Morgan County republican. (Versailles, Mo.) 1906-1914, 1911-11-30

Dreatned on hidden chords; he felt
strangely unaccountable for his &C.
tons. his words.
You are tired" he said finally.
and little girls should be in bed at
this time Of night. Comet"
But Molly Ashwell stood still and
looked down at the arms extended to
lift her from the step. then her eyes
travelled up to the face on which the
light shone full.
DO you know" she stated. that
you look very much like Uncle
Gray?"
Blair turned swiftly from the glare
OF the lamp. "Come!" he said, n
his voice held a note Of command.
With a 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, a 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 a 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 of into the night.
She is too wonderful" his lips re-
peated. II could not Withstand her
long"
Three years came and wen before
Molly Ashwell and the Vagabond
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 terrible cause for
being miserable-but I deserve It,"
was all he had said.
She glanced quickly at him now as
they sat In the theater. 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 theatrical
atmosphere merely as q stepping
stone. He had run away from home
to go on the stage that he might gain
Intimate knowledge of stagecraft.
The strong plot woven In this fabric
was neither here nor there except
that at the close Of the last act the
author vas called forth.
He came from the winge.
MY son!"
John Gray sprang to his feet and
held out a pair of shaking arms to-
ward the man on the stage.
MY Vagabond Dreamer!" came 4
girls voice through the hush that
followed the meeting Of father and
son.
Regardless OF the excited audience,
the W men met and the older man
clasped the other In his arme az II
he was still a very small boy.
Finally the quiet tones Of the yaga.
bond went out to answer that I'm.
asked question.
my father and l have been long
estranged-I am too happy to say
more, except that l thank you for re.
ceiving my play SO kindly"
During the thunder Of applause
that followed a slim little figure
J slipped quickly out Of the tteater and
into the great limousine that crept
up to the curb at her cali.
Her heart was beating painfully in
dull. miserable beats.
Nobody loves me-" she wept softly
J into the kindly cushions.
She sat huddled and broken, neither
. seeing nor hearing the excited crowd
, that came forth from the theater.
1t seemed ages before the two men,
: arm In arm appeared. Molly dried
her eyes hastily and peered out as
. they approached.
The younger man glanced at the
car. Then Molly saw his hand 60 up
Q to shade his eyes. He made a quick
movement.
. She was very near him and the
limousine had turned into a darkened
| street when neYt sha hand his yoica