Charlevoix county herald., 1911-12-23

Blair turned swiftly from the glare
of the lamp. Gomez" he said. and
his voice held note of command.
With little hurt look in her eyes
Molly put out her hands. For a
breathing spell the universe seemed
hung in midair. Molly tore herself
free then and fed in the darkness.
Blair watched her go. moonbeam
darting from path 10 path and finally
into the old rose garden and up the
great stone steps between the guard
ing lions and out of his sight through
the French windows.
For long moment he sat staring
at the windows through which she
had gone. Finally he arose, unteth-
cred his horses, hitched them to the
caravan and drove off into the night.
"She is too wonderful" his lips re-
peated. II could not withstand her
long,"
Three years came and went before
Molly Ashwell and the Vagabond
Dreamer met, three years in which
her eyes had worn a peculiar, brood
ing look-a look which John Gray
had tried in vain to fathom or to
tighten.
You are not so happy looking
yourself" she had chided him on one
occasion.
He had grown a shade paler.
Il have cause-a terrible cause for
being miserable-but l deserve it."
was all he had said
She glanced quickly at him now as
they sat in the theate,. The curtain
went up on a new play. The scene
was an interior.
1T is almost exactly like our draw
ing room" exclaimed Molly breath
lessly and waited for confirmation OF
! her words.
John Gray neither answered nor
seemed conscious of her presence.
AS the play progressed Molly felt
the peculiar tension that held John
Gray. After a spasmodic clutch OF
| the hands on the chair arms he re-
mained as one turned to stone.
The play was the old, old story Of
the son who had frequented the stage
doors and had been turned away from
home by an irate parent. In this case
the son had lived in the theatrica
atmosphere merely as stepping
stone. He had run away from home
to go on the stage that he might gair
intimate knowledge of stagecraft
The strong plot woven in this fabric
was neither here nor there excep
that at the close of the last act the
author was called forth.
He came from the wings.
MY son!"
John Gray sprang to his feet ant
held out pair of shaking arms to
ward the man on the stage.
MY Vagabond Dreamer!" came
girls voice through the hush tha
followed the meeting of father anc
son.
Regardless of the excited audience
the two men met and the older NAL
clasped the other in his arms as
he was still a very small boy.
A suspended breath held the audi
ence.
Finally the quiet tones of the vaga
bond went out to answer that III
asked question.
my father and | have been lon
estranged-I am too happy to sa
more, except that | thank you for re
ceiving my play so kindly"
During the thunder of applaus
that followed a slim little fgur
slipped quickly out of the theater an,
into the great limousine that crep
up to the curb at her call.
Her heart was beating painfully 4
dull, miserable beats.
Nobody loves me-" she wept softl.
into the kindly cushions.
She sat huddled and broken, neithe
seeing nor hearing the excited GROVE
that came forth from the theater.
1t seemed ages before the two men
arm in arm appeared. Molly driet
her eyes hastily and peered out a
they approached.
The younger man glanced at th
car. Then Molly saw his hand go VI
to shade his eyes. He made a quicl
movement.
She was very near him and th
limousine had turned into darkene,
street when next she heard his voice
Mine! All mine," he whispere,
against her lips.
Can we 60 In the caravan" Moll.
asked by way Of answer to his Ques
! fion of n momenf later