The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-03-14

her father, q little later, coming in af-
ter she heard the young man leave.
mo, my dear; acted the. same way
when Lilith Gay turned me down
bless her for that" answered her IA
Their.
"Gracious!" said Madeleine, glanc-
ing at the clock. Its half-past nine.
/ had no idea 1t was so late. Let's go
to bed, father"
At halfpast nine the Rev. Spur
geon Beecher. who was to perform the
ceremony on the morrow, at ten, was
surprised to see Jim Bennett at the
door. Mr.. Beecher was an old Wild
over. and always welcomed guests.
He was glad Of the meeting. for Jim
had not attended church for several
Sundays.
Glad to see you, Mr.. Bennett" he
said. Il wanted to see you. in fact.
was afraid you had been Ill"
"I'll come next Sunday for sure"
answered Jim. leading the way into
the parlor more quickly than the old
man could follow. He lost sight Of
Jim In the passage. to find him in
the parlor, standing before the man
tel. Il know / haven't been punctual..
Mr. Beecher, but I'll be regular in at
tendance In future In fact. I'm going
to see the ceremony tomorrow"
"Ah, splendid match" said Mr..
Beecher feeiingly, not knowing that
Jim was q discard.
But do you believe cousins. should
marry?" asked Jim.
Cousins, sir? OF course not. But
they aren't cousins"
Not Immediately. but the Forsters
and the Grants. you know. spring from
common stock, the Jacksons-"
You are wrong" exclaimed the min
lister, whose weakness was pedigrees.
THE Jacksons were a cognate branch
Of"
So excited did he become in his
discourse that. in bending forward, he
lost his watch. It tumbled to the
floor. At once Jim was on his hands
and knees retrieving 1t.
Here you are, sir" he said. Why
your pockets rippedl"
There was no doubt of it. The seam
had split, and the watch must have
fallen out through the bottom.
TT seems to be going, anyway"
said Mr.. Bennett Goodnight, sir.
l shall remember what you told me
about the Jacksons."
Old Mr.. Greenacre. the church war
den. was particular friend Of Jim's.
but he stared in amazement when Mr..
Bennett coolly requested the loan Of
the key to 60 into the clock tower.
What for?" he demanded.
Il want to see the dipper."
Going crazy? Head ache?.
mo. See here! There's a new
comet in the dipper, and l can't see
1t from the street. with the lamps
shining"
Il didn't know astronomy was hob
by of yours, Jim," said Mr.. Greenacre
unsuspiciously. However. here's the
key. Mind you lock up, and you can
leave 1t on the porch. under the mat
II I'm not up when you come"
Thank you. sir,P said Jim with hui
mility. May / see the time by your
watch?"
The old church warden handed him
his gold presentation timepiece,
which Jim studied attentively.
why, didn't know it was so late"
he said. "Half-past ten"
Goodness" said Mr.. Greenacre.
THE hours are flying! And I'll have
to be up early tomorrow to have the
church ready for the ceremony"
Harry Grant awoke at 1--WE the next
morning with horrible oppression on
his chest He looked at the watch.
tried to sleep. was afraid Of oversleep-
ing himself. got up, yawned, and be-
gan to look for his toothbrush among
his packed things. Then he thought
OF Madeleine and smiled happily.
Five hoursi" he murmured. "In
surely be in time" And he tried to
sleep again. but the sun was shining
so brightly. and this was his wedding
day. He dressed and went downstairs.
He had told the maid not to come for
a couple Of weeks. and the little house.
which he had leased for their home
and occupied during the last month.
was empty.
Six o'clock came; seven, eight.
Harry went into the kitchen and raked
up the remains of a cold supper. The
ceremony was to be very private one,
and there was to be neither best
man NOR bridesmaids. He was going