The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1907-02-09
finish the work. Then Molly Sue

She drew the pale blue lawn frocE
with its sprawling flowers, from th'
battered trunk, and held her breatt
until it was safely on. Everything
went wrong shoe laces broke,
comb was not to be found, pins slip
ped from her nervous fingers and dis
appeared but at last she was ready
She surveyed herself in the cracked
mirror the dress was cheap and
i'll fitting the arms and throat it re
vealed were skinny and sallow; the
beads, the bracelet, the sidecombs,
even the japanese ribbon belt, Were
all imitation but Molly Sue wa:
satisfied. So she went forth to the
porch where the family were assem-
bled, and with throbbing heart await
ed the coming of her lover.
Presently he appeared, arrayed ir
his Sunday suit, new cravat oi
green and scarlet dangling boldly
down his shirt-front
Mr.. Lowder, fitting heavily in his
chair, looked at the young man cool
ly, without removing his pipe from
his mouth or his feet from the railing
against which they were braced.
"Howdy?" he grunted at last.
Molly Sue shivered at the iciness
of his tone what would Travis think ?
But Travis, as has been said, was a
man of much experience with girls,
and, as naturally followed, with
girls fathers.
co -evenin', sah," he replied
blandly, removing his hat with an
easy nod that included the whole
family.
"Hev a cheer" suggested Mr..
Lowder, a trihe more of intolerance
in his voice.
mo, thankee, sab eff Miss Mol
1y's ready, I reckon we better be
movin' on; thar's a good crowd
goin', an seats'll be sea 'se."
"You goin' t the show, Molly
Sue?" asked her father, suddenly
reused from his indifference,
"Yassir," stammered Molly Sue,
trembling with apprehension.
Mr.. Lowder's feet came to the
floor with thump. mo, y aint," he
said thickly. "Y'got 'nough t. do
hyar t home, 'thout runnin' off L
shows with Travis Little r any other
low down scalawag. And as fer you, !"
he turned to the young man, "git
out o'hyar, an don't you never speak
to my gal agin.'
Molly Sue clasped her hands in
horror. Had she known that her
father was drinking tonight, she
might have planned some way of go
ing without his knowledge but now
oh, now it was too late And
what would Travis do?
But in that minute Travis had risen
to the full height of his manhood.
He stood erect, his face hardened into
stern lines. Then he spoke, calmly
but for an angry tremor in his voice.
"Mist' Lowder, what's the matter
with me that 1 shouldn't speak to
Miss Molly?"
"Matter? don't want ye' round,
that's the matter p roared the man.
"Oh," said Travis, coldly. II
knowed you couldn' prove nothin'
agin me. An I'll quit speakin' to
Miss Molly when she tells me to, an
not fer you ner nobody else."
"Oh, you-you fool !" spluttered
the other. "I'll shoot ye at sight eff
1 see ye on my place agin, an I'll
frail the life outer Moll eff she says
another word to ye! Now git out
fore I kill ye !"
Travis looked at him a minute,
smiling contemptuously, turned sud-
denly on his heel, and walked quietly
down the street, with new frmncss
in his gait. Mr.. Lowder sprang up
unsteadily, staggered down the steps
and followed, while Molly Sue sat
sobbing in despair.
Scarcely was her father out of
sight when Travis appeared around
the corner Of the house, rather breath
less, but collected, as usual. EFF SO
be's you're ready, Miss Molly" he
remarked, IT reckon we'd better be
gittin' on"
Molly Sue gasped uncertainty.
Then her mothers weak voice came
through the window. "Go on, chile,
eff you want to He won't stop now
tell he gifts to Hunters an he won't
know nothin' when he gifts back
frum thar. Go long honey"
So Molly Sue dried her tears and
departed with her lover. They walk
ed across the valley and up the hill
with scarcely word quietly they
entered the tent, and took their seats,
on one of the unplaned boards that
served for benches. The gay-colored
pictures fitted smokily across the
canvas before them, but Molly Sue
scarcely noticed. The bitter sweet
cup of Life and-Love had touched
her lips, and she was intoxicated
with the draught. The show ended
the audience rose to depart people
spoke to Molly Sue, but she answered
like one in a dream she paid no
heed to the boys who chaffed her es
cort as they left the tent.
There were two paths leading home
ward,-the shorter, through the mar
row, noisy street the longer, dowr
by the creek, where the moonlight
was sleeping on the willow trees. Th'
boy turned unhesitatingly toward th'
longer road, and Molly Sue followed
without protest. AS they left thu
circle of torch-light, he slipped hi
arm through hers. half-bashfully.
"Your pas right set sort O. man
amt he?" was the question will
which he broke the silence. :
"He shore is, acknowledged Mol
ly Sue.
"You reckon he meant what hs
said tonight?"
"Im feerd So" replied the girl
"Y'see, he says things when he's