Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-08-19
- THE -
Melting
@ Molly
By
MARIA THOMPSON
DAVIESS
Copyright. 1912, by The Bobbs-
Merrill Company
(coNTINUxp.l
Copyright. 1912, by the Bohbs-
Merrill Company

L
The subject Of the conduct of widows
is a serious one. OF all the things old
tradition Is most set about 1t Is that,
anc what was decided to be the proper
thing a million years ago this town
still dictates shall be done and spends
a good deal of its time seeing Its d.
recdons carried out For year after
the funeral they forget about the poor
bereaved, and when they do remember
her they speak to and Of her in the
same tones Of voice they used at the
obsequies. Then sooner or later some
neighbor is sure to see some man walk
home from church with her or hear
| some old bachelors voice on her front
porch. Mr.. Cain took Mrs. Caruther's
little Jessie up in his buggy and helped
her out at her mothers gate just be-
fore last Christmas, and If the poor
widow hadn't acted quick the town
| would have noticed them to death be-
fore he proposed to her. They were
married the day after New Years. and
| she lost lots Of good friends because
she didn't give them more time to talk
about 1t.
don't intend to run any risk Of los
ing my friends that way. and I want
them to have all the good time they
can get out Of 1t. I'm going to serve
out mint juleps Of excitement until the
dear old place is running as 1t did
when 1t was two-year-old. Why get
mad when people are interested in
you? It's compliment, after all, and
Just gives them more to think about
I remembered the two trunks across
| the haIl and hugged nv knees up un-
der my chin with pleasure at the
thought Of the town talk they con-
tanned.
Then Just US I had got the first plan
well going and was deciding whether
| to wear the mauve meteor or the white
chiffon with the rosebud embroidery as
a first julep for my friends a sweet
ness came in through my window that
took my breath away, and lay still
with my hand over my heart and lis
tened It was Billy singing right un-
der my window, and I've never heard
him do It before In all his five years.
It was the dearest old fashioned tune
ever written, and Billy sang the words
as distinctly us II he had been a boy
chorister doing difficult recitadve
Ny heart beat 30 1t shook the lace on
my breast like breeze from heaven
as he took the high note and then let
1t 90 on the last few words:
'lf you love me. Molly. darling.
Let your answer be hss!'
A confused recollection Of having
heard the words and tune sung by my
mother when was at the rocking age
myself brought the tears to my eyes as
few to the window and parted the
surtains If you heard little boy an
gel singing ut your easement wouldn't
you expect cherubim face upturned
with heaven lights all over 1T Billy's
face was upturned as he heard me
draw the shade. but 1t was streaked
like wild Indians with decorations
OF brown mud. and he held a long
Shiny tishworm on the end Of q stick
while he wiped his other grimy hand
down the front Of his linen blouse
Say, Molly, look at the snake
hunged your he exclaimed as he came
close under the sill. which Is not high
rom the ground. IF you PCT your
.ace down to the mud and sing some
thing to 'em they'll come outen they
holes. A doodle bug coined. too, but
couldn't ketch 'em both. Lift me up
and can put him In the water glass
on your table" He held up one muddy
paddle to me, and promptly ! lifted
him up into my arms. From the en-
brace In which he and the worm and
I INDUCED my lace and dimity came
out much the worse.
"That was lovely song you sang
about Molly. darling Billy" ] said
"Where did you hear itf 4
THAT'S good bug song. Molly. and
bet can git lizard with II, too. II
sing 1t right low" He began to
squirm out Of my arms toward the ta-
BILE and the glass.
"Who taught It to you. sugar sweetf
persisted as poured water In on the
sQulrming worm under his direction.
Nobody taught 1t to me. Doc sings
It to me when Tilly. nurse nor you
amt there to put me to bed. He don't
know no good songs like Roll, Jordan.
Roll or Hot Times or Twinkle. l
20 to sleep quick cause he makes me
feel tired with his slow tune what's
only good for bugs Git hairpin for
me to poke him with. Molly, quick!
| found the hairpin. and don't know
why my hand trembled as | handed It
to Billy. As soon as he got 1t he
climbed out the window. glass. bug
and all, and saw him and the red set
ter 20 down the garden walk together
In pursuit of the desired lizard. sup
pose. l closed the blinds and drew the
curtains again and flung myself on my
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seemed to be sweeping over me In
great waves. and felt young and
close up to some sort Of big world
good. It was delicious, and ! don't
know how long l would have stayed
there just feeling 1t II Judy hadn't
brought in my letter.
He had written from London. and II
was many pages Of wonderful things
all favored with me. He told me about
Miss Chester and what good friends
they were and how much he hoped
she would be In Hillsboro when he got
here. he said that great many OF her
dainty ways reminded him Of his
"own slip of a girl" especially the turn
of her head like flower on its stem. T"
At that l got right out Of bed like q
Jack jumping out Of box and looked
at myself in the mirror.
There Is one exercise here on page
twenty that hate worst Of ALL You
screw up your face tight until you look
like Christmas mask to get your
neck muscles taut and then wobbie
your head around like newborn baby
until it swims. l did that one twenty
extra times and all the others In pro
portion to make up for those two hours
In bed. Hereafter I'll get up at the
ttmo diroctad m .naUe Sthree~Or may be