The Mount Holly news., 1919-12-02
Hardy's Going to ForecIose.

ever since she had turned him away
for Dave, and was to remind her of
his being, like Barkis, "willin'."
Then she thought of Dave, big, curly
haired, blue eyed, with a smile that
everybody in town would have accept
ed as legal tender. Ever since his
fathers death and Halls he had kept
up the home for Mrs. Ashley. Connie
often stopped her runabout before the
lovely old-fashioned garden to chat
with her, and sometimes take her for
a drive.
She had not been strong since the
doctors death. and Connie often
thought she was like one of her own
fragrant day lilies, slender and white
and fragile. She shut her eyes tightly
at the thought Of her living In one of
the boarding houses down along River
street after half lifetime in the pic
turesque old Ashley homestead. Then
she stepped across the hall into the
long study that crossed the end of the
house.
Love me, dad?" she asked, as she
always did before she landed" as the
head Of the house expressed 1t. She
perched on the arm Of his chair and
rumpled his hair thoughtfully
How muchT frowned Mr.. Wade
Don't try to mollycoddle me, Connie,
when you want something. know
you"
"All right, then. Strictly business" ;"
Connie sat down In front of him seri-
ously, and he laughed. 81 mean 1t
now, dad, truly. Do you like Dave
Ashley7"
81 like him. yes. but with limita-
tions," his gray eyes twinkling. "I
don't want him In the family, but
like him."
Comics eyes never wavered as she
looked at him.
"How much money did Grandmother
Walton leave meY
"About ten thousand. It's gone over
that now, on compound interest since
you were Eve. Going to leave home
and father, ConT' He slipped his arm
around her teasingly.
"No, Of course not wouldn't marry
even Dave If you said no. fatty, bu
you wouldn't" Connie added confident
ly, mot If really wanted him. DON
worry, dad; he hasn't asked me. s2t
ae won't not with the handicap, he!
under. l want you to go to Goodwin
& Hart and take over the Ashle.
mortgage with my money, and not Ia
Dave know who has it. Hardy's go
ing to foreclose, with Mrs. Ashley jus
home from the hospital"
Mr.. Wade started back at her, sud
denly alert and aroused. The Ash
leys had been neighbors for years
and the doctor a close friend. He ros,
and took down his hat from the OLE
antelope antlers on the wall Connie
never spoke as he swung out Of tn,
door like boy and down the walk t.
the street.
She saw him turn at the corner oil
the way downtown, and then dropped
in the willow chair by the desk AMI
laid her head on It. Even if he di.
help on the mortgage, she knew /
would not put Dave on his feet, no
lift the barrier between them. 1t woulC
only tide him over until he could ge
a start. She sat in the study until I
was almost dark and Mrs Hopkins
came to say supper was ready twice
Finally she hesrd steps on the walk
and two figures came up to the door
She tried to fasten up her rumplet
hair when she heard Dawes voice il
the hall.
I've brought him back to suppe
because we've got to talk over som'
business" said Mr.. Wade cheerfully
"Hope you've got something good t.
eat. Con. Better open up some o
those strawberry preserves and tn
picked aprieots. Can't have aprico
brandy any more. Dave, but the
haven't shut down on pickles yet. 81