The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1904-07-08
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cracks, within Ave thousand 4 sgI ~. sIy3
He could not see the fierce relief
that leaped into those anguish stricken
eyes behind the glasses. A black hat
dropped softly to his desk, leisurely
hand went to her pocket, her tone was
coolly matter-of-fact:
THAT three thousand l. came into In
still in the bank. Can't we mortgage
the old mouse on Royal for two?" She
opened her check book and reached 8
pen from his desk. 49, -.
What are you going to do? What
old house? Your home? Wait, Molly,
Molly! You must be mad to think OF
such thing" -. "a.
I'm not mad, most noble Festus."
Don't you know I wouldn't do that
Il couldn't do that?''
postulated.
Don't be absurd, Jack. How many
times have you pulled me out of
hole?"
II never have-you don't get into
holes. Well, but that's not worth
speaking of. By the Lord, I won't
touch that. I've got some manhood
left-in spite of cotton" -.
She blotted the check, and put it IN
der paper-weight. Don't take your
self so tragic"-her voice thickened.
She cleared it and again added: There
are Others"
And again Jack bent his head. He
had indeed given hostages to fortune.
II should have thought of that be-
FORE" he muttered, Inundated. Molly,
leaning against the desk, while she
glanced over some papers she had
taken from her pocket, quoted softly:
""The moving finger writes, and having
writ,
Moves on; not all your piety or wit
Shall lure it back to cancel half line.
Nor all your tears wash out a word
Of it.
Here's the deeds, Jack You get tho
mortgage in shape and I'll drop in to
sign up as pass this evening. Oh, l
know it's bad; but you can give me
your note. See here, old fellow, don't
take it like that. Don't know how
you feel?"
Molly, Molly! How did you ever get
hold of it?'
"Why, Madge called me in this
morning. She was a bit cut up. It
seems that when you left last evening
you forgot-someth ing. I-er-inferred
that you were badly bothered, and the
-er-inference naturally suggested
cotton"
Molly" he insisted, following her to
the door, I'm not worth all this"
She laughed. Don't say how much
you are worth until the rost Office site
is selected. You may get u fancy price
yet for your rats nest"
Jack started happily. why, I hadn't
thought Of that" Then, SOLDERING, "I'm
not worth .the risk you are taking, dear
girl"
Molly's fingers frightened on the door
"Oh, l don't know" she said, hur-
riedly. "You are pretty good sort,
Jack" She steadied, and added: "You
won't forget about the state of things
on Rampant. It seems silly, but Madge
is really distressed"
Poor little GIRL" he said, tepderly.
and Molly, safe behind her glasses,
went forth to receive with steady pa
thence the severe remarks of long
waiting, exasperated employer. All dur
ing the day she turned the other cheek,
and yet other cheeks. She could not
afford to lose her job now. On the
way home she went around by the
clerks Office and secured copying to bs
done at night. She was getting ready
to pay of that mortgage. Jacks note
was as good as gold, but life is uncer-
tain, and she would relish a bit of
extra work just at this time.
Molly's mother objected to the night
work. She preferred her daughters
pleasant society to the few dollars TO
be. earned by the drudgery
"Surely, Molly, it is not necessary,
with your salary and the legacy"
"Oh, mamma, dear, you don't UNDER
stand" Molly explained, humorously;
1--WE been going in for fl;lls."
But mamma did understand-enough
to silence further protest. A mothers
eyes are not to be baf1led by even the
most battling of gold-rimmed glasses.
So, without being plagued about it,
Molly took up her load and carried it
true.
1t was several weeks later that she
encountered Jack and Madge on a cor
ner, where they were waiting for a
west end car. They were in a joyous
mood and greeted her gaily. She gave
them as gay as they sent. and went
home to her copying. She had been
making TRANSCRIPTS for an hour before it
occurred to her to apply the salve OF
truth to her ugly wound.
why, you see," she said then to
her inmost soul, ut is up to me to be,
gratefully the dog under the table"