The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1897-07-24
isfed happiness, and, safely assured

isfed happiness, and, safely assured
of Molly's deep devotion and untir-
ing affection, why should he be 9th
erwise than happy himself2
Presently there came to his ears
the sound of footsteps, measured
and slow, crushing among leaves
and sna ping fallen twigs. Some
one was coming along the path that
skirted the stream. 1t was not Mol
ly, he knew She would come from
the other direction, and, as it was
NV Molly, what did he care for the
personality of the stroller7 So in
different was he indeed that he did
not even raise his head until this
Invader of his solitude was at his
back and speaking to him.
ANDREW, my son, he said, why
are you idling here9 Why are you
not up yonder with the villagers
who are searching for the body of
poor Alec, the son of your neighbor,
who was drowned last night in the
stream -
It was Father O'Malley, the vii
lage priest, who had thus come up
on him-Father O'Malley, who had
no sympathy with oilers.
II don't care to hunt for dead
bodies" replied Andrew. "Besides
I've got to wait here for some one.
The good priest shrugged his
shoulders.
"It's lucky you are so we'll off, "
he added, with a grain of sarcasm
in his voice. "There is a reward of
82, I believe, for the person who
shall discover the poor lad 8 corpse.
Andrew made no reply. He SIM
ply drew in his line and threw it
out again farther toward the mid
die of the stream, and Father O'Mal-
ley walked on with his hands be-
hind his back.
The next minute there was rus
tie among the bushes near by, and
Molly, who had taken a somewhat
circuitous route to where the will
lows marked the waters edge, SO
that she might not be observed by
the other servants of the house,
stood before her lover, flushed and
beautiful, but with teardrops glis-
tening on the lashes of both her
eyes. In an instant Andrew had
dropped his pole, had sprung to his
feet and was holding her in his
arms. Then their lips met in long,
passionate kiss.
Molly's pink eyelids and flooded
lashes told to Andrew the expected
story.
"Come, Molly, DEAR" he said
soothingly; don't take on SO. Sit
down by me here, and we'll talk it
all over. After all, she isn't your
mother, and what does it matter
what she says9'
But Molly could not be brought
to look upon the situation in that
light. Even the 81 which Andrew
drew proudly from his pocket and
displayed to her did not affect her
in the least.
1T would not last us week, she
murmured, land then what should
we do, with neither Of us in posi-
ton to earn any mores"
Andrew hung his head in thought.
II know" he said suddenly look
ing up. II know. There is a reward
of 60 offered for the finding of poor
Alec Darby's body-Alec Darby
that was drowned while bathing in
this very stream last night. I'll go
and find it. I think maybe it's
caught in the reeds and PUSHES up
above here, and then," he went on,
his eyes sparkling, 1--WE will be rich
enough to go wherever we like"
Even as he spoke Molly, pointing
to an object floating down with the
current, exclaimed:
"Look, lookl It is a hat, Andrewi
Perhaps it is that of poor Alec, the
drowned man."
Andrew followed the direction Of
her dainty finger, and saw, as she
had said, a hat Of fine, white straw,
with crown only touching the wa
ter, the brim being upward.
"Take your pole, Andrew" ahe
cried, land bring it into shore.
Who knows2 It is possible that he
killed himself on purpose and has
left note under the lining, as ship
wrecked sailors put notes into bot
Ties"
The rustic obeyed her command,
and the girl lifted the dripping OBJ
ject from the stream.
Eagerly she ran her hand beneath
the leather sweat band, and then she
uttered cry Of surprised delight.
LAS I said," she shouted, There
is q notel'
As she unfolded it Andrew, EVIL
dencing as much excitement as his
phlegmatio nature was capable of,
pazed eagerly over her shoulders