The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1918-08-27

have fits about her. Every May she's
been sending some poor little fellow
out this road a birthday present, and
abe always chooses the awfulest things
for him. One year 1t was ear muffs
and mittens she'd got at sale. She
said his mother could keep them in
moth balls till the next winter. And
once she sent six bottles Of sarsaparilla.
for she said all children needed a blood
purifier in the spring and TO doubt his
mother was too poor to buy him any.
She's sent everything from the Life of
Shakespeare to Gibbons Rome in the
reading line, and once when she
couldn't think of anything useful for
him she sent bolt of sheeting for his
mother"
Evidently she has q sense of val
ues," laughed the lieutenant.
you're right there" nodded Jane.
swell, anyway, she was too busy to
attend to 1t this year with all her war
work, and had molten to let 1t go, bat
thought 1t was good chance to
make up to the little fellow for all his
years Of disappointment, 50 I offered
to take the burden of shopping and de-
livery off her shoulders. And here
am!''
BLESSED personl And how old is
your little boy?'
BLESS your heart, don't know"
said Jane "And l doubt If mother
does, either. The little fellow was a
protege of Aunt Mary, who died. And
all we know is that mother was to send
q birthday present to Stephen Hamp-
ton every year on the tenth Of May"
but perhaps" the lieutenant
stopped. YOU'RE right There isn't
doubt in the world that your visitation
will make up for all his former trou.
bles."
"Well, there's the bean-shooter, and
here's bag of marbles-nearly all
glassies, tGo-and top, and a mouth
organ. hasebali and some peanuts
and bananas"
"Bully for you He's funny boy If
lie can't have perpetual birthday all
summer"
Jane put her treasures back into the
basket. II must be going" she said,
rising quickly. ut is getting very late.
My boy won't have any birthday pres
ent at all If stay here any longer"
That's sol" ne agreed reluctantly.
but won't you let me go with your
Jane considered moment, then
inAkAd nm fr,fn u Ar-
Mothers very touchy about my talk
Zig to strangers, and the sky's been
our only introductiop-that and the
Cur. But she's dotty on uniforms-a
soldier to her is combination Of mar
tyr and saint-so l guess you may
come and see Stephen get his pres
ients. Do you happen to know where
the Hamptons liver"
Yes. I'll take you there II you
really don't mind my going"
Before long they turned into the
driveway of very pretentious country
house. Jane was startled.
Where are we going?"
ITO the Hamptons."
WHY don't understand. Surely
they can't live here. thought they
were poor"
They used to be, but somebody left
them some money. But surely that
doesn't make any difference, does 1t?
They're the same people, not changed
bit, and boys are the same the world
over."
That's true" answered Jane. bit
obviously.
And / do think you'll miss some
thing If you don't know Mrs. Hamp-
ton. She's the finest woman know"
They had come to the door now
IAN right" said Jane, stepping out of
the car. "But was thinking of the
sarsaparilla"
In the big sunny living room Jane |
was TO discover something. The photo
graph In silver frame on the read
ing table and that Of little boy on
the wall were evidently the same per-
son, and encountering the eyes of the
officer, she realized that he was the
original of both.
AS this information conveyed itseli |
to her brain, and the consciousness OF
a fearful blunder was sending the |
very blood to her cheeks, Mrs. !
Hampton came in. Jane waited for no |
1--WE made n terrible
she cried, pointing to the |
basket. 1--WE come to give your little J