Licking Valley courier., 1913-09-04
- THE -
Melting
@ Molly
By
MARIA THOMPSON
DAVIESS
Copyright, 1912, by The Bobbs-
Merrill Company

den with the big and the tiny man in
it all by themselves. And tears. from
another corner of my heart entirely,
rose to my eyes at the thought, but
they, too. never fell, for heard Mrs.
Johnson calling. and | had to run
down quick and see what new delica-
cy had arrived for my party.
Uncle Thomas Pollard had sent me
quart bottle of his private stock with
the message to put the mint to soak
just one hour and twenty minutes be-
fore the men came. | made room for
1t beside the case of champagne on the
cellar shelf and wondered how they
would stand it all. We don't have
champagne often in Hilsboro, and
when we do nobody seems to want to
cut down Oh the juleps. consequently
well, nothing ever really happens!
However, 1t must have been the cham
pagne that made Tom act as he did
He was never like that before
Somehow didn't enjoy dressing to-
night for my dinner as did for the
dance. and when was through l stood
before the mirror and looked at my
self long time was very tall and
slim and-well, | suppose | might say
regal in that amethyst Grape with the
soft rose point. but | looked to myself
about the eyes as had been doing for
years when put on my Sunday clothes
TO go to church with Mr. Carter He
was always in hurry, and | didn't
care about looking at myself in the
mirror anyway. Nobody else ever
looked at me and what was the use?
And tonight that Rene triumph made
me feel no different from one of Miss
Hettie Primm's conceptions that had
been wearing for ages with indiffer-
ehcc and total lack Of style. shrug-
ged my shoulder almost out of the
dress with what | thought was sad
ness. though it felt n trihe like tenn
per, too, and went OH down into the
garden to see IL any Of my flowers had
cheer up message for me.
But 1t was bored garden r-stepped
into just as the last purple flush Of day
was being drunk down by the night.
The tall white lilies laid their heads
over on my breast and went TO sleep
before | had said word to them, and
the nasturtiums snarled around my
feet until they got my slippers stained
with green. Only Bllly's bachelors
button stood up stiff and sturdy, slight
ly flushed with imbibing the night dew.
and tipped me an impertinent wink. ]
felt cheered at the sight ri them and
bent down to gather bunch Of them
to wear. even If they did swear at my
amethyst draperles. when an amused
smile that was done ont loud came
from the path just behind me.
Don't gather them all tonight, Mrs
Peaches" said Or. John teaslngly as
he stopped beside me. Leave few
for-for the Others" ! walked up in O
half second and so did all those prying
flowers, felt sure
~ was just gathering them for place
bouquets for-for the girls" said stu
pidly as moved over a little nearer ia
him. Why II is that the minute that
man comes near me | get warm and
comfortable and stupid. and as young
rs Billy and bubbly and sad and hap
by and cross. is more than can say,
but do
never possibly know how to an.
swer any remark that he may happeI
TO make unless II Is something thai
makes me lose my temper His mex
remark was the usual spark.
Better give them the run Of th'
garden-alone. Mrs. Molly. No show
for 'em unless you do" he said laugh
ingly. ''or the buttons either" he added
under his breath so could just hear 1t
] wish Mrs. Johnson could have heart
how soft his voice fingered over tina
little half sentence. She was so ex
perienced she could have told me If |
meant-but, of course, he isn't like 9th
er men!
There are lots of questions I'm golni
10 ask Alfred after I'm married to hin
MFR. Carter didn't know anything
about anything and never cared {,
ask him. but wonder how you know
when
"oh, You Mollyr came hail II
Toms voice from the gate, Just as
was making mp my mind to try {,
think up something to wither the doc
tor with. and he and Ruth came NJ
the front walk to meet MS. ! wondere,
why was having party In my hous
when being alone In my gnrden wit
Just nelghbor was so much more fun
but | had TO begin TO enjoy mysel
right of. for In a few minutes all th
rest came.
don't think ever saw my hous
look so lovely before. Mrs. Johnso
had put all the flowers out Of hers an
Mrs. Gains garden all over everything
and the table was mass OF soft pin
roses that were shedding perfume an
nodding ut one another In their mos
society manner There Is no gimme
in the world like that which come
from really old polished silver an
rosewood and mahogany, and one
Observation-Disclosures hand wove
linen feels like oriental silk across one
knees.
Suddenly | felt very stately an
;granddamey and responsible MS lool
ed at them all across the roses an
sparkling glasses They were loyel
women, all OF them. and could sue
men be found anywhere else In tn
word2 When left them all to go OF
into the big universe TO meet the dli
tinctlons that knew my husban
would have for me, would sit nt sa
with people who loved me like this
l saw Pet Buford say something
Tom about me that know was lovel
from the way he smiled nt nc. and III
Judges eyes We're full cup for an
woman to have offered her Then IN