The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1897-04-17

but my names as much Mary William
as hers is. and the boy gave It to me.
Very little sleep visited poor Mollie'
pillow that night, but the result OF thu
conflict between duty and longing wal
shown when, about nine O'Clock thu
next morning, a detected little figure
carrying pasteboard box crept slow
~ up the gravel walk leading to Con
gresham Williams handsome suburb
an residence.
The door was opened by q pompous-
looking colored man.
No, you can't see Miss Mamie
She's takin' her music lesson. I'll
glib her de bundle, an little girl, mex
time come to de back do'-dis do Is
for de quality"
Here you, Jim! Show the young
lady to the library" and Mr.. Williams,
who had been taking a walk on the
veranda. threw away his cigar, and
coming forward, greeted Mollie with
every sign Of respect.
Mollie, ushered by the now obsequi-
Gus Jim into the library, perched her
self uneasily upon the edge Of a leather
upholstered chair while the master of
the house seated himself opposite, and
undertook to make her feel at home.
Il guess we'd better not disturb
Mamie just now. but suppose you and
l can entertain each other a while"
he said.
Mollie gasped Eyes. sir" and he con-
tinued:
Seems to me ought to know you.
oh, yes, daughter of my namesake Mr..
Williams, the shoemaker"
Then, noticing the box which she
still held, Are you bringing a valen-
tine to my little daughter"
Then Mollie found her tongue. mo,
sir-it amt mine-I think it's hers
but the boy give it to me-only amt
got any Aunt Maryland they call me
Mollie."
This was not very lucid, but her
hearer seemed to understand as he took
tie box and opened it.
"0h, I see, case OF mistaken identity.
from my sister Mary, who doesn't be-
lieve in spelling good old-fashioned
names. Now tell me about your own
valentines"
His political opponents who could
not understand the popularity which
made it impossible to defeat the con-
gresham, might have partly under
stood the mystery could they have
seen how he had Mollie perfectly at
home in a few minutes, curled up in
the capacious chair, contentedly
munching his wife's French bonbons.
and telling the whole story of tha
homemade valentines and her own
and struggles.
Without questioning, he contrived to |
get pretty good idea Of the struggle !
with poverty in the shoemaker's home. |
Indeed Mollie, waxing most confiden-
tial, seemed disposed to exhibit all the
family skeletons, until he delicately /
turned the subject.
How Is your father? I don't think /
saw him when l was home last fall
just before the election"
NO." said Mollie, you wouldn't be
apt to. We're Republicans, you know.
That is, most Of US are. The children
At school throw it up to US, and Pete
says he amt going to stand 1t, so he's
turned Dimmicrat,. but me and jake
we're Republicans, like pa"
There was something so heroic in
his speech that her listener didn't feel
/ bit like laughing.
That's right, honor you for your
adherence to principle. 1 hope the
ime will come when you yourself will
iave the privilege Of voting for-l
mean against me. Well, little daugh-
er, through with the one-two-three-
ours?" as a quantity attired little girl
anne into the room and shyly gave her
land to Mollie.
1T was so kind of you to bring it to
me-" she said, after the valentine had
,een duly admired. II hope you got
everal pretty ones yourself"
NO" said Mollie, choking back a
OBJ, Il didn't get any but that-and it
wasn't mine"
TOO bad" said Mamie. Maybe
QUILL get some yet. I got two last year
n the fifteenth. Must you go?"
There was really no excuse for ling
ring, so after her host had emptied the
ontents Of the bonbon box into her
ocket, Mollie reluctantly departed.
Papa" said Mamie, as they stood
their departing guest, of
curse couldn't give her Aunt Maryis
but couldn't send her some
Z the others?"
That's my own little daughter"
aid her father, but keep your valen-
mes; papa will fix it"
And Mamie, who knew all about
apa's way Of fixing things. was more
han content with this promise. So
ere the Williams children, for they
Il got valentines and something more
~, fol hafnra he Low had /