The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1919-01-14
Swan to the Struggling Cousin.

Then she'd pay off that wretched little
$1,000 mortgage that was tormenting
daddy and her stepmother, Miss
Louie and fix up the house and help
them school the boys, her stepbrothers,
Tony and Eddie, fourteen and twelve.
But now-since last week-she didn't
expect to marry Tommy
"Good-by, dear" her stepmother
held open the gate as she drove out,
going back to Cousin Lettie Mangus,
with whom she boarded in town; "my
love to Tommy"
On her way to town Reba went over
1t all. Mrs. Frederick Cloud, whose
husband had been cousin to Miss
Louie's first husband, was an ardent
admirer of Miss Louie, on whom she
imposed herself as frequent visitor, or
dering what she liked for dinner.
while she went fishing with the little
boys on the deep river that bordered
the Allenby plantation.
But Cousin Clarissa was very I'M
popular with Tony and Eddie; also
she was an intimate friend of Tommy
Hedworths grandmother, In San An
tonic. Not that that mattered, until
she quarreled with Reba over a long
distance call. Reba was not to blame.
but Mrs. Cloud chose to think SO, and
promptly took train to see her old
friend, Mrs. Hedworth.
A few days later Tommy, Just off
the train came to Rebas boarding
place.
"That old cat-I beg your pardon,
Reba, I mean Mrs. Cloud-has been to
grandmother p he blurted out. "And
now-now grandma says If we-if we
are married."
shell 'cut you off without a shill-
ing as they do in story books |" Reba
smiled In his troubled eyes.
He nodded. "That's it But that
won't keep me from you, sweetheart"
"What did your grandmother say I'd
doneT
"She said-please forgive me for re-
beating it, Reba-you weren't suit
able Wife for her grandson. begged
her to invite you to see her, so she
could see you were q thousand times
too good for me; but she wouldn't lis
ten. / came on to tell you. before the
old cat could spread my intentions as
she gauges them"
Reba stood up. "You go back home.
Tommy Hedworth, and tell your grand
mother we are not going to marry"
0ntnn 70 ~
threw trembling arms about her; h
was white to the lips "Reba. don't
you love me?"
"Of course l do, foolish. But you do
as / say. I'm not going to make you
lose your rightful inheritance"
"Oh, Reba, let's let 1t gol l meant
when 1t was mine to do justice to
some of those people," he flushed as if
he were to blame for his grandfather's
deeds, "those people whom GRANDPA
Their defrauded. I meant you should
help your father and Miss Louie as
much as you wanted to. l meant to
do so much, Reba, but-you-youll
take me without it, won't you? / will
get something to do and you-you
have so great q head, when we are
married, you can manage-we can do
on just a little, can't WEI"
You do as l say, Tommy" she told
him, even as her heart sank I'll try
to make things come right"
Tommy hadn't ever known what 1t
was to 10 without things, and she
couldn't bear to have him uselessly
come to endure privations. He
shouldn't either. even If she had to
give him up. But her eyes were red
that evening when on the street she
met Tony and Eddie. going home.
Hello, Sissyw Tony greeted her.
"Wisht you'd come out and go fishin'
with US tomorrow. Cousin Clarissa
and her pet, Marian Mckay, that min
ny she's been tryin' to sick Tom He'd
worth onto, are comm"
"Wisht Cousin Cliss'd fall in the
riverl I'd love to see her get duck
IMP observed Eddie.
"Why. Eddie, she can't swim !" Reba's
tone was reproving but there formed
| IA her brain rash and desperate plan
neeessitating Tony as confrere.
Next morning when Mrs. Cloud