The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-02-18
LEAF SECOND.
(continued.)


wait a minute, please. Molly,
said the doctor in the voice he always
uses when he's furnishing Billy and
me. Bill came To apologize to you
for being rude 70 your-your guest
He told me all about IL and | think
he's sorry. Tell Mrs. Carter you are
sorry, SON" When that man speaks
TO me AS IL | were just any old body
else, I hate him so II Is a wonder
don't show II more than ! do. But
there was nothing 10 say aud looked
at Billy and Billy looked at me.
Then suddenly he stretched out his
little arms TO me and the dimples
winked at me from all over his dar'
ling face.
Molly, Molly" he said with a per
feet rapture OF chuckles in his voice
now you look just as pretty as you
do when you go to bed; all Witty ali
over. You can kiss my kiss-spot a
hundred times while / bear-hug you
for that nice not-black dress" and
before any stern person could have
stopped us was on my knees on the
grass kissing my fill from the kiss
spot" on the back OF his neck, while
he Rugged all the starch out OF the
summer before-last.
And Doctor John sat down on the
bench quick and laughed out loud one
of the very few times | ever heard
him do II. He was looking down At
us, but didn't laugh up into his
eyes. was afraid. | felt II was
safer to 60 on kissing the kss-spot
for thu present, anyway
n ynvff q
ing, that's the most effective apology
ever heard. You were sorry TO
some point"
Theu suddenly Billy stiffened right
in my arms and looked me straight
in the face and said In the doctors
own brisk tones, even with his cupid
mouth set in the same straight line:
II say I'm sorry, Molly, but damn
that man and I'll git him yet"
What could We say? What could
we do: We didn't try. | busted my
self In tying the string on Billys
blouse that had come united In the
bear-hug and the doctor suddenly dis
covered the letter on the bench. |
saw him see IL without looking In
his direction at all.
"And how many pounds are we
nearer the string bean state OF exist
ence, Mrs. Molly?" he asked me be-
fore had finished tying the blouse,
In the incest voice in the world, fairly
cracking with friendship and good
humor and hateful things like that
Why | should have wanted him TO
hun over that letter Is more than ]
can say But | did, and he didn't.
"Over twenty. and most OF the time
am SO hungry l could eat Aunt AIDE
line. 1 dream about Billy, fried with
cream gravy" i answered, as | kissed
again the back of the head that was
beginning to nod down against my
breast. Long shadows lay across the
garden and the whlte-headed old
SNOWFALL was signaling out Of the
dusk TO a Dorothy Perkins down the
walk in a scandalous way. At best,
spring Is Just the worlds match-mak-
Ing old chaperon and ought TO be
watched. still sat on the grass and
l began to cuddle Billy's bare knees
In the skirt OF my dress so the chigres
couldn't get at them.
but, Mrs. Molly. isn't 1t worth II
all?" asked the doctor as he bent
over toward us and looked down with
something wonderful and kind In his
eyes that seemed TO rest on US like a
benediction. you have been Just
as plucky as a girl can be and in only
a little over two months you have
grown as lightfooted and hearty as a
boy. | think nothing could be love
lier than you are right now, but you
can get off those other few pounds II
you want to- You know, don't you,
that have known how hard some OF
Il was and | haven't been able to eat
as much as I usually do thinking how
hungry you are? But isn't ii all worth
Il? | think it is. Alfred Bennett is
a very great man and IL is right that
he should have a very lovely wife TO
20 out into the world with him. And
as lovely as you are think it is won
derful Of you 10 make all this sacri-
fee to be still lovelier for him. | am
glad | can help you and II has taught
me something 10 see how-how faith
full woman can be across years
and then in this smaller thing! Now
give me Bill and you get your apple
and toast. Don't forget to take your
letter In out OF the dew" I sat per-
fectly still and held Billy tighter in
my arms as looked up at his father,
hhu Nhth dlNtI udu luOuBul dS loHk
as ] could stand IT,, spoke right out
at him as mad as hops and don't TO
this minute know why.
Nobody In the world ever doubt
ed that woman could be faithful IL
she had anything to be faithful to-
j said as let him take Billy out OF
my arms at last "Faithfulness Is
what woman flowers, only It takes
man TO pick his posy." With
which ] marched into the house and
left him standing with Billy I'm his
arms, l hope dumfounded. didn't
look back TO see. | always leave that
mans presence so mad can never
look back at him. And wouldnt n
make any woman rage to have A msn
pick out another man for her 10 he \
faithful TO when she hadn't m,do
any decision about IL her own selfp
wonder Just how old Judge Wade
isl J believe J will make nm Win
Aunt kdellne enough before on =
bed TO find out why ne has neye-
married
LEAF THIRD.
Monument or Trousseau7