The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-05-29

would fly up among the branches OF
the trees above us before 1 could get
them to my mouth. As for the butter
doubt If it had been churned an hour,
A heartler course was spring chicken
served with cucumbers, so that the heat
Of one was nullified by the GOODNESS of
the other, while both heat and GOODNESS
were enjoyable. A cup of tea smoothed
by the richest cream was what we
drank; for dessert a great dish of
strawberries as large as walnuts. And
all the while was looking into a pair
Of brown eyes opposite me and listen
ing to musical voice.
One thing more of a different kind
was needed for our history making. 1t
was not important except In a small
way; there was nothing heroic, scenic,
lurid, romantic about it. Indeed, 1t was
very commonplace. A punctured tire.
Nothing more, nothing less. Who
would suppose that so unromantic a
happening should have been the cap
stone Of incidents shaping the lives Of
two human beings? Nevertheless it
was
Never before had driven without
an extra tire. l would not have been
without one this time had there not
been delay In filing an order. / had
expected one to be delivered to me
that morning. 1t had not arrived, and
l was obliged to set out without it.
Thank heaven that it was not forth
comingI
/ had barely started from the Wild
wood inn when one of my forward
wheels was let down on the road. For
tunately we were so near the inn that
my companion could go back there to
wait while tried to extricate myself
from the dilemma A short distance
down the road was q house. where /
found telephone, but / spent q long
while before could get man to come
from a garage with implements to re-
pair the break. And it would not be
safe to use the tire for an hour or two
after he had done so. 1t was 3 o'clock
before the patch was put on and half
past before dared start again. Then
drove back to the inn and informed
Miss MacDownel that we were twenty
miles from Medbur. and since dare
not strain the newly patched tire we
should have to proceed slowly over
such portions Of the road that were in
ferior. 1t might be o'clock before we
reached the place.
will fob 80 L, ~
she asked.
Il can get you back to where 1 over
took you In an hour" l said.
Take me home. I dinna care to 20
to Medbury moo"
"Will you be too late to find your
brother?'
Il dinna care to go there moo" was
all could get out of her.
We were fortunate In reaching her
home without further mishap. When
we came near the house my companion
left me and went on alone. Before
parting l arranged for a call and an
other ride. The call made at an early
date, and after that we had many rides
together.
One matter turned up a mystery. It
soon came out that Edith had no broth
er. Upon my accusing her Of having
deceived me she confessed that on the
morning l took her into my auto she
was going to meet lover for an elope
ment.
1t was then that / understood her
words, II dinna care to go there moo"
And this is why have said that l was
making history more for her than for
myself She changed her intended hus-
band during our ride.
It turned out well for her that 1 in
yited her to ride and that the bursting
of the tire delayed our reaching Med
bury as it did. Had she arrived there
at the time appointed she would not
have found the man she had expected
to meet, for he had no intention of
keeping the appointment. Some years
after our marriage / learned through
friends Of my wife that the man with
whom she had expected to elope had
at that time already more wives than
the law allowed. He had been born
a gentleman, but was the black sheep
Of the family. The reason why she
wouldn't have found him at the ap-
pointed place was that wife No. 2 had
got wind Of his intention and had had
him jailed. never allowed my wife
to know how serious fate she es-
caDed.