The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-11-30

30 Mr.. Flake went ON his way
quite unaware that from one of his
pockets peeped q skein Of rose-colored
silk.
Old Mrs. Petty, upon whom he
called during the course Of mis- walk,
spied the threads and pointed a
playful finger at them.
Mr.. Flake. l reckon you don't do
no fancy work" she remarked limo.
Gently.
why. no, Mrs. Petty; why do you
ask that?" he inquired.
Seeing that you carry embroid-
cry silks around with you," she
went on. Il thought maybe you did.
have heard Of gentlemen doing
fancy work, and them as has seen
1t say they take to 1t real handy.
OF course, you not being a married
man, It did seem funny to see that
silk"
Mr.. Flake looked annoyed for an
instant. But he carefully crushed
the silks into his pocket and ex-
planned that he had found 1t In the
street.
Il want to knowi" marveled Mrs.
Petty, whose curiosity was insati-
BILE; Il wonder who has lost q
spool OF silk? ! can find out from
Melissa Smith. who keeps the store.
She could tell by the color. I suppose
whoever lost 1t is looking for It this
very minute"
Il hope not" said the minister ris-
ing to take his departure. However.
! think your advice is good. Mrs.
Petty; l will leave 1t with Miss Smith
at the shop; she can return It to the
owner. / am very glad to hear that
your rheumatism Is better"
Thereupon Mr.. Flake forgot all
about the silk threads.
Il CHANGED to rain the follow.
ing Sunday, and the reverend gentle
man wore under his macintosh his
second best black coat.
Before he began his sermon that
morning he drew forth q handker-
chief, and with the handkerchief
came rosy tangle of silk threads.
He looked helplessly down upon
them and his embarrassed face
seemed to reflect the rosy glow.
Somebody Uttered and looked
around at Della Leslie. II was Me-
LISA Smiths little clerk
Delia's face was scarlet and her
long curling black lashes swept her
cheek as she stared at the tips Of her
little shoes.
When Della lifted her eyes the
minister had carefully wrapped the
silks in his handkerchief and returned
them to his pocket All his embar-
rassment had fed, and he was cool
and collected He delivered his text
with a fine unconsciousness that 1t
subtly applied to his adventure Of the
day before.
Again the little clerk giggled and
glanced at Della. But Della did not
see or hear. The sermon sounded like
the distant murmur Of drums: the
deep, rich tones OF the minister were
blurred to her ears. All she could
hear was Eva Hawks silly giggle.
She remembered that 1t was in front
of the Hawks little cottage that she
had knelt to cut the threads from Mr..
Flakes feet. And she was sure that
Eva Hawk knew that the spool of silk
was Deha's: they knew everything at
Melissa Smiths shop!
Della Leslie was the first one to
leave the church when the service
was concluded. She fairly skinned
over the ground on her homeward
way. She didn't go to the evening
service and the very next morning she
boarded the early train and went to
her sisters, in Branchville.
Della didn't know that the minister
missed her dark, vivacious face from
it's accustomed pew. She didn't know
that he called twice upon her Aunt
Harriet, with whom she lived. for
Aunt Harriet wasn't given to letter
writing. and believed firmly In the
adage that mo news is good news
And after several weeks had elapsed.
and Aunt Harriet had at last written
and suggested that she was needed at