Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-16
TFlE
MELTING
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0F'lM0LY
By MARIA THOMPSON
DAVIESS
Copyright. 1912. by the Bobbs-msrrin
Company


On. Molly. Molly! Is It for this you
came into the worldwide to give
yourself without love? What differ
ence does It make that your arms are
strong and white If they can't clasp
him to the softness and fragrance of
your breast, Why are your eyes blue
pools of love II they are not for his
questioning, and what are your rose
lips for II they quench not his thirst?
Yes, know God is very tender with
a woman, and think be understands,
so II she crept very close to him and
caught at his sleeve to steady herself
be would be kind to her until she
could so on along her own steep way.
Please. God. never let him find out. for
it would hurt him to have hurt me!
Some days are like the miracle fiow-
ers that open in the garden from plants
you didn't expect to bloom at all.
might have been born. lived and died
without having this one come into my
life. and. now that ! have had II.
don't know how to write II except In
the crimson OF blood. the blue of fame.
the gold OF glory. and tinge of light
green would well express the part I
have played. But IL is all over at last
and
Ruth Chester was the unfolding of
the first hour petal. and got glimpse
Of a heart OF gold that I feel dumb
with worship to think Of She's Gods
own good woman. and be made her in
/ one OF his holy hours. | wish could
| have borne her. so she me. and the
! tenderness of her arms was a sacra-
ment We two women just stood aside
with life'S articles and concealments
and let our own hearts do the talking.
/ She said she had come because she
! felt that II she talked with me might
/ be better able to understand Alfred
when he came and that she had seen
that the judge wac very determined,
and she thoroughly recognized his
/ force OF character. We stopped there
while | gave her the document to read.
| suppose It was dishonorable. but |
needed her protection from It I'm
glad she had the strength of mind TO
walk with a head high in the air to
Judy's range and burn it up. Any
thing might have happened II she
hadn't AnS even now feel that only
my marriage vows will close up the
case for the judge. even yet he may
But when Ruth had got done with AL
fred she had wiped Judge Wade's ap-
probation Of him completely off my
mind and destroyed 1t in tender words
that burned us both worse than Judy's
fire burned the letter She did me an
awfully good service.
And so you see, you lovely woman
you. do you not. that God has made
you for him as n tribute TO his great
ness and II is given to you to fulfill
a destiny:" She was so beautiful as
she said II that / had TO turn my eyes
away. but ! felt as ! did when those
awful "let not man put asunder"-from
Mr.. Carter-words were spoken over
me by Mr. Raines. the Methodist min
lister 1t made me wild. and before |
knew IL | had poured out the whole
truth TO her in a perfect cataract of
words. The truth always acts on WON
en- as some hitherto untried drug. and
|
is going to be- In this case ! was
stricken dumb and found it hard to
see.
"Oh. dear heart" she exclaimed as
she reached out and drew me into her
lovely. gracious arms. then the priv.
lege is all the more wonderful for you.
as you make some sacrifice to complete
his life. Having suffered this. you will
be all the greater woman 10 under
stand him. ] accept my own sorrow
at his hands willingly. as it gives me
the larger sympathy for his work
though lie viii no longer need my per
sonal encouragement as be has FOL
years. 10 the light Of his love this
lesser feeling for DR. Moore will soon
pass away, and the accord between
you will be complete" This was more
than l could stand, and. feeling less
than a worm. / turned my face into
her breast and walled Now, who
would have thought that girl could
dance as she did?
By this time / was In such a solu.
ton of grief that would soon have
had to be sopped up with sponge II
Pet hadn't run in bubbling over like
lovely white linen clad glass OF
Rhine wine and settler. Happiness has
a habit or not even acknowledging the
presence OF grief. and Pet didn't seen
TO see our red noses. crushed draperies
and generally damp atmosphere.
Molly" she said with a deliciously
young giggle. Tom says for you Il
send him SO TO spend getting tn,
brass band half drunk before o'clocl
train. on which your Mr. Bennett
comes. He has spent So paying tn,
negroes TO polish up their instrument
and clean up the uniforms, and it cos
him twenty FIVE 70 bail the cornetis
out Of Jail for roost robbing. and
takes a whole gallon of whisky TO &c
any spirit into the drummer. He say
tell you that as this is your shindiG 70
ought at least TO pay the piper. Hurr
up. he's waiting for me. and here's III
kiss he told me TO put on our left ear.
Il suppose you delivered that ks
straight from where be gave it TO yo1
Petite. dear?" had fhe spirit to say q
| went over TO the desk for my poke
book.
why. Molly. you know me bett'
, than THAR she exclaimed from behiu
a narfa~r roSa cloud of finishes