The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-11-27

She Awoke In a Narrow, White Bed.
the handsome young man played no
part in the girls vision. No, he was
always there. But she reasoned he was
quite sure to appear at the proper time
If she could go into the society where
he was to be found. Clearly the only
way out of it was to be adopted.
1t had not entered Hettie's mind
that some slight preparatory education
In grammar, and the mode of speech
required In cultured society might help
some in the process Of acquiring an
adopted mother. She had had a rudi-
mentary school training In the institu-
ton from which she went to the box
factory, but her association with the
girls Of that section Of the town, had
not added to the elegance of her Ian
guage.
Poor little Hettiel she was bright,
kindly, and well-meaning, and her de-
sires were only the normal ones of
youth. Once she told girl compan-
ion of her wish to be adopted, and was
so laughed at and ridiculed, that she
ever after kept her aircastles to her
self. But her dream would not down.
1t became a kind of obsession.
Whether it was because her vision
was in this misty region while her
small body was in the path of rushing
traffic in the great city, or whether
fate took a hand, there came the awful
impact of the automobile, and Hettie
knew no more till she awoke In q mar
row, white bed, and looked up into the
faces of a doctor and nurse. She gazed
about for the adopted mother, but
there were only nurses moving around
the place. Clearly something had hap
pened, and the adopted mother ought
to be part of 1t. When she tried to
move she found 1t very painful, and
she was quite stiff with bandages. She
asked for an explanation, and was told
she had been struck by an automobile,
but that she would be all right In a
few days. She asked whose automO-
bile 1t was, and the nurse answered 1t
was Mrs. Burlson's, very kind lady
who was very sorry, and had brought
her there, and told them to do every
thing they could, and that she would be
responsible for the pay. Hettie felt
sure her dream was coming true, and
she asked the nurse when the lady was
coming again.
"She didn't mention anything about
coming again." she answered. Then
seeing the girls disappointed look. she
added: "But dare say she will"
"Of course she WILL" was Hettie's
confident reply.
Hettie suffered a great deal of pain
But after all, she told herself she must
expect that All the girls on the screen
who had acquired adopted mothers
and lived happily ever after, had suf
fered in some way beforehand.
The next day she was told mes
senger had come from Mrs. Burlson
and did she wish to see him? OF course
she did.
A young man came in carrying frdl
and flowers. He could not for one min
ute have been taken for the handsom,
hero. His face was quite plain
brOnzed. lean, and with the disadvan
tage of turn-up nose. But his eye
were honest, his mouth kindly, and hi
form straight, and well knit. He CAM
with mixture of pity and diffidence t
the forlorn little figure on the cot. HI
told her Mrs. Burlson wanted to know
how she was. and had sent her tn
fruit and flowers. Rather awkward.
he told her how sorry he was. The
Hettie noticed he wore a chauffeur
dress, and guessed he was the one VIII
ran her down. But she was too bus
thinking of Mrs. Burlson to bear hir
any grudge, and she asked him whe
the lady was coming7 he did not seer
to know, but said he would tell Mrs
Burlson that she would like to see hel
The chauffeur came every day to Sc
her. The second time 1t was to tell he
that Mrs. Burlsop was out Of town, bu