The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1911-12-01


multi IN his heart This witch had
breathed on hidden chords: be felt
strangely unaccountable for his &C.
tons. bis words
You are tired" he said finally.
and little girls should be in bed a.;
this time OF night Come"
But Molly Ashwell stood still and
looked down at the arms extended TO
lift her from the step. then her eyes
travelled up 10 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 and
his voice held a note OF command
With a little hurt look in her eyes
Molly put out her hands For
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 % 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 q long moment he sat staring
al 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. Il could not withstand her
long"
Three years came and went before
Molly Ashwel 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.
| q have cause-a terrible cause for
being miserable-but ! deserve it"
was all be had said.
She glanced quickly at him now as
they sat in the theater. The curtain
went up on 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
manned 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 stepping
stone He had run away from home
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 was called forth.
He came from the wings
My SOM"
John Gray sprang to his feet and
held out pair of shaking arms to
ward the man on the stage.
MY Vagabond Dreamer" came &
girls voice through the hush thai
followed the meeting of father anc
son
Regardless of the excited audience
the two men met and the older ma:
clasped the other in his arms as /
he was still a very small boy.
Finally the quiet tones OF the vaga
bond went out to answer that un
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 tteater AM
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 crow,
that came forth from the theater.
1t seemed ages before the two meu
arm in arm appeared Molly drie
her eyes hastily and peered out a
} they approached
The younger man glanced at tn
car Then Molly saw his hand go u
} to shade his eyes He made a Quic
movement
She was very near him and tn
limousine had turned into a darkene
street when next she heard his voice
Mine! All mine" he whispere,
against her lips.
Can we go in the caravan" Mol,
nv Of - IL