Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-08-20
LOVING MOILIE.
No. Langhnm Square, Feb. II. 49,

| did not think you cared for me. although
shall you think me unmDidenly il sayf-I
hoped you would. some day. / cannot write
| all feel; my heart is too full am very hap
| by; your letter has made me so. Will tell
you when you come tonight how much value
your love and protection. Yours always,
| MoILTE MERRICK.
DIR. Hamilton sprang to his feet.
| "Who the-what-what on earth docs
the girl mean? I'm not going to be mar
ricd! Never thought of it, ut least seri-
ously, and never for one moment that bread
and butter miss, Mollie Mcrrick, =" he cjac-
ulated after lighting his pipe and picking
up the offending letter again to rercad it,
"It's forgery. Who could have dono
1t? What will she say2 Poor little Mollie"
DR. Hamilton paused In his pacings to
and fro in CONSERVATION as he realized tho
duty which lay before him and pictured
| his girl friends face, stricken with grief
and humiliation, when he told her.
All day on his rounds Mollie Merrick's
letter haunted the doctor. Her face with
the love light in it rose continually before
him, and lie wondered how she would look
in reality
During his solitary dinner he fancied
her in the vacant place opposite his own,
empty ever since his mother died, and he
looked up to smile-at nothing.
"Pshawl" he cried testify. "I'll 90 and
get the explanation over"
AS he reached the house and stood on
the doorstep shaft of light running aslant
the road from an opposite window attract
cd his attention.
"Those Smithsonian curious women
they aro l shouldn't wonder II they had
something to do with tho valentine"
he muttored as ho noticed two heads peer.
ing out ut him. "Why don't they answer
the bcllf'
As he was admitted shrieks of laughter
came from across tho road, and the blind
fell with a crash.
With some trepidation Dr. Hamilton en-.
tered.
a girl in we'll worn gown rose from
her place on the hearth rug.
paul, Paul!'' she cried shyly, going
toward him with eager, outstrctched
hands. "You have come at last?"
-Miss-cr-Mollic."
The girls hands dropped, and she look
ed up little inquiringly into tho doctors
perturbcd face. 1t wasn't quito what she
had expected.
Dr. Hamilton stood In the middle of the
room. All the explanatory speeches he
had laboriOusly cunCoctCd on his way had
flown. The silence was becoming embar-
RAISING.
"Miss-cr-Miss Mollic,'' ho began.
She turned bright, expectant eyes to
him.
"I-cr-that is, you see, " he concluded
lamoly.
Dr. Hamilton twlrlcd his mustacho saw
agcly as he broke down.
10 al bnnrt ,,,isn har MI i,,
tears came very near the surface rs a great
fear rose in her mind.
"Dr. Hamilton, do you regret your
choice alrcatly?' she asked TREMENDOUSLY,
getting up and laying timid hand on his
arm.
"No-er--that is--ccrtainly not" he
answered, hastily looking down at the lit
tic hand How soft and white it wasl He
half hoped she would keep it there. Mollio
did so.
"Then business kept you SILENT rs 1t
did mc?" she brcathed softly Il am glad.
l was afraid 1t was something else" she
added, looking dreamily into the fire
again
DR.. Hamilton did not answer. Looking
round, he mentally contrastcd the dainty
drawing room with the one which did du-
ty as "a reception room In his own lonely
home. He thought of the dust which lay
thickly on his surgery shelf and imagined
what the fair, slender girl would do II she
were there.
In the bright 1relght he saw with fresh
eyes how sweet and womanly she had bo-
come and u great desire to have her for
his own, to love and protect, took possess
sion of him, and, above all, to Keep the
grief and humiliation which the practical
joke would subsequently cause out Of her
face.
'Mollie, Mollie, darling!" he whispered.
1t was strange how easily the endcar-
mont came to his lips. He felt some sur
prise himself not unmixcd with pleasure.
Dropping on her knees beside him, Mol
lie laid her head carelessly on his arm.
Paul, l don't half deserve my happi-
ness. must tell you l have frotted so Of
ten at my dependence on aunt. feel now
have been ungratoful."
II can guess, dear" he answered.
your letter has changed all that Paul"
Il should like to SEQ my letter, little
one, " said DIR. Hamilton.
Its my first love letter, Paul, she said,
laughing happily II was quito cross this
afternoon when Mathilda Smith guessed
had had one"
The doctor looked up sharply from tho
letter Then he turned to the letter again.
The writing was weak imitation of his
own He wondered 1t had sufIiced for
Mollie, but it had, and with littlo or no
regret DIR. Hamilton determined to let 1t
stand.
"Mollie, F" said DIR. Hamilton as she stood
with her hand on the latch ready to let him
out at last, ARE you very great friends
with those Smiths? l hope not"
mot lately, Paul. managed to offend
them some time ago, but this afternoon
they were quite pleasant for them"
How did you manage that, dcarcstT
asked the doctor, anxious to get at some
motive for the trick played.
1T will seem foolish reason to you,
Paul, but woman's age is ticklish
point, and 1 inadvertently betrayed them.
was very sorry, and thought they would
never forgive me until this afternoon"
"Oh! All! / sec, he answered Good
by, Mollie, darling"
What long time hos been with herl
What can have happoncdS" the Misses
m