The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-06-25
A Bit a
Progress
@<D
by KATHERINE BATES
Copyright, 1913 by the Mcclure Newspa.
per Syndicate.)

NNSkSAA6Aes 4s4os " the mcclure NeW0pa-
per Syndicate.)
The sunlight fell so holly on the pile
of guano bags crowding the little wharf
that the man leaning against the heap
ed-up sacks could hardly believe that
1t was May, and not July He drew
his eyelids together and through his
lashes looked down the cleaning river
toward Norfolk, three miles away. On
either side of the river truck farms
stretched away toward the pine forests
farther inland; just now the farms
were at their greenest, strawberry
fields, cabbage patches, acres of spin
ach, all in verdant strife. The river
ducked In here and there, flinging clear.
shimmering streams a little way back
into the country, and the marshes
around these inlets gave rank, yell
low tinge to the green outlook. Now
and then pine grove not yet cleared
away led the green's to the other ex-
IRENE, to the dark somber hue which
had little but name in common with
the brightness of the water-grass. The
man on the wharf sighed as he noted
these varying shades.
1T would take me to make this pay"
he said. Eyes, sir, what this here fer
tile patch of old Virginia needs is an
Iowa mani. Archibald Jernigan could
make his pile here, but none of these
lazy Southern truckers will make
their salt"
The cool sound of the incoming tide
swishing against the wharf turned his
thoughts from the farms. There would
be shade on the other side of the guano
bags; he sprang upon them and
dropped down into the shadow,
dropped down beside Ianthe Var
brough, who lolled In placid ease
against the bags.
''Beg pardon, miss" said Mr.. Jerni
gan, startled into a stammer, although
ture.
Don't mind me-" said the girl calm.
ly. Il heard you talhn' to yo'self,
but reckon I'd let you come over II
you wanted to-"
She smiled at him with indolent in.
terest and Mr. Jernigan smiled back.
Daughter of the gentleman over
theref" he asked, politely, waving his
hand toward clump Of pines around
a small white house.
Eyes, this is pas place. From Nor
folkr
He swelled with the Importance of
the man who comes from a distance
Prom Wellsville, Iowa Fine state,
Iowa."
"You are a long ways from home"
she observed.
Mr. Jernigan drew down his mus
tache.
IAN aunt just died down there
lin NorfoIk-consumpti Doctors
sent her here, no money spared, none
whatever, but / come on and buried
her week ago tomorrow. Aunt that
brought me up"
"rm cert'nly sorry she died." Ianthe
said softly.
'Iamentable, lamentable, but we
must all die, and she was past sixty.
Pretty country you've got round here
Miss-er-Miss7"
ibid you walk down yonder road?"
she asked with sudden increase of
interest "Sweet honeysuckles is all
In bloom over there, gullies on each
side the road jus filled with 1t, and
yalluh jasmine climbin' over every
thing 1t can lay vines on-smelled as
sweet as it looked, didn't it?'
VERY nice smell, very nice, indeed"
agreed Mr.. Jernigan. "but amt yore
pa goin' to be a little late with his
kale for the Boston and New York
markets."
81 reckon" she answered. "Mos'
folks round here are too late for the
markets" She laughed little as she
added: pres Lewis, who has the
truck patch next our, never does get
anything to market in time"
81 infer he don't prosper" said Mr..
Iernigan. I'D like to give him few
notions about trucking"
she turned to him quickly. "Would
you? Oh, do-for pa can't put up with
his bein' so way behind; pad like to
be-be progressive, and Pres frets
him. You see, Pres don't get on, no,
ne don't prosper, jus as you say"
us there any-any special reason
why he'd better be prospering?" Mr..
Jernigan asked, looking delicately
away toward Norfolk.
Ianthe picked up long pole lying on
the wharf near her; she bent back, and
looked around the corner of the wharf
prodded with the pole the mud
where the tide still left uncovered
oyster shells and various bits Of debris.
~