The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-07-02
On
Furlough
BY Fannie Barnett Linsky
Copyright, 1918. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndicate.l


"a fine looking pair of soldiers" was
his silent verdict, but aloud he said:
"Tll tell the doctor you have come
and he waved them into the large re-
ception room that forms part of every
doctors home.
"Gee," said Scott Hanlon Che of the
lieutenantlike decorations), "this is
sure some fine place. Our doctor man
must certainly be man of means, al
though he never tried to make us think
so when he talked to u.s."
Il know 1t, Scott, but that's just
what made everybody like him So"
replied Sergt. John Farrell, late of
the One Hundred and Seventh artil-
lery. II know few boys In the trench
es that'll never forget him, and I'll
wager any one of them would cheer
fully give up his life for old Doc"
81 guess you're right, Jack. l always
knew he was big man, but l never
thought that he had left all this be-
hind to go over there and take care
of the boys; and as for anyone ever
giving up anything to help old Doc
why, l only hope / have the chance
some day, for I'll sure never for
get"
"Shl" came warning whisper from
his brother officer as footsteps sounded
in the hall. The draperies parted and
once more Sims, the butler, made his
appearance.
BEG pardon, sirs," said he, "but the
doctor was called out quite uneXpect-
eddy, but he's expected back any min
ute. Mrs. Carroll went with him, but
If you'll please make yourselves COM
Portable, Miss Madeline and Miss Mary
will be down directly" And taking
caps and listers from the two guests
Sims withdrew once more with an
apologize cough.
| Again left alone, the two men talked
| IN undertones. "Kind O. queer that he
shouldn't be here to welcome US. don't
you think?' said Jack to his compan-
ion. Hes had our letter now over
two weeks, telling him that we'd spend
the last three days of our furlough
with him here. However" as an after
thought, Il suppose doctors a pretty
busy. fellow. Must be If he can afford
to have all this" and once more his
| eyes wandered with an admiring
glance around the luxuriously fur
nished room. 81 guess I'll leave our
small offering here till by and by"
he added. carefully depositing on the
table large and bulky package which
up to now he had been holding.
miss Madeline and Miss Mary
they must be the twins that Doc was
forever raving about" said Scott.
"Can you picture me holding a club
| by three-year-old on my knee, and
saying: sOos ducky darling is oo?"
And two hearty masculine laughs
pealed forth, forgetful for the moment
of their surroundings; but only for
moment, for a slight noise made both
men turn.
The twins, indeed-but nothing
chubby or three-year-Old about the two
young ladies who stood In the door
way. Quite the contrary; tall, slen-
der and good looking-at least such
was the mental verdict of two young
men who saw them for the first time.
Lieutenant Hanlon," spoke up one.
slightly taller than her twin, and she
looked inquiringly at the two young
| men.
II am here" said Scott, as he
stepped forward.
II am Madeline Carroll" said the
| girl, holding out her hand, land this is
my sister Mary. Then you" turning
to Jack. as Mary and Scott were
gravely shaking hands, ''you must be-
must be-" and she made pretense of
looking at well-worn letter that she
held In her hand, "you must be Ser
geant Farrell"
II am" said Jack so promptly that
they all laughed, and so the ice was
broken.
We've been looking forward to your
coming for ever so long," said Made
line, who evidently felt that the bur-
den of entertainment rested upon her
shoulders, "and we were SO excited
when dad got yovr letter saying that
you were coming today, because-well,
you see, It's a very important day for
us--it's our b;rthday-Mary's and
mile. You see, we're twins"
"Yes, know that" said Scott. "Your
dad-we always called him Doc, oyer
there at the front-did nothing hut
talk about his twins"
He sure did," chimed in Jack, ''and
Scott and thought that you were
about three years old"
''What" exclaimed Mary, shocked
into speaking for the first time: "Why,
we're eighteen today" and she drew
herself up to her full height, as if to
emphasize the Importance of that fact
and then blushed adorably as she sud-
denly realized that all eyes were upon
her.
Evidently" thought Jack, "Mary
was the shy member of the pair''-but
he didn't mind how shy she was If she
only blushed like that.
well, of course, we realize our
dreadful mistake now" he said, look
ing straight into her eyes, ''but how
were two poor soldiers to kuow-Doc
always called you his twin kiddies.'
Great Scott" he exclaimed as a
thought suddenly struck him, and 60
Ing over to the table, he proceeded to
unwrap the package he had so care
fully placed there, and with comical
dismay he held up to view two gayly
colored balls dangling from elastics,
and two squeaky rubber dolls.
Peal upon peal of laughter rang out
the boys joining in none the less
heartily because the joke was upon
them, and in the midst of it all came
a stamping up the front steps, the
front door was thrown open and a
deep bass voice called out: "Well, so
you got here ahead of me, Ell? / hope
my twin kiddies-I mean my twin
young ladies-have taken good care of
you," and divesting himself of his
great fur coat, which was taken In
charge by the ever-present Sims, In
came DIR. Walter Carroll, otherwise
known as "Old Doc" of the One Hun
dred and Seventh regiment, and held
out hand to each of his guests.
Each young soldier grasped the
hand extended to him, and grlpped it
with that grip by which men make
known to other men the feeling that is
in their hearts.
1t was pretty party that sat down
2O6TH DIVIDEND.
1