Licking Valley courier. [volume] (West Liberty, Ky.) 19??-current, 1913-08-14
THE -
Melting
@ Molly
By
MARIA THOMPSON
DAVIESS
Copyright, 1912, by The Bobbs-
Merrill Company

Now give me Billy and you get your
apple and toast. Don't forget to take
your letter in out of the dew" l sat
perfectly still and held Billy tighter in
my arms as looked up at his father,
and then after had thought as long
as could stand 1t spoke right out
at him as mad as hops, and / don't
to this minute know why.
Nobody in the world ever doubted
that woman could be faithful If she
had anything to be faithful to-" said
as ] let him take Billy out of my arms
at last. "Faithfulness is what a wo-
man flowers, only 1t takes man to
pick his posy." With which march,
ed into the house and left him stand
ing with Billy in his arms. hope
dumfounded didn't look back to see
always leave that mans presence so
mad l can never look back at him.
And wouldn't 1t make any woman rage
to have man pick out another man
for her to be faithful to when she
hadn't made any decision about 1t her
own self?
wonder just how old Judge Wade
is? l believe will make up with Aunt
Adeline enough before 60 to bed to
find out why. he has never married.
Men are very strange people. They
are like those horrible sums in algebra
that you think about and worry about
and cry about and try to get help from
other women about, and then. all Of a
sudden works itself out into perfect
ly good sense. Not that thought
much about Mr.. Carter. poor man!
When he wasn't right around felt II
best to forget him as much as could.
but 1t seems hard for other women to
let you forget either your husband or
theirs.
| know now that really never got
any older than the poor. foolish, eight
cen years child that Aunt Adeline mar.
rfed on 'safe." all the time l was the
refuge" sort Of wife. would sit and
listen while the other wives talked
over the men in utter bewilderment
and most times terror. then would
force myself to little more forget.
ting. and poor Mr.. Carter must have
suffered the consequences. But all
that was a mild sort of evaporation
what widow has to so through
,eth in the matter of-of. we'll think
hazing is about the best name to
give It,
"Molly Carter" said Mrs. johnson
Just das before Yesterday. after the
white drcss-Judge Wade episode that
Aunt Adeline had gone to all the
friends up and down the street to be
consoled about. III you haven't got
sense enough to appreciate your pres
ent bllssful condition somebody ought
TO operate on your mind"
= was tempted to say, why not my
hearth" was glad she didn't know
how good that heart did feel under my
tucker when the boy brought that bas.
ket OF fish from Judge Wade's 6shing
trip Saturday. have firmly deter.
mined not to blush any more at the
thought OF that gorgeous man-at least
Outwardly.
Don't you think 1t Is yery-very
lonely to be widow, Mrs. Johnson
i asked dmidly to see what she would
say about Mr.. johnson. who is really
lovely. | think. He gives me the gen.
tlest understanding smile when he
meets me on the street Of late weeks.
Lonely, lonely, Molly? You talk
about the married state exactly like
An old maid. Don't do tits foolish,
and you will get the lone notion really
fastened In your mind and let some
fool man find out that is how you
feel. Then 1t will be all over with you.
] have only one regret, and It is that
II | ever should be widow Mr.. John
son wouldn't be here to see how quick
ly turned into an old maid. by the
grace of God" Mrs. johnson sews by
assasslnatlng the cloth with the needle
and as she talked she was mendlng the
sleeve Of one Of Mr.. Johnson's shirts
II think an old maid Is just wo
man who has never been In love with
a man who loves her Lots Of them
have been married for years." said
just as innocently as the soft face OF
a pan OF cream and went on darning
,one OF Billy's socks
swell, be that as II may. they are
the blessed members Of the women
tribe" she answered, looking at me
SHARPLY. Now have often told Mr.
Johnson But here we were inter
rupted In what might have been the
rehearsal Of glorious scrap by the
appearance of Aunt Bette Pollard
and with her came a long. tall, lovely
vision Of woman In the most wonder
full close clingy dress and hat that you
wanted TO eat on sight. hated hel
instantly with the most intense adora
ton that made me want to lie down al
. her feet, and also made me feel like
] had gained all the more than twenty
pounds that have shaved OF me and
doubled them on again. would have
liked TO lead her that minute into DR..
Johns Office and just to have looked at
him and said one word-"string beanr'
Aunt Betty introduced her as Miss
Chester from Washington.
"oh, my dear Mrs. Carter, how glad
am to meet youg" she said as sh,
lowered over me In wlllowy way, ant
her voice was lovely and cool almos
to slimness. II am the bearer OF Sc
many gracious messages that an
anxious TO deliver them safely to you
Not six weeks ago | left Alfred Ben
nett In Paris, and really-really hi
greetings to you almost amounted t
Usteamer Luggage. He came down L
'Cherbourg to see me or, and almos
the last thing he said to me was, Now
don't fall TO see Mrs. Carter as soon al
you get to Hillsboro, and the more yot
see-of her the more you'U enjoy YOU
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