The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-17
LOVING MOLLIE.
No. 5 Langham Square. Feb. 14

"deareSt' in my heart, so it does not come
strangely to me to write it, since you ask me.
did not think you cared for me, although
shall you think me unmaidenly if 1 say?-l
hoped you would, some day. / cannot write
all I feel; my heart is too full. am very hap
Ply; your letter has made me so. viii tell
you when you come tonight how much l value
your love and protection. Yours always,
MoLLIE MERRTCK.
Dr. Hamilton sprang to his feet.
''Who the-what-what on earth does
the girl mean? I'm not going to be mar
riedI Never thought of it, at least seri-
ously, and never for one moment that bread
and butter miss, Mollie Merrick,'' he ejac
ulated after lighting his pipe and picking
up the offending letter again to reread it.
Its forgery. Who could have done
it? What will she say? Poor little Mollie!'
DR.. Hamilton paused in his pacings to
and fro in CONSERVATION as he realized tbs
duty which lay before him and pictured
his girl friends face stricken with grief
and humiliation, when be 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 he 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. "Ill go and
get the explanation over"
AS he reached the house and stood on
the doorstep shaft of light running aslant
the road from opposite window attn
ed his attention.
s'Those Smithsonian curious women
they arel I shouldn't wonder if they had
something to do with the valentine
he muttered as he noticed two heads peer
ing out at him. "Why don't they answe1
the bell?''
AS he was admitted shrieks of laughter
came from across the road, and the blind
fell with a crash
With some trepidation DR.. Hamilton en-.
tered
A girl in a well worn gown rose from
her place on the hearth rug.
"Paul, Paull' she cried shyly, going
toward him with eager, outstretohed
hands. "You have come at last?"
'Yes-er-M ss-er-Mollie. "
The girls hands dropped, and she look
ed up little inquiringly into the doctors
perturbed face. 1t wasn't quite what she
had expected.
DR.. Hamilton stood in the middle of the
room. All the explanatory speeches he
had laboriously conoocted on his way had
flown. The silence was becoming embar-
| RAISING.
'Miss-er-Miss Mollie, - he began
She turned bright, expectant eyes to
him.
''I-er-that is, you see, - he concluded
lamely.
DR.. Hamilton twirled his mustache saw
agely as he broke down.
The girls heart misgave her, and the
tears came very near the surface as a great
fear rose in her mind
"Dr. Hamilton, do you regret your
! choice already?' she asked TREMENDOUSLY,
| getting up and laying a ti1nid hand on his
arm.
''No-er-that is-certainly not, he
| answered, hastily looking down at the lit
tie hand. How soft and white it was He
half hoped she would keep it there. Mollie
did so.
"Then business kept you silent, as il
did me?'' she breathed softly. Il glad.
| I was afraid it was something else, " she
added, looking dreamily into the fire
| again
DIR. Hamilton did not answer. Looking
! round, he mentally contrasted 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 if she
were there.
In the bright freight he saw with fresh
| eyes how sweet and womanly she had be-
come, and q great desire to have her for
| his own, to love and protect, took posses
| sion of him, and, above all, to keep the
| grief and humiliation which the practical
/ joke would subsequently cause out of her
face.
''Mollie, dollie, darlingp' he whispered.
1t was strange how easily the endear-
ment came to his lips. He felt some sur
| prise himself, not unmixed with pleasure.
Dropping on her knees beside him, Mol
lie laid her head carelessly on his arm.
! paul, 1 don't half deserve my happi-
/ 7 7 tod -
ten at my dependence on aunt. L feel now
have been ungrateful."
81 can guess, dear, - he answered.
"YOur letter has changed all that, Paul"
81 should like to see my letter, little
one, =" said DR.. Hamilton.
Its my first love letter. Paul, - she said,
laughing happily. II was quite cross this
! afternoon when Mathilda Smith guessed
had had one.''
The doctor looked up sharply from the
letter Then he turned to the letter again.
The writing was a weak imitation of his
own. He wondered it had suficed fol
Mollie, but it had, and with little or nc
regret DR.. Hamilton determined to let il
stand.
''MolIie, " said DR.. Hamilton as she stood
with her hand On the latch ready to let him
| out at last, fare you very great friends
with those Smiths? 1 hope not
''Not lately, Paul. L managed to offend
them some time ago, but this afternoon
they were quite pleasant for them.
Chow did you manage that, dearest?''
asked the doctor, anxious to get at some
motive for the trick played.
cit will seem a foolish reason to you,
Paul, but a woman's age is a ticklish
point, and I inadvertently betrayed them.
1 was very sorry, and thought they would
never forgive me until this afternoon. -
cob! Ali 1 see, - he answered. Good
by, Mollie, darling"
'fWhat a long time he's been with herl
What can have happened?" the Misses
Smith asked each other.
Next day they knew. The doctor met
| ~ i - 7,