Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-03-20
The Argus Daily Story
An Easter House Party-By Virginia Leila Wentz
Copyrighted Literary Bureau

express purpose TO bring Ormsby and
Molly together. never once had she re-
ceived the qualification OF finding them
alone. And Miss Chase watched in
vain for the progress of her romance.
On the second day of the rain Molly
was lying in a great cane chair read
ing, half screened by palms, out on the
empty side porch. The dampness didn't
take her hair out of curl. and she liked
it. Mrs. Fenton happened to spy her
and. like the kindly little woman that
she was, gave ormsby the hint.
Molly smiled rather enigmatically as
he approached and gave expression to
an easy commonplace or two, then her
eyes dropped q moment to the open
book on her knees. 1t was q volume
Of Bliss Carman's poems.
Rather pretty, don't you think?- she
murmured, handing him the volume
and indicating the poem beginning:
Make me over Mother April
When the sap begins to stir
She could think OF nothing else to
say, her heart was humping so. And
silence might lead to meiodrama, q
thing above all others that she hated.
Look here" Ormsby said. closing
the book gently, this is the very first
chance I've had, Molly. and there ars
some things I've been waiting to say
to you for eight years"
There was a pitiful curve to the
girls lips, but her eyes smiled mock
ingly.
"IndeedT said she.
"Ah, don't let US fence, little wou-
an" The mans voice was almost
cry. Life is so short that once in
awhile surely we can AFFORD to be
blunt
Can weY' broke in the girl. 81 be-
lieve we can" Her soft eyes suddenly
looked like a purple black cloud that
has in its heart the forked lightning.
"Well, then, before you tell me any
thing let me speak. Eight years ago
/ was more of a child than a woman.
and broke our engagement, Tom, be-
cause"-she moistened her dry lips
somehow there had stolen In upon me
the childish fancy that you had en-
gagged yourself to me simply because
you knew I loved you so"-
All" broke in Ormsby hotiy, ''that
was only an unreasonable sensitive
ness that came between us, love. Now
that you are a woman, you must sure
ly know better"
Yes" she answered simply; ''I do.
But when / received your wild, In
coherent note a week after we'd sep
arated, when you told me you'd mar
ried your cousin-well, all the sun
seemed to have been stolen from the
day and the moon and the stars from
the night. That's all. Now, because
It was my fault in the first place, I've
done my duty. I've made my confess
sion OF course 1 was too proud to
band, so at present you owe me no
debt"
There was an icy hauteur in her
voice which the trembling of her lips
belied.
81 was true to her, dear, while she
lived-indeed, at least" said the man
reverently,
Tom Ormsby had a generous heart,
and he never thought Of his poor wife
without feeling Of remorse for ever
having felt harshly about the bonds
dead now for nearly two years, and
you've been travelling in Europe with
your aunt for nearly three and
I'VE only arrived the week before
Easter" said Molly casually, and then,
changing her tone, There is a child,
is there not, Tom?"
Ormsby leaned toward her, his face
TRANSPORTED with alteration.
There is a little girl, and we call
her Mollie."
He could say no more for a second.
Then he crossed to Miss Hargraves'
side. put his hand beneath her chin
and lifted the oval face till her eyes
looked into his.
Sweetheart" he added huskily, 81
would like nothing better on earth
than to give her to you. But you'd
have to take me too. Could you?
Would your
All, the old mesmerIc entreaty of
his voice. She longed to throw her.
self into his dear. big arms and tell him
that never. never once In all these
years, IuOubu sue Uuu lOuBuL udFu
against it, had she forgotten him, that
nowhere else in the whole world but
with him could happiness be found.
He was wrapping her around with
the old, old spell.
She made an effort to get out of her
silence, but she found herself rooted
to the spot as one Is sometimes in
dreams. A tide of rich, young bio
surged over the delicate face a :
made the mans heart throb with Ia
applicable Joy.
would you, dear" he pleaded
again, bending slightly over her.
Molly did speak finally, rising calm
~ and reaching for the book. And
she said a wonderfully clever thing.
Considering the fact that Miss Chase
was at that moment curiously strolling
out to the side porch, both the remark
and the action were apropos:
81 know you'll like Carman's poem,
; and IL the sun comes out tomorrow
J I'll read 1t to you down by that little
colony Of white violets."
, The next day the sun came out