The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1915-09-21

future. He found that the added ex-
pense of the two children would take
all the surplus he could earn, unless
his college salary was increased.
This particular afternoon. as he
watched his lovely neighbor with the.
two little ones his spirits sank low,
indeed. He loved her with fervor he
dared rarely contemplate. Before his
uncle had come he had more than
once decided to tell Nella of his affec-
ton. He knew that she respected
him, looked up to him. He hoped she
returned his love.
But now!- Before, he could have
offered her fairly comfortable home.
With the additional burden Of the
children, however, how could he ask
this lovely girl to help him share
their care, and economic himself
down to humdrum life and the bare
necessities Of existence? No!
"Good-by to my dream of dreamsl"
he repeated mournfully. and fell into
reverie wondering If some new field
of professional activity might not Of
fer better recompense.
"Shoo-shool" suddenly aroused
him.
Nella uttered the somewhat star
ting cries. She had sprang from the
side of the children, nearly upsetting
them. Edison saw her run up to the
vines that half covered the side of the
house. She was welding fan as
weapon There was the fiutter of a
bright winged bird driven into sudden
flight.
Then Nella was down on her knees;
Edison saw her lift small squirming
object from the ground.
Poor thing." Nella cooed in her
sweet sympathetic tones. THE
naughty bird nearly caught you. Oh.
what rare little beauty"
His curiosity and interest aroused,
Edison hurried to the front door, and
thence into the garden.
What is it," he asked, and Nella
showed a beetle-shaped bug lying in
the palm of her hand. It was an un-
familiar specimen to Edison, profound
entomologist as he was. The bird had
slightly pecked it, and the little crea-
ture was partly disabled
Il cant imagine where it came
FROM" observed Edison.
DO you notice that 1t is OF a bright
bronze?" suggested Nella- Cant you
mend it up? Perhaps 1t is suffer
ing"
I'VE will try" smiled Edison read
lily. Z 1T is a rarity. should like to
study and classify 1t. Certainly It is
stranger to this country" and he
took 1t into his library, poured some
healing oil upon its shattered wing,
and made soft cotton nest for it,
which he placed under an open globe.
Sorrowful as Vance Edison was over
his money prospects and consequently
those of love, he was cheered at see
ing more of Nella than ever. The lit
tie ones chung to her constantly. The
bronze bug became positive institu-
ton with the family group. 1t seemed
as though 1t had mind to appreciate
kindness and recognize it's friends. AS
1t was nursed back to normal strength
1t refused to leave the house, even the
room. 1t became domesticated in a
sort of playhouse that Edison con-
structed for it, more for the gratifica-
ton of the children than anything
else.
There was a tiny trough for bath
ing, swing, a diminutive step ladder.
To all these novelties the strange In
sect accommodated itself. For hours
Nella and her two child proteges
would watch the glossy bug.
One day an old messmate of the
dead sailor called upon Edison. Just
to talk over the best friend ne ever
had" was the way he put it. He
brought some gifts for the two little
orphans. He CHANGED to see the bug.
SILVER mel" he exclaimed noisily.