The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-12-04
A Needless
Deception
3, LILLIAN HALL CROWLEY


four years."
Eyes, know" answered Jane, "but
II isn't really our way of living. We
are only waiting until fathers peach
crop is a success. But to an outsider
this place looks as If 1t belonged to
q Hill Billy. 1t would class us with
them forever"
doesn't she like you for yourself,
JaneT' asked her mother anxiously.
"Yes, of course, she has been a per-
feet dear ever since Ted and became
engaged. She made my last week in
college the brightest of all for me-"
swell, dear, what could we do to
this roomT
"Well do a lot of things to 1t. In
the first place, asked Ted to bring
his mother and sister the day father
is In town to be gone all day. know
he wouldn't have any sympathy with
the way feel about this and 1t will
all be over by the time he gets back.
Mrs. Wilson and her daughter were
sitting early one summer morning in
the only downstairs room in their
house. They had come from Pennsyl-
vania four years before when Nathan
| lei Wilson had invested all he had In
q peach orchard in the Ozarks, where
one crop with favorable weather con-
ditions would bring him fortune. He
/ had worked hard to bring his orchard
| to state of perfection, but always
some unfavorable occurrence hindered
the long-looked-for bumper crop.
When his wife had protested against
their going to the farm, because James
education might be hindered, he had
! assured her that there was good uni
versity in the town a few miles away
\ and that Jane should have every ad-
vantage. He had been able to keep
/ his word and Jane, who had just I'm
ished high school in Pennsylvania, en-
tered the college. She was now gradu-
ated and again home for the summer.
She had always been a great help to
her mother when she was home. She
made all the clothes for the family
put up fruit, cooked. and even helped
her father out of doors. She had
learned many things In college. about
milk and butter, trees and shrubs. all
| of which practical knowledge was use
4 full on the place.
| During her last year of college life
love had come knocking at the door OF
her heart In the person Of Ted Somer-
vile. He belonged to one of the
wealthy families of the town and his
mother was social leader. They had
been very happy in their love, and
their JOY was complete when Tedf
mother showed instant fondness fol-
the young girl her son had chosen.
/ Everything had gone along smoothly
until now, when Jane realized what an
impression her miserable little home
might make on Mrs. SOmeryille. The
one large room was kitchen, dining
room and living room, while upstairs
were two bedrooms.
The house, with few pieces of fur
| niture, had been on the farm when Mr.
Wilson had bought it. The family had
| brought no furniture with them except
a few old heirlooms. They meant to
use the house only until such time as
they had money from the big peach
crop. Everything hinged on that.
Mrs, Wilson, never very strong, had
lost interest in keeping up her hous,
or her own appearance, and her hus
band was too busy to notice.
Now here was her daughter stirring
her out of her usual calm lethargy.
Jane hauled out carpet that had
been packed around one Of the pre-
cious pieces Of old mahogany and had
since reposed, folded. on the floor OF
the closet under the staircase.
"Come," said Jane peremptorily.
lets put down this carpet"
"But-Jane, never tackled down a
carpet beforeE'
mo, but you have seen them after
they were put down. Come. mother
dear. Let's hurry"
After the carpet had been put down
\ Jane looked around with satisfaction
until her gaze took in the windows
mo curtains Mother, haven't you
anyY'
1--WE never had the heart to make
curtains for a room like this" replied
| Mrs Wilson forlornly.
Jane ran to an old chest of drawers,
relic of better days, and took out a
bolt of white material belonging to her
wedding outfit. "Now Wen have cur
tains for all these windows. The view
over the mountain will be lovely and
Wen have lots of flowers"
| Jane had called in couple Of the
men working in the orchard to carry
the kitchen stove out to the back of
| the house.
"You see," she instructed, "when j
go in and out for the tea things 1t will
look as though we had kitchen out
there, besides keeping this room per-
fectly COOL"
Eyes, l see."
"Now, mother, you run up stairs and
I'll finish. When you get far enough
along I'll do your hair, and, for good
ness sake, put on a corsetl Get out
the one you bought a thousand years
ago in Philadelphia. Let out the
strings, but get into 1t somehow"
81 haven't had one on for over two
years."
You simply have to get into one
now and you must pull it tight enough
to get into that white muslin dress ]
made for you last summer and which
you never WORE"
VERY WELL" Mrs. Wilson smiled at
her daughters enthusiasm and tried
to catch the same spirit.
| Jane had arranged the flowers to her
own satisfaction when her mother
came downstairs.
Il am sure can never fasten this
dress; Pm all out Of breath now"
"Never mind, you won't need any
breath. l am going to do everything.
There you are. Now sit down while !
fasten these earrings. There-you look
just like has-been-lady."
II feel as If were going to be pre-
sented at cOult.p
"You are!" said Jane. Nov, moth
er, you must keep that chair because 1t
Is the most comfortable one. / have
placed the best one here for Ted's
mother, SO that her back will be TO
the back door. Then this chair for
Bessie-Bessie is so young and happy,
she won't know she isn't comfortable.
She mustn't see behind the door,
either. I'll fetch the kitchen chairs ]
painted yesterday. They ought to be
dry now"
"This is such a lot of trouble, Jane"
| "Yes, but once In q life time. Now,
Ii you should want something, I'll get