Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-07-24
She Hrgus Daily Short Story
The Wisdom of Miss Susan.-By C1arissa Mackie
Copyrighted 1908. by Literary Press

The reading OF the will was 4 shock
to her. The loss of the Inheritance
was as nothing compared to the knowl-
edge that her aunt had secretly cher
isned Il dislike if not a distrust Of
Ralph Newcomb, Molly's accepted low
er. 1t was this thought that ranked
in the girls mind all that long after
noon while she awaited his coming in
I the evening.
Dear heart" he cried cheerily as he
entered the drawing room, ''if you shut
yourself up in this gloomy house much
longer without companionship save
that of Mrs. Rogers. why, L shall''-
! He paused as he turned her face to the
soft light of the lamp. Something un-
usual has happened, Molly. Tell me
what it is"
She smiled bravely at him and stilled
her trembling lips. Il have been TO
hear Aunt Susan's will read" she said
slowly.
"Well?" Molly found herself listen
ing for some note of anxiety or even
unusual interest in his tone as he ask
ed the question that he had always
accorded when riches was topic Of
conversation, and she sighed relievedly
"She leaves everything to me-condi-
tionally."
"And the conditions?'
THAT / do not marry your The
softly uttered words startled him
strangely. His arms loosened their
hold upon her and dropped to his sides.
you cannot meant it. There must be
some mistake, Molly" he said gravely;
Miss Wood surely did not distrust the
quality of my love for you. 1t is very
strange"
II can scarcely believe it of Aunt
Susan, but. Ralph, dear, / am not
afraid of poverty, and you are poor
and will be poor with you, and we
Will live in that delightful studio build.
ing"'
tenderly. "You have made your de-
cision?" he asked.
"Yesw
do you know what you are giving
up?"
II am only sorry that I am bringing
you nothing but love, DEAR" she said
earnestly.
'We can get along on that" he said
grimly, with few little added frills
in the way of meat and drink that
may be able to worry out of the edf
tors, butt isn't fair to you, darling
to leave all this" He looked about
the richly furnished room and theu
back into her eyes,
you cannot believe that / really
love you, Ralph" she murmured pro
testingly.
Il do now, sweetheart" he said
kissing her lips reverently, and then
a few moments later he added, 81
shall prove my trust in your love
, Molly-will you marry me at once
this week?"
"Yes, Ralph" she said.
=
!, 1t was perhaps six months later. tina
Lawyer Jones mounted the last lon,
step flight of stairs that led to tn,
, Eyre, as Ralph Newcomb called hi
studio apartment. He looked abou
the bare, uncompromising hall tina
could not be dignified by the name o
, corridor and then raped smartly OF
the door in front of him.
, Molly opened the door-the sam
Molly who had never lifted a daint,
finger in household matters. He
) brown hair was in sweet confusion
, about her pink cheeks and the sleeve
of her linen frock Were pushed abov
] her elbows. A great bingham apro
s enveloped her slim figure
d She welcomed him with all her oil
;. charm of manner and ushered him int
e a long, many gabled room. wher
v Ralph Ncwcomb sat pale and wear
4 eyed before a glowing fire.
n MY husband has been very ILL.," sal
r Molly seriously as the men shoe
hands cordially. HE has been .yori