The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1917-09-11
A Deathbed
Injunction
1t Was Fulfilled
By F. A. mitchell

| In 1915 there was lull In the fight
ing In Flanders. Two British officers
passed each other In rear Of the
trenches. Both stopped and stared.
upon my word" exclaimed one, IF
was not sure l had no brother l
would think you were my fathers own
son."
1.-THE resemblance between us Is re-
markable," replied the other.
whats your name%
"Hethrington."
Where from7
formerly from England; recently
from Canada"
"Are you Ralph Hethrington, who
left his home in Hampshire some years
ago a runaway boy"
II am"
Then you are my cousin. l am Alan
Hethrington."
Heir to the barony of MedowcroftT
"The same. Why did you run away
from homer
ut was a case Of stepmother."
Il see. I know all about your step
mother She was bad woman. But
why did you not write to your father2"
II was mere boy when ran away,
and / feared father would try to get
me back. When grew older thought
that since father had preferred his wife
to his son the son owed him nothing"
"Your father and stepmother are
both dead"
'"That ] know. was found in Amer
lea by the solicitor who had charge OF
the estate"
You are very rich"
my wealth does me no good here"
u am heir to title with nothing on
which to keep It up.''
"You may not need to keep It up.
Only one out Of every three of us win
get home"
The cousins parted with an agree
ment to look each other up. Indeed,
they met again that same evening.
"Are you going to write your folks
that you have met your runaway cousin
here~ Ralph asked Alan.
Alan cast quick glance at the ques-
toner.
why do you ask that question:"
II don't know"
81 haven't written yet of meeting
you, and don't think shall"
"Why not%
Il have something In my mind. But
l don't care to make It known to you
now. / may never make It known to
you. 1t Is dependent upon certain
contingency"
Ralph did not press the matter.
Alan's tone was sad, and his cousin
surmised that the contingency referred
to was the death Of one or both Of
them. Ralph lived for the present and
thought little of his own death, though
it was ever before him. He preferred
to talk with his cousin on other SUBJ
jects.
did you leave girl behind your
he asked
Eyes; Lucy Arden"
you don't mean It'll Why, Lucy and
were great chums when we were
children. used to tell her all about
my stepmother's treatment Of me.
Lucy was my only confdant and SYM
pathizer."
"She is a noble girl. She should mar
ry man more worthy Of her than
am"
''Tut, tut! You're good enough for
any woman. My ideas of the sex, when
grown up, have been derived from my
stepmother. who was not attractive"
Your stepmo4Aer was devil Lucy
Arden is an angel l infer from what
you say as to women that you did not
leave a Canadian sweetheart behind
YOU
mo, did not Perhaps 1t is as well
If l am killed no one will be hurt by
the loss"
you are right" Alan rejoined sadly.
1T would be better If were similarly
situated"
This was the last conversation held
between the cousins In state Of quiet.
Soon after it was held the Germans
made one Of those vigorous attempts
to reach the coast which were attended
with great slaughter and both young
men were wounded. One morning
Ralph Hetherington woke up In a ward
in a hospital, and at the other end Of
long line Of cots on the opposite side
VI the room he espied his cousin. Alan
was very pale, and Ralph was some
time In making out his identity.
A nurse gave Ralph the information
that Alan was very badly wounded and
not likely to pull through. Ralph had
lost an arm, but was in no danger for
his life. He arose and went over to
pay his cousin visit. Alan looked up
at him with an unintelligible eager
ness.
Heaven must have sent you here"
he said to Ralph. "You are all right
except for the loss Of that arm, sup
pose"
yes; not scratched elsewhere. 1
hope you viii come out all right"
mo, won't I'm done for. And
that's the reason why l have been
wanting to see you. Everything works
for my plan"
"What planY
You'll be retired on account Of that
empty sleeve and win be no more ex-
posed to this hell"
Better this hell than a life without
purpose"
Listen to me. You remember what
you said about leaving a girl behind
to mourn you when you are killed2
Well, want to save Lucy that mourn
ing"
you'll do that by getting we'll"
II won't get well I'll never leave
this cot alive. Now, want you to do
this: When you go home to England
go as Alan Hetherington. You're enough
like me to be my twin brother. Be-
sides, this hell's crater will change any
man. 1t has changed both Of us. Lucy
will believe you are /. You have
what she would not get with me-a
fortune. By my death you will inherit
the title, but since You are sup
posed to be l you will get it either
way. Nurse, what became Of my iden-
tification tag?"
Here it is, sir. And the nurse pro-
duced it from where she had hung 1t
at the head OF the cot
Alan was too far gone to take it, and
Ralph received 1t. When the nurse
was out Of hearing Alan, after a brief
rest, proceeded.
Hang your tag on my cot, and when
I am put away as Ralph HethfMgton
you will be Alan Hethrington. You
viii give comfort to my father and
mother and to the dear girl who would
otherwise mourn me. Moreover, when
you come into the title YOU will ba able
to keep It up as It was kept up CEN
turtles ago when Richard Hethrington
received 1t at the hands of his SOW
ereign.
Il desire that Lucy Arden shall re-
ceive all that she has been led to be-