The Atlanta constitution., 1900-10-29
CHAPTER VIII
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When Molly returned from her consti-
tutioual. she was somewhat damped hy
her aunt's manner. Not only did Mrs.
Mackenzie announce n dissemination for
tea. and "A determination to remain In her
rom for the remainder or the afternoon.
hut she adiu-ed Molly to profit by her ab-
seur. To mike 10 their hostess the .ong-
talked-of announcement ~ her departure.
This time Molly felt she dared no longer
postpone il. and went downstairs with a
sOber face and sedate tread very un-
usual to her
Miss O'NeiII was already installed by
tls. fire. lively and conversational that
Molly found il even more difficult than
she had expected 20 make her speech;
hut az last she hiur;cd IL out and nervcd
hcrSsif u meet the indignant opposition
she deemed inevitabls. No such thing.
however. Was forthcoming Miss D'Neili
IscsIdsd smiIIn-iy. sni returned that she
81 TTcsesi All things much come 10 n: end.
ans. IL Molly wished to leave she certainly
vcEld not endssivo- 10 detain hC-. Then
she leaned hack i'm her chair. and slipped
her tea with an appearance of unimpaired
Ctsecrfuincss though every furtiVc glance
" hich she stole "a Nelly confirmed her
Inward Indignation and disgust In truth.
the latter vas iil-accustomed To- disscm-
bIe. and tine disappointment which she
tives than thosc attributed 10 her. was
plainly visible On her face Was this to
J., alle No word Of regret. no hint of the
pleasure which her society had given,
nor of the hope that her visit would bee
renewed Stronger than her natural re-
grct at the conclusion of her happy holi-
siay. at the hisldiug farewell 90 that lovely
place. WAS her sorrow - parting from its
owner ON such terms
affection OF airy Indifference To the end.
and in M WAY 10 bctFay hcr secret an
noyanCc and disilIusion. but the more Of
ten she glanced at Molly the faster did
her sclf-ccutToI desert her. and there w.ls
a Hurry in her manner. an acrimony Ia
her tone when next she spoke which de-
noted the fact
= ssresay tins is not quite what you
expected. my dear,
Molly looked up with startled. question
ing eyes. bug WIs silent
''Oh. pray coat h.lVc amy delicacy about
speaking openly" went on Miss O'Neiil.
with Il short sarcastic laugh II know
al about DO. { assure you / had little
talk visn your aunt jt.st now. and IN
slsrStIud you much better than l DID
Nothing Tor nothing IN this world Is
there AuL one can expect to enjoy a
charming girls socirJy. aud 10 Receive
all sorts o. kind. unligIng. s.misible ilitle
att, uticns without n.aikins some cumpen-
sssrHou- Let me ~st.''-cosIutinE On her
muz,vrs---st smile an hour. al ghe very
least. a hundred ar So ~ amusing; speech
- ia th-. Lay. and. on an average. nIiy
Tuuuiu-s L. aAL fru. fetching aud carry
iug-slear me. i .lm dreadfuiiy IN your
debit. How shall 1 ever make il Up 10
YOU Perhaps. AS y"u hay. bccn 50 fo--
h,.sring hitherto. you will continue TO be
I.ssi,ut just "a little longer
what do SOU mean cried Molly.
spriuEiuE % her feet
n mean that- as / am under such very
great oI legations q" you. you might. per-
IIar~. D.. kind enough ta allow them - -
discharged after ny death. You may al
ready have Thought ~ this
There was Ha mistakius tho old laiy's
meaning now. and thare were two courses
"Tseu tn Molly by which any well behaved
,ouus badly would ltly have expressed
h-r resentment "a IT, She ought either
q" have left tIir room iu silence. and
thus crushed her aSsiiiant hy her dignity.
ur else ru il.sv.. dissolved lu tears. and IN
s-ssles~rs.rse ssftaus-I her heart. ] am
afraid uur heroine was Not "a wcll-5e-
hsvssl Euurs lasiy. for she did neither ~
the~.. thiues- She, tUrmrI very pale. and
har vs.ss ~iuok but it WIS with exceed
iu- au-e~-
--If vru tLiu- 2 want your nasty
r-ruusr.-- sri,-i Molly. 20 don't, - there,
I'm VERY E.,i I'm going away. and hope
I-l never src SOU again n 7 have been
polite and attentive tn vorI. ~ was only
out - s-rmulou c.viiity- aud as fnr fetch
fH- and strrviuE ia Is nn more than
would sIo fer old IsidJv at the lodge I
tri..l to help ven. sud u amuse yo's. be-
CssuSe 2 au youug aUd active. and you
are lonely and old. that's all
How dare vpu,-' infcrposed Miss
O.Scill. ferccIy. how dare YOU taunt me
like that with your-yOur insolent
."uths-
--Hnw dare won insult me. them" re-
turned Molly hotly II am only speaking
the truth Z di.l aIl 7 could Tor you. be-
cause Z WIS >sTrv for you- and ] like
y"u-hIt Z s.on-t like You now" she added
hastily. fearing best the avowal might be
ruiss-nuStrursI into "A fresh proof Of inter-
tStrd design
Turr- Was uo doubt about IL. Molly