The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1890-03-14

It Proved an Excellent One, as You
Shall See.

Shall See.
"My mind is made up and nothing
but an earthquake can change it," said
Mollie. with a saucy smile, as she
turned from the window, where she had
been idly standing while | reasoned
and expostulated until | was completely
tired out.
Mollie has will like iron. 1 fancy
she inhcritS it from her mothers side of
the house, though on occasions my wife
has said She got it all from my side.
Bat that has nothing to do with our
story; suffice it to say the will remains.
|, elderly man that | was, with a
whole regiment of book-keepers, clerks
and caSh-boys under my control, felt ut
terly incompetent to battle against one
frail woman who had become possessed
BY what is now termed IAN idea" but
what in the good old days we should
have called. without moments heSita-
ton. silly notion. Mollie always was
inclined 10 be strong minded, from her
baby-days up, and | had fought many
But never before had the enemy made
SO fearless and daring an assault as on
the occasion upon which our story opens.
After hearing the last decisive sentence
TALL from her lips, | sat speechless for
some time, out finally found breath to
calculate my strongest expression:
"Christopher COlumbus!" Mollie burst
into a laugh, and such laugh as would
have drawn a smile to lips more Grabbed
than mine-rippling, tin1liDg laugh,
like sparkling water playing over shin
ing pebbles
1t was also Wet )rious laugh over an
enemy defeated. For we'll she knew my
flag Of truce the arch little traitor!
Peace was then declared and sealed
with hearty kiss, and Molly hurried
away to contide her success to her
mother who had been won over 10 the
idea long before.
The result of all this was that the
next Monday morning Mollie was in a
very becoming travelling dress with hat
to match. a small reticule in one hand
and a Well-Worn book in the other, took
an caStern-b bound train for B | felt
strange goneneSS when the last fiutter
nj her pink and white handkerchief dis
appeared from view as the train passed
out Of the long depot, and wished fer
vently that an idea had never got hold
OF her She was plenty good enough be-
fore, and a great deal more comfort.
The weeks and months passed slowly
by, with Mollie's breezy letters coming
to us like little whiffs of fresh air. She
seemed to be getting on finely with her
idea, or else it was getting on finely
with her. never could quite decide
which way the matter stool.
The house was very qu.ct without
her. When got home from the store
at night how | missed her. She was
the only one OF our children left to
brighten our old days. Some we had
buried and the rest were happy in homes
OF their own. So we naturally clung tC
Mollie
Spring came at last, and brought he1
homo for vacation Whether it was
vacation from her idea or not | never
asked her. | had a dim misgiving that
she had it with her locked up in hel
great trunk, so kept quiet on the subject
for fear she might produce it. At any
rate it had not spoilt her. She was
brighter and prettier than ever, and
more interesting than whole houseful
Of people without ideas. She played or
the piano, and danced, and ran races al
over the place with her pet dog; man
aged her own boat on the river with
more skill than many a man could boast
of: rode horse back. worked in the gar
den. tried her hand at the lawn-mOwel
and took long romps over the country
That idea had frightened her up won
derfully. She was almost monomaniat
on the subject of fresh air.
The first thing she did when she
reached home was to tear up the heav,
carpets and take down the massive cur
tains in her room, and bundle them out ts
the store-room. Then she got ligh
mating for the floor, bamboo furni
ture in place of the elegant walnut Sc
which | took such pride in giving he
on her eighteenth birthday, and hung
delicate lace curtains in the wide win
dows, so that the sun could send hi.
welcome RAYS into the room from the
time he rose in the morning until he re
tired at night. There didn't seem to bt
trace of an idea around. 1t was jus
sweet, breezy room. with no dark cor
ners or shadowy places wherein unpleas
ant spirits could dwell.
enjoyed taking my Sunday nap u
there. on the wide bamboo lounge in tn,
sunny bay-wsrfew slept better ant
felt more refreshed when I walked thar
when | took my nap down in the shad,
sitting-room on the soft couch tina
every one admired so much.
When fall came and Mollie prepared
to leave us again she insisted upon GU
moving into her pretty room. hesitat
ed fearing it would be too breezy in
cold weather. But she spread grea,
soft rug by the bed. and another il
front of the Fireplace, and hung some
warm-looking pictures on the dclicately
tinted walls, and it took the cold feelin,
all away.
! know | slept better in that room
than ever had in ours. 1t seemed t,
put new life in me. / almost forgot how