Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1911-07-20

Molly Sherwell alone in her New York
apartment. When she had seen little
Edgar Pavaloff driving away from the
dirty, busting crowd on the pier, she
turned away with sickening sense
OF loss. And at night when her lights
were out and darkness made. the inner
vision clearer Molly knew that she
could never marry. She had always
dreamed of child of her own. Ed
gar Pavaloff embodied her dream Of
perfection in child aad she knew she
would grieve her heart out over q
less wonderful baby.
During two years following Molly
Sherwell followed the leadings of d
rather aimless existence. The many
su1tors she had were conscientiouslE
studied with view to ultimate selec-
ton, but each in turn seemed deficient
in power to hold her.
The picture of little Edgar, taken
with herself, hung in her room-a con-
slant reminder of his sweet person.
atty. She had had 1t enlarged She
had sent copy to the boy himself
soon after their arrival but had never;
$ASoA0 AAOh4 hAA1. IL was d 6p10uQlS6
picture both of herself and the boy;i
In 1t her own gold hair mingled with
the soft baby curls.
Two years, to one who has travelled
much, seems an endless time in one
place. The desire to move, to meet
new personalities, seems an overpow-
er1ng necessity. Gradually Molly felt
the longing for another trip. She sent
for all the literature of the line she
had last crossed on and decided to-
sail again on the boat on which she
had met the wonder boy.
| When she went up the gang plank
on the day Of sailing, Molly felt the
pans Of memory more keenly than
ever. Nothing gives so binding a
heartaohe as the sight of familiar
places where only spiritual companr
ionship remains. Molly hurried to her
state room and the bugle for luncheon
low passengers.
She wandered to the seat that she
had occupied two years before. Therei
was full passenger list and she SEA
lected from 1t those whom she would
like to know.
Suddenly her attention was attract
ed to man who had entered tho So
Ion. Fascinated, she stared at the
handsomest man she had even seen-
She found. too, that many others were
staring. He selected seat two Ia
bles down from that one at which
Molly sat. but facing her. When
across the tables, their eyes inter-
changed glance, a vague familiarity
about the man stirred within her. Yet
she knew she had never seen the man
before
She looked up again but turned
swiftly away He was studying her
go intently that the hot blood surged
into her cheeks. She finished her
luncheon hastily and arose from the
table. She felt rather than saw that
he followed her exit from the dining
saloon and for some unknown reason
she did not go on deck until she
knew that most of the passengers
were there before her.
With heavy veil, which protected
her delicate skin from the breeze and
Shal y VI lllc OCSdu, SIG dIE1fcu Oh Q0Ck
and after arranging for her chair, sank
into it.
During the entire afternoon she re-
manned hidden from his sight. Per-
haps wholly feminine desire to ap-
| pear at her best when meeting him
prompted her to select her most be-
coming dinner gown forsthe first night.
She entered the dining salon with her
head we'll up, for she had conquered
any sense of fear, and her gown OF
dull gold trailed in graceful lines about
her slender figure. Down the length
of the table she saw that he was
seated in the chair next her own. He
turned the chair when she arrived and
again swung her in when she was
seated.
Thank you" she murmured, and for
second looked into eyes that were
| blue gray with black edging to the
iris
Miss Sherwell." his voice was the
| music of the Russian aristocrat, 81
took the liberty of asking the steward
to place you at my side
Her startled surprise brought the
adorable smile of the baby Edgar to
Mr.. Pavaloff's mouth. He detached
locket from his fob and opened it. II
am Edgar Pavaloff' s''
We'll, Ravaloff am glad to see
you again." The captain with his
hearty laugh clapped Molly's compan-
ion on the shoulder and took his seat
at the head of the table, The two
men talked for a time. Molly looked
at the locket and her own face smiled
back at her together with that OF lit
tie Edgar. And married elan had
been wearing it! Her face was blaz-
ing with color when Pavaloff again
turned to her. but her voice was calm
with hint of ice.
81 have often wondered about little
Edgars father"
He turned quickly toward her. Be
fore he spoke, the warm blood had