The Washington times., 1904-03-17

she cried. eScitedIy. why don't you
sneak for yourself. Augusta What
else should you say"
The door was tapped upon and opened
simultaneously wei, good people.
said a fresh. young vosee, I've come
from my runaway It's time for her
r.iedicine- Have The young girl
paused. startled at the sight of Hard
ing's face. why, what's the natter
she asked
Augusta broke in upon Harding's hesi-
tation ''Oh. Cousin Molly, he is 80
stupid she cried. shriily- II have done
It quite right. Bessie said II wanted
TO stay here I should marry Mr.. Hard
irg. and I have asked him just the way
John Alden did. exactly. I told him you
wanted TO marry him-I thought I'd
rather say you than Bessie-and that
,-o,i had sent ne to ask him. and
Augusta cried Cousin Molly. Her
~oice pleaded. commanded Her pretty
face flushed from chin TO brow
Augusta rushed on unanimously
And he didn't say it at air she cried
Indignantly. Why don't you SPEAK
for yourself. Augusta Not once. Wait,
I'll show il 10 you
She threw herself on the floor with
the book and turned the pages rapidly
I
toward the girl. 4 don't think she IS
quite well, ne said iamelE- IL SSs
OF you
He stopped abruptly at the sight OF
the misery in the girls face. the IN
shed tears in her eyes. A sudden blind
ing shock of revelation seemed 10 SHOW
him. In a moments space, a new heaven
and new earth
Molly he cried. I never hoped
/ hardly dared pray l am so Old
so unworthy. Molly He lifted her
hands reverently in his
Let me 60" she sobbed. ''oh, let me
CO.
she made a trembling step toward
the door, but Augusta, triumphant,
barred the way.
Look she eXulted. Here II IS
lust as I said: 'Why DON'T you SPEAK
for yourself. JOhn2' That was Wnat
Priscilla said Why don't you speak
for yourself. Augusta That was what
he should have said" She stared re-
prcachfully al Harding.
Wait a moment" he said
He took MoIly's hand IN his and led
her to the big hair beside the window.
''Wnl you wait a moment-just oneE'
he whispered. 1T means so much TO
me. MOLLY. ] beg of you
The girl nodded, bending her flushed,
[ agftated face against the cool pane Of
I the window above the lily blooms
( Harding went swiftly back to Angus
! "a. She noticed. without comprehend
/ ing. the new light in his TRANSPORTED
{ face. He took the book from her hand
/ and read the title with more than
/ twitching Of his lipe. Miss Augusta,
| he said gravely, Il aBOlOsize for my
stupidity. II Is so long sine ] received
! a proposal that ] had almost forgotten
! the approved method Needless TO say,
you have made me very happy. 1 can
/ honestly assure you of that. But be-
I fore ! give my mai decision let ne
make proposition. Would you rather
20 home on Thursday and in, say, ten
years time-youre eleven now. aren't
you?-come back and marry mel think
we could arrange 1t by then-or would
you rather stay on now with Cousin
Molly for another MONTH
Augusta regarded him earnestly. a
whole month";" she echoed.
u stake my honor that YOU shall.
said Harding. and have now-this m
stant-a box of observation-disclosures
creamy ones.
Augusta interrupted him. A big
box?" she incurred.
Pounds" he said.
Tied with ribbons?" she asked. eau
tiously.
Yards of it, said Harding.
with a Fat pair of tongues on topF'
she demanded, brCathiessly.
Three pair, II you like, said Hsru-
ing. promptly. ,,,,
Augusta hesitated no longer.
take the chocolates, she said
Harding, drew somethiRg .. from ,,r ntS
| the store" he said Get them your
| self" ,,,
Augusta was off on the instant, IKE
the colt she remembered. Her slim les
twinkled over the threshold The door
| slammed behind her.
Harding went rapidly across the room
to the silent figure at the window re
= dropped beside her chair and lifted ooth
the trembling hands to his lips.
Molly, dear, dearest" he whispered
I'm going TO speak for myself now