Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1896-02-20
AFFEcTleHATE M0LLIE.
A LOVE STORY.

did not think you cared for me; although
! shall you think me unniaidenly II say 81
hoped you would some day. cannot write all
feel. my heart Il too full; I am very happy;
your letter has made me 90. I win tell you
when you come tonight how much value
your lore and protection Yours always.
MoLLIE AERRTcK.
DR.. Hamilton sprang to his feet.
Who the what-what on
earth does the girl mean? ? I'm not
going to be uassried |! neyerthonght
OF tat least seriously; and never
for one moment that bread and
butter miss, Mollie Merrick
1T must be some trick of the
boys; it is not like that child, Mol
lie Merrick,' he calculated, after
lighting his pipe, and picking up
the offending letter to again re-read
it.
"Ihe 14th of February; a valen.
tine lean hardly believe it of her !!
1t must be the boys; yet, somehow,
it reads genuine.
1t's cruel Cruel {! Who could
have done it? What will she say
Poor little Mollle.'
DR.. Hamilton paused in his pac-
ings to and fro, in CONSERVATION,
as he realized the duty which lay
bsfore him, and pictured his girl
friends face stricken with grief and
humiliation, when he told her.
All day on his rounds Mollie Mer-
rick'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 re-
ality.
During his solitary dinner he
fancied her in the vacant place op-
posite his own, empty ever since his
mother died, and he looked up to
smile-at nothing.
'Pshaw ! he cried testify. 'Pll
60 and get the explanation over
AS he reached the house and
stood on the doorstep a shaft Of
light running aslant the road from
an opposite window attracted his at
tention.
Those Smiths ! what curious wo-
men they are: shouldn't wonder
if they had not something to do
with the valentine he muttered.
as he noticed two heads peering out
at him. Why don't they answer
the bell p
As he was admitted, shrieks of
laughter came from across the road,
and the blind fell with o crash.
With some trepidation DR.. Ham,
ilton entered.
A girl, in well-worn gown, rose
from her place on the hearth rug.
Paul Paul = she cried, shyly,
going toward him with eager, out
stretched hands, you have come at
last p
'Yes--er-Miss-er-Mollie.'
The girls hands dropped, and
she looked up little inquiringly
into the doctors perturbed face.
1t wasn't quite what she had ex-
pected.
DIR. Hamilton stood in the mid
die of the room. All the explana-
tory speeches he had laboriously
concocted on his way had all flown.
The silence vas becoming embar-
RAISING.
'Miss-er Miss Mollie-' he be-
gan.
She turned bright, expectsnt eyes
to him.
Il, er-that is-you see p he con-
cluded lamely.
DIR. Hamilton twirled his mus
tache savagely as he broke down.
The girls heart misgave Ler, and
the tears came very near the sur
face as a great fear rose to her mind.
. DIR. Hamilton do you regret your
choice already?' she asked, trem.
ulously, getting up and laying a
timid hand on his arm.
'No-er, that is-certainly not
he answered, hastily looking down
at the little hand. How soft and
white it was. He half hoped she
would keep it there. Mollie did |
so.
Then business kept you silent,
as it did me 2 she breathed softly. |
Il am glad. l was afraid it was |
something else,' she added, looking |
drsamily into the FIRE again.
DR.. Hamilton did answer. Look.
ing around he mentally contrassed
the dainty drswing-room with the
one which did duty as Q reception