The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-07-08
Stanley's Water
Lily
II
Z Nsee%essAeeseeNAe
copyright. 1913. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
syJAM OSBORN

RoRSk 0yuulC6teJ
"And down that lane you get to the
bungalow Of Tom Stanley, the water
lily man-water lilies, pond lilies or
whatever you call them. He calls them
nymphacae, If that is the way you
pronounce the botanical NAME" This
was part of the information that Mrs.
Bob Manning gave her house guest,
Fay Mcleod, on the first of her week
ends at the Manning country cottage.
$50, you see, we haven't very many
eligible bachelors for you, Fay" she
went on, though, truly, imagine that
Mr.. Stanley is nice enough aside from
the pond lilies. He's a professor at
one Of the colleges in the winter,
though his property would make him
Independent IL he chose. At least, he's
harmless and quite good looking and
you can see how you like him. We've
asked him up for the little dance to-
night"
Perhaps the fact that Fay was get
ting all her vacation In those week
ends at the summer place of her old
friend, Mrs. Bob Manning, that sum-
mer, and that what diversion she had
from the grind of directing a play
ground In one Of the crowded city
neighborhoods had to be derived from
Saturday noon to Monday morning, ac-
counted for the fact that she showed
less than her usual reserve when she
met Mr.. Tom Stanley and the other
guests at the Bob Mannings' Saturday
night dance.
"It must be fascinating study" she
told Tom. as she brought up the sub
( ject Of his hobby that her hostess had
told her about. "There are some that
bloom only at night, aren't thereT
Tom uttered an affirmative. but with
| out DEPRESSION on the subject Of nym-
phacae. for at that particular mo-
ment the delicate curve Of Fay Nc
Leod's lips and the delicate rounding
Of her chin seemed of vastly more In
terest than all the night-blooming wa
ter lilies In the world. He had an
absurd desire 70 tell her about II.
II have always ionged to see a
lotus" went on Fay, heroically trying
to continue the conversation. Usually
when all other devices failed one could
talk ON a mans hobby with results,
but this time the rule was failing
There must be something inexpressi-
bly, lovely about them. Yet, / suppose
they never grow In this climatef'
$50 you are interested in them, too"
said Tom Stanley, recalling himself.
"Most people find them rather stupid.
Really, do wish you could get up an
interest in the subject, because II you
did then perhaps you wouldn't find me
so duh as am afraid you would other
wise. What a jolly thing It would be
IL could make myself really inter-
esting friend toto a girl like you"
II really do wish some nice girl
could take that Mr.. Tom Stanley In
hand and marry him." sighed Mrs. Bob
Manning over Sunday morning break
fast with her husband and Fay. She
had told her husband her plans be-
forehand and had coached him on
what he should say.
HE really is a fine chap" he ex-
planned. But he had been much alb
sorbed in his shaving when his wife
had coached him, and no had forgotten
the details of the instruction. "Say
Fay" he said, "why don't you marry
him7 He seemed immensely taken with
you when he asked me when you were
coming again and all about you. You
might as well be spending his money
as having him squander 1t all on those
internal water weeds of his. He spends
all his stray time moping through the
marshes looking for them, and moi
content with what he gets that way
he spends thousands of dollars having
roots imported from Egypt and Other
God-forsaken places. Why what he
\ spends on those weeds would support
half dozen wives"
The days that followed were gloomy
ones for Tom Stanley. He was pessi
mistic from the first about Fay. He
knew well enough that she was the
girl whom he would want to marry
but he felt no security at all In hi:
method of courtship.
Now, II 1t was a new sort of watel
nymph that he was in search of tina
would have been different. That was {
matter of patient search through the
marshes communication with his agen
and then careful cultivation on his owl
part. But wooing a wife was some
thing that he felt he knew nothing
about.
II It was after they had known eacf
other for three week ends that STANLEY
decided he could endure the suspense
no longer. He determined to ask hel
that week end to be his wife. Stanley
met Fay at the small station where
those who visit that section of ths
country must get off and ran her ovel
In his roadster to the Bob Mannings
house.
Are you going to let me sticl
around this afternoonf" he asked Fa,
as soon as he had reached their des
tination.
Fay assured him that she woul,
much rather have him come that nigh
and ordered him playfully to let he
and Mrs. Bob amuse themselves alon
during the afternoon.
Bob has some new dance records
thought we could try" said the plotting
hostess, $50 be sure to come back 70
dinner"
"Oh, II you don't awfully mind
have a walk I want to go this evening
with Tom," Interrupted Fay. "There1
be time for dancing besides, and
can't tell you what 1t is. It's sur
prise" she said, looking at Tom.
| Tom hesitated for moment, but hii
mind was made up. I'm awfully sorry
Il had some business to attend to to
night. 1t has to be done tonight" HI
said. eff could come for dinner anC
tear myself away later-and then Tn
counting on having you all up for sup
per at my place Sunday. Aunt Mandy.
promised us something special"
| Fay protested and Mrs. Bob re
treated. Fay begged to be told what
his business was, she pouted and sale
she was jealous. Tom didn't tell her
because he felt that she would not
realize that business such as that
could claim him. Finally It was agreed
however.
His business, he told her, meant 6
solitary hour or so spent In the wood
land swami and strangely enouph sc