Middletown transcript., 1904-03-05
| will be nurse until Jane comes.

Anu Ottiid uicW boI kohSiT ou0 oA 'AAS
room. Molly did not resist she wanted
to get away by herself, to be alone some
where out of doors with the sunshine
and the flowers. She kissed Stella ten
derly, ,and, giving her some directions
about medicine, she left her charge. But
she did not 20 to her room to lie down,
as Stella expected her to do. She got a
hat and light wrap and went out-of-
doors. 1t was a lovely July morning,
and all the earth was astir with the mys-
terious noises of that early hour. Yet
on all around there seemed to lie an air
Of calmness and peace, through which
the carolling Of the larks in the blue
heavens and the buzzing of the infinite
simal life in the gorse rang like notes OF
joy.
Molly wandered on, hardly knowing
where her feet were taking her, till she
came out of the woods to the moorland
that crowned the hill above the house.
She followed the narrow track between
the heath and gorse to the ridge OF the
hill, and then stopped. Down below
her, winding round the base OF the
hill, was the road from Deepdene West.
There by the bridge was the place where
the horse had fallen SO long ago, bring
ing the dog cart down with it. She had
been thrown out and had lain for time
irsensible. She could dimly remember
Alan carrying her across the heath to
the lodge, and then all was blank again
till she found herself at home in her own
room.
Then next day Alan's letter had been
brought to her. She remembered the
first overwhelming shock OF joy, for she
had never dreamed that he loved her.
Ard then Catharine had come in and
had told her-oh, the shame OF it y
that Alan could have done no less than
propose to her after the night before,
when she had betrayed her mad love for
him SO fully. And, smarting with bitter
humiliation, she had written to refuse
him, and had heard no more. He had
called the next day to say goodbye, she
had seen him leave the house from the
window of her room, and then had come
silence.
Molly wondered how she had lived
through those years. Looking back on
them, it was strange to her how her feet
had found strength to tread the finty
ways. Whatever happened now, even if
Alan had forgotten her, life could never
be so hard again. He had loved her once.
She had his last letter safely hidden
close to her heart. If his first letter had
been like that, she would not have be-
lieved that it had been pity alone which
had made him write. Love, passionate
love, spoke in every imploring sentence.
She had found it harder to forgive Cath
arine since reading that dear letter.
She turned back down the hill and
entered the woods again. The church
clock struck eight. and she quickened
her steps. She was nearing the house,
when she came suddenly on Anthony,
who had emerged from narrow path
Just ahead of her, and was standing as if
undecided which way to go. He turned
with start as she spoke to him.
did not expect tosee you out so early,
Miss Mary. How is Miss Passingham 2
he said hastily.
Much better, ! hope. Come back to
breakfast with me, Anthony. You will
be company for Stella.
He looked miserably undecided.
/ will come in later, think. II was
of calling to ask how Miss Pass
ingham was, but
Anthony, you are i'll yourself Molly
exclaimed, breaking into the middle of
his sentence. My dear boy, you ought
to be in your bed. shall have to come
and nurse you next. What is the mat
ter? You look thoroughly done up. You
have one Of your bad headaches. / am
sure.
Yes-it was the heat yesterday, he
said, avoiding her anxious glance. will
20 home now and lie down. am glad
that Miss Passingham is so much better.
He lifted his cap and turned as if to 60,
but Molly laid her hand on his arm.
Anthony, you have always confded to
me. Won't you confde in me now? l
can see that something is wrong. Tell
me.
She saw his lip quiver.
Am I such bad actor? he said sadly.
wanted no one to know what fool l
have been.
She was gazing anxiously at him.
Anthony, did you and Stella quarrel
asst night? Don't be foolish, and let
He interrupted her.
Then she has not told you? No-I see
that she has not. But she will this
morning. Don't think that blame her
[ shall never do that.
Do you mean that she has refused your
Molly's tone was sharply incredulous.
She is engaged already to Mr.. Creigh-
ION. She told me SO last night. That is
why he is coming here. But she will
ell you herself this morning.
Anthony looked steadily away from
Molly as he blurted out these hasty sem
ences, and he did not see the piteous
change that came over her face. She |
'eeled little as if she had received an
Ictual blow, but courage was one OF the |
strongest factors in, her nature, and she |
allied almost instantly.
No-she has .nottold me yet, Anthony, |
he said in quiet tones. Do you mean
hat she has been engaged to him for
ome time?
1t was settled just before she came
lome, think, he answered. He gave
Ter quick look, trying to force smile.
I is not going to make any difference in