tears of JOY came into his honest eyes
when she told him how her heart had
gone out to his lonely life and had
cherished the dear little ones.
I'VE must do somethingi" declared
Miss Tabitha to her nephew two days
later. when she learned how matters
stood
Morton had gone away to close out
a little piece of property he owned al
q distance.
Leave 1t to me-" replied Bart, at
ter he had gained every detail he
could as to the past life and antece
dents of Morton.
Four days later he sent for Miss
Tabitha In great excitement and ex
ultation of spirits.
I've got himl" he chuckled. THAI