The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1890-10-08

~ aOic, Vi course, 10 nave cOmpanIOr
for reading, Tor whatever else. And to de
mand it of youl And-don't be angry
with ne--but she doesn't make tn,
slightest return, I'll warrant"
Molly smiled timoroHsly. So far fron
being angry, she felt little joyful thrill
at his concern for her.
No, she hasn't she said, trying b
look at him, and getting as far as hisshit
stud But Pm sorry for her, Mr.. Johr-
son. She's all alone in the world. She
hasn't any friends, and nobody likes he.
OF course she can be disagreeable but
well, get on with her"
" Nobody but you could, /" said Phil, al
most tenderly,
".And," said. Molly, shyly, I'm some
comfort to her, think and / couldn't
be cool To her-I couldn't
81 believe you're the sweetest girl
person in the world, Phil murmured, in
unwilling admiration.
And then Mrs. Crowell, having CON-
pletely subdued the landlady, captured
Molly with single imperative gince,
and eoolly bore her away.
If she would show little gratitude,
even, Phil reflected, wrathfully. ''But
she doesn't feel any, and she's best !"
If he was angry with Mrs Crowel at
noon, he was wildly exasperated that
evening. he had bought some thater
tickets and had hurried home frol the
office breathlessly to ask Molly to gwitlI
him. He never ventured so far efore,
and he was all warmth and eager
ness.
But Mrs Crowell was already atiinner
and Molly was beside iser. She siiled at
him brightly, to be sure, but tbs, neces-
sarily, was all.
Mrs. Crowell, when she wanot max
ing demands of Susan and npleasant
little remarks to the boardeA talked to
her Continuously in her nsrsl, aggressive
voice.
Phil could not have puta word, even
though his life depended,n it.
His good temper did dend on it. He
looked across at Molly's crEn of fair hair
lit was all he could see her since old
Mr.. Smith had secured hiOroper place
and grew hot with grie'us wrath and
pale with apprehension, or he knew it
was by no means probab that he could
secure moment with he
He heard Mrs. Groves hard tones,
and gazed glaringly at heieep-hued face
with its unpleasant feates.
He refused desse IT froningly, and got
up from the table witfsomething of
frenzy. Probably it wahrough bis ex-
cited desperation-he diaot know what
it was, or how he did itbut he made a
determined rush, and fud himself pres
emily standing in q. corr of the parlor,
with Molly beside him. ind out in the
hall Mrs. Crowell was arply demand
ing of everybody whe Miss Holden
was.
"Well, did it ~ PIishispered, with
his head necessarily csc to Molly's. |
Mercy , what a drg she is To !
think of my having lciaIly to kidnap |
you y
They laughed togeae with guilty |
heartiness which thrstned to become /
audible.
" / have got some thsre tickets, Miss
Molly" said Phil, pluylg into his sub
ject with an impellinge of Mrs. Crow
all. & want to tax ou. You'll go.
Don't say you won'tw
Tonight ," Mol queried, her
bright, beaming face cding quite mis-
erabfy.
No, l won't say Cont | would,
with so much pleas,; but-I-can't
do it,
You can't? o, MislolIy, why ?n he
questioned, with real ,uish.
Il don't dare TO tell mot after your
lecture" Molly. falters
"Is it Mrs. Crowell?e said, in wretch
ed divination.
Yes" she respond with soft re-
gret which touched comforted him.
" | promised to stay n her this even
ing; she isn't very W
Well ~ said Philith a groan. sShe
took veal twice, and dishes of toma-
toes
Yes" Molly admd, gently /" but
that is what she ss and promised
to read 10 her again TN sorry y
Are you sorry?" Il queried. @IfI
thought that-see he Miss Molly, Pm
gcing to put an end by misery. l can
only see you once aek, that's plain ;
I'm resigned to that,s remarked, with
a sort of grim tenders
but | want to now that that
it's all right, anyhowhen / guess can
stand it. I've been love with you
ever since sawIyouIolly, and / want
to marry you. TheIhat's plain OF
course, can't marryu now haven't
anything 10 get msh on but / shall
have, you'll see I'Eork for it, and it
won't be long. Molly
And he knew, wine happy glance
at her face, that theeliest girl in the
world was his own
He hardly knew " the por.iere part
ed, and Mrs. Croweitern countenance
protr. ..ded itself, abfoliy was swept
away. 1t was not iuse he had much
hope of seeing her the fingered in the
parlor after breakfaext morning, for
Mrs. Crowell had neen at the break :
fast table, and neithad Molly, and he
was moderately ces that the former
was indisposed, andt Molly was with
her. He waited sv minutes before
going to the Office, lgh, to think over ,
his happiness. Hd lain awake ali