Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1883-11-01

ulOuS nhpplH6SSg low udfeu sIie slV
and grin at herself in that aggravating
fashion, instead of looking properly
penatentl
AS these thoughts rushed through
Sir Johns mind he looked so intense
ly bewildered that Molly laughed soft
! ly as she left her seat and knelt beside
him.
Her tale was soon whispered into
his ear, and at its close Molly hid her
face in his breast, saying coaxlngly
''Now, father you'll forgive me, and
not talk any more of that horrid cou-
sin.
''All that is at an end, said Sir
John, coldly; you have shown me
! you are no fit wife for him. Deeply
as you have disappointed me, / do not
blame you so much as the man who
has stolen your affections. Never
mention him again, but understand
once for all that | will never consent
to your marriage with him"
Valnly Molly employed all the
pretty arts of coaxing of which she
was mistress. Sir John was obdurate
"a marble statue could not
have been less moved by her entrea-
ties.
For the second time that day she
left her fathers presence in floods Of
tears.
The next morning dawned bright
and beautiful morning after Mol
Tvs own heart. She had often decar-
ed that staying indoors in fine
weather was sinful, yet to-day she
remained shut up in her darkened
room.
Some stray sunbeams crept in
through the closed venetiane bring
ing with them faint Undesirable |
fragrance, which come from the mag
nificent Gloire de Dion which grew
underneath her window.
No trace of sunshine was on Molly's /
face as she reclined with closed eyes
in her own particular rocking-cham. |
Her thoughts were tinged by the
deepest gloom as she mentally con
trasted the two arrivals expected that
day.
The welcome and hustle peryading
the house related only to the first
her rich, prosperous cousin. The car
riage at the station, the open gaCes, !
the ObsequioUs servants, were for him /
not for her lover, who, because poor,
must arrive unwelcomed, and would |
leave with commands never to re-
turn.
Mollys ready tears began to fall as
she remembered Jacks triumphant /
assurance that, having gained her
love, he had nothing to fear lie
would learn that wealth, not love, is
the golden key that opens the world
The sound of wheels, borne in
through the open window, made Mol
ly cover her face with her hands, re-
sisting as disloyalty to Jack, the fem
mime impulse to take peep at Jacks
rival
Tick tick went the clock. How
slowly the time dragged on as Molly
rocked herself to and fro, picturing
the interview in the library
She was disturbed by hasty knock
OF which she took no notice till her
fathers voice made jump up hastily
and open the door.
Sir John looked very grave as he
silently placed in her hard the locket
she had given Jack the day before as
loye-token.
20. father why did you make him
give it bacl2" sobbed Molly. II liked
to think he had something of mine.
"Have done tritling, and speak sen
sibly, if you can" said her father
STORMY. Your cousin, Mr.. Graham,
insists upon an interview on the
ground that you sent him this locket
by way of encouragement 10 his suit.
lie is such a handsome young fellow,
no girl in her senses could help faEcy
ing himr
Here Molly, who had grown pale
with terror at the idea Of her locket
in the hands of the enemy, managed
TO gasp out, HE must have murdered
Jack, and stolen it!'
II should not blame him, if by Jack
you mean the young vagabOnd who
has been making love to you on the
sly. However, as it IS extremely I'M
likely he has done anything of the
kind, you had better come down ane
ask him for an explanation
SO saying, Sir John left the room,
and Molly, hardly waiting to smooth
her rutlled locks, hurried after him.
She ram down stairs two at a time,
but when she reached the library she
was seized by such a fit of nervousness
that she stood trembling for some min
utes before she summoned enough
courage to open the door
She entered so noiselessly as to be
unobserved by the two men who stood
in a distant window.
The dreaded cousin was gazing
eagerly at the view. as if learning it
by heart The unreasoning dislike
with which Molly had always thought
of MIN changed to suppressed excite
meut.
She could not see his face, but there
was something strangely familiar in
the set of his head aud in his easy,
careless attitude.
Molly'S heart beat almost to sufoca-
ton as She stood motionleSs at the
i. J. J. O..