The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-02-23
stract to satisfy"
Then, what l need is seriousness
OF parpose?"
"ExactIyi"

AASht "nat AOcu 10
Of p~arpose?"
Exactly"
Mr.. Brownson joined his finger-tips.
Two OF the relatives coughed. Mrs.
Brownson gurgled. The girl looked at
Wayne and smiled. The man instant.
ly forgot the others and quickly start
ed to his feet. Cicely alone was there.
and she was smiling at him. She was
his love and his hearts desire. She
was the most that the world might
give to him.
He loved her, and that was enough
for him to know. She loved him, and
there was nothing else for him to
know. He started to the center of
the room. The girl rose and met him.
Mr.. Brownson shot up from his seat
in amazement. Mrs. Brownson pre-
pared for further tears. The relatives
leaned back and waited.
What does this mean?" Mr.. Brown.
sons voice hit the note of tragedy.
do you intend to steal her from
me?" Indignation mingled with the
tragic. -This is too much. We are a
serious family. You are simply an
idle man of the world. We have moth
ing N common. The conference is
over"
Mrs. Brownson decided there were
to be no tears. The relatives rose
with her.
"The conference is decidedly overi"
Mr.. Brownson loftily repeated.
Father" The girl gave a little
cry. Father"
Mr.. Brownson paused at the agony
In his child's cry. Mrs. Brownson
again raised her handkerchief. The
others made way for a scene.
I don't see why you are all this
way!" The girl choked a little. II
love him. and he is worthy of more
than | a give him. Yes, he is. He's
better than any of us. He's always
doing something for people-poor peo-
pie. ] know. Jack. you know l love
you, and my father can never change
mel"
Mr.. Brownson coughed. From the
resultant sound 1t would seem that the
cough was uncalled for.
'That will do. Cicely; that will do.
A last word. perhaps, may be neces-
sary. and / would suggest that it be
made In private. Jennie. all of us.
We shall go up to the library. We
shall discuss Mr.. Wayne's-philan-
thropy alone.
"Cicely. you will go to your room.
Mr.. Wayne, o may remain here, or
return in half an hour for our final
decision"
With this. the head of the clan
Brownson gathered his forces and left
the room.
Half an hour later he returned
again. leading the line. Wayne was
there awaiting them. Cicely was be-
side him. From all appearances,
they had never left the room. Mr..
Brownson looked at -the girl In some
astonishment.
"Cicely. what does this mean? /
thought ! sent you to your room. Mr..
Wayne. have you taken undue advan-
tage?"
Wanye spoke very quickly.
1T means. Mr.. Brownson, that I am
a serious man myself. I should say
perhaps / am. / rather thought my
love for Cicely was serious enough.
She agrees with me in the matter. IL
won't apologize for my thirty years,
even II ! haven't done anything spe-
cial for my country. haven't built
bridges, o have ! operated street
railways. But / have done one big
thing in loving your daughter.
1T has taken up SO much of my
time that l couldn't reasonably do any
thing else. But"
He paused and went nearer to the
girl and took her hand. Mr.. Brown
son shook as II a spasm had sudden
ly seized him. Mrs. Brownson and
the others took their u and imme-
diately entered upon a wild consterna-
tion.
Enough of this! Enough-enough."
Mr.. Brownson was livid. "You have
no purpose in life, no."
Serious. Mr.. Brownson? / am
To show you how really
In earnest / am-how much In earn
est l have been, about Cicely, why,
you were gone. ! took her out
and married herI"