The Mount Holly news., 1919-12-23
Sunshine
Land
BY RALPH HAMILTON
Copyright, 1919, by the Western News.
paner Union.l

Copyright. 1919, by the Western News
paper Union-l
awake up, Hiram somebody is
screaming out in the pasture lot"
Mrs. Benson shook her somnolent
better-half vigorously. but he mumbled
in confused way. AS she was about
to call out to their son Sidney, who
slept in another room, the young man
in question hurried past the open door,
pulling on his coat.
Something is on fire, mother" he
said, "but it isn't near the house. You
had better get dressed while / see
what the trouble is"
A series of new screams rang out as
young Benson reached the yard, daz-
zled by great glare, a direct view of
which the intervening stables partially
shut out. AS he rounded shed he
saw that haystack was ablaze. The
flaming filaments were bearing di-
rectly toward the buildings Sidney
darted lightning quick for pitchfork,
dismantled, scattered and tramped out
the MANAGING heap and stared hard at
a figure crouching against the pasture
gate.
"Was it you who screamed?" he
challenged, and then his suspicious
tones died down to gentleness. The
intruder was young girl, pale and
trembling. She arose to her feet. In
the dying glow of the fire her rare
beauty shone forth with vividness
that thrilled Sidney. Her attire was
rich to the point of extravaganza and
she wore two rings and pin at her
throat that sent back dazzling pris-
matte sparkles Of color.
"Yes," she replied in quavering
tone. 81 was tired with a long, long
tramp and weak. too, from hunger /
was seeking shelter when reached
here / sat down on the horse block,
for there was no light in the house.
Then l thought i saw one behind the
barn, but 1t was only rough-looking
tramp lighting his pipe. When he saw
| me he ran, and l think 1t likely he
dropped a match that started the fire.
| The hay rack blazed and l tried to
wake up somebody in the house by
screaming"
ut is q good thing you did, Miss"
returned Sidney, approvingly. IF the
barns had ever caught the whole place
would have gone Are-are you a
stranger around here?"
every much So" came the prompt
xar1x ood Cf1po,, xroc oroof fIu Y1rrz7lod
The girl showed no phase of boldness,
yet she was clear and definite.
"We've got you to thank for saving
the barns and probably the house." he
said IF you hadn't given the warn
| ing that blazing stack would soon have
done its work. You had better come
to the house. l think my mother will
be up and-and she will see that you
| are made comfortable"
perhaps you don't exactly take me
on trust" spoke the girl. 'This dress
does not belong to me and these blaz-
Ing gems are stage diamonds. All
will tell you is that / am an orphan,
and ran away from the school where
| my guardian had placed me and Joined
a travelling show. They were good
/ people in it, but 1t failed and the
sheriff seized everything except the
clothing we had on
"But what are you thinking of do
| ing nowT' questioned Benson.
"Oh, anything to earn a living" re-
piled the girl. "I won't go back to
| n 1fora
i intend to choose my own way in
| life"
Sidney led the way to the house
His mother was down stairs and she
viewed this strange guest with temer
ity Midnight and a beautiful girl
dressed like a princess Mrs. Benson
had only known through novels or the
movie stage.
However, she could not refuse hos
pitality to one who had probably
saved their home. She prepared 6
meal and saw that their visitor wa,
comfortably installed in the best bed
room.
/ Next morning Adrianne Martel, a.
NIl6 IUiu lDt1l 1lCI luIl1S AlS, UcCdIIt
Ill with a fever. 1t was a week be
fore she was up and around. By thai
time she had won on the motherly
regard of Mrs. Benson to an exten
that would make parting a sorrow.
LET me stay in the dear old place.
suggested Adrianne. Il will be glaC
to work just to be among the kind
good people you are"
There came about what might have
been anticipated. From the first Sid
ney loved her; from the first she es
teemed him as the manly, true-heartet
fellow he was. They were quietl!
married.
One day an autOmObilist drove In Il
the farmyard for water. Sidney wa.
getting it when joyous faced Adriann,
came out of the house.
swell Well !" exclaimed the auto
mobilist. Found at last, eh, and pret
tier than ever. My dear girl, you hay,
led us long quest"
"Sidney," spoke Adrianne in he
Straightforward way, this is my guar
dian that was. And Mr.. Boyden, thi.
is my husband and we are the hap
piest pair in the world"
"a femme sole no longer, then?" OBJ
served the lawyer.
Don't call me names, dear OLE
guardy, but what is femme soleT
"a single lady, my dear, but now
being a married one, fancy had bet
Ter arrange with your husband to TAX,
over the fortune your father left you.
"Sidney never knew there was a for
tune" said Adrianne, "and l neve
cared for it after finding a home il
this real, beautiful sunshine land"
REPAIR SHOP QUITE USEFUL