Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1913-09-02
- THE ~
Melting
Of Molly
BY
MARIA THOMPSON
DAVIESS
Copyright. 1912. by the Bohhs-
Merrill Company
Copyright. 1912. by the Bohhs-
Merrill Company
LEAF eleventh.
A Heart Of Gold.

into his eyes and made me realize Jut
exactly what had been saying to hin
about what. and how l had said 1t.
stood perfectly still. shook all over lik
a leaf and wondered II | would ever b
able to raise my eyes from the grount
A dizzy. nauseated feeling for mysel
rose up In me against myself. and
was Just about to turn on my heels an
leave him. hoped forever. when b
came over and laid his hand on N
shoulder.
Molly" he said in voice that nigh
have come down from heaven on dov
wings. "you can't for a moment feel o
think that | don't realize and appre
ciate what you have been to the moth
erless little chap. and for life ! al
yours at command. as he Is. reall.
thought II would be relief to you t
have him taken away from you for JUS
a little while right now. and still
think II is best. but not unless you con
sent. You shall have him back when
ever you are ready for him. and at al
times both he and I are at your servic
to the whole of our kingdoms. Jus
think the matter over. won't you. ant
decide what you want me to doT"
Something In me died forever.
think. when he spoke to me like tina,
Hes not like other men. and ther
aren't any other men on earth but him
All the rest are just bugs or bats o
something worse. And I'm not any
thing myself There's no excuse 10
my living. and | wish ! wasn't y
healthy and likely to go on doing II
It was all over. and there was nothin
left for me to live for. and before
.ould stop myself I buried my face In
NY hands.
BILLY asked me to so with him or
his awful whale hunt" ! sobbed out
10 comfort myself with the thought
klt somebody did care for me. regard
Iess Of just how was further embar'
.assing and complicating myself In the
affairs Of the two men had thought
owned and was now finding out tina,
! had to give up. wish l had been
boxing at him. for l felt him start
out he said In his big friendly voice
that Is SO much-and never enough fol
ne
well. why not you and Al come
along and make 1t family party. II
that Is what suits Bill. the boss?"
II men would just buy good. SHARP
kitchen knives and cut out women's
hearts in a businesslike way It would
be so much kinder Of them. why dc
they prefer to use dull weapons that
mash the life out slowly? Everything
is at an end for me tonight. and tha,
blow did 1t 1t was horrible crue
thing for him to say to me. ] know
now that have been In love with Johr
Moore for longer than my honor let:
me admit and that I'll never love any
body else, and that also ! have Offered
myself to him served up In every
known enticement and have to be re
fused ut least twice day for a year
A widow can't say she didn't under
stand what she was doing. even to her
self. but-my humiliation Is complete
and the only thing that can make mt
ever hold up my head Is to puzzle hin
by-by happily marrying Alfred Ben
nett-and quick!
OF course he must suspect how fee
about him. for two people couldn't bott
be 30 ignorant as not to see such al
enormous thing as my love for him Is
and / was the blind one. But he must
never. never know that I ever realized
It, for he Is so good that 1t would dis
tress him. must 60 on In my foolish
way with him until ! can get away
I'll tell him I'm sorry l was SO indig
nant tonight and say that l think II
will be fine for him to take my Billy
away from me with him. I must smile
at the idea of having my very soul am
putated. insist that 1t is the only thint
to do and pack up the little soul In
steamer trunk with the smile. JUS
smile. that Is ALL Life demands smiles
from a woman. even II she must crust
their perfume from her OVID heart
and she generally has them ready.
Oh. Molly. Molly! Is It for this yo'
came into the world-twice to CIV
Yourself without love? What differ
ence does 1t make that your arms ar
strong and white II they can't clasl
him to the softness and fragrance o
your breast? Why are your eyes blu
pools of love If they are not for hi
questioning. and what are your ros
rps for II they quench not his thirst?
Yes. ! know God is very tender witt
woman. and think he understands
80 II she crept very close to him ant
caught at his sleeve to steady hersel
he would be kind to her until sh
could 60 on along her own steep way
Please. God. never let him find out. TO
Il would hurt him to have hurt me!
Some days are like the miracle aoW
ers that open In the garden from plant
you didn't expect to bloom at all.
might have been born. lived and die
without having this one come into m
life. and. now that have had It
don't know how to write It except l
the crimson Of blood. the blue Of ham'
the gold of glory. and hnge OF iigf
green would well expiess the part
have played. But It Is all over at las
and
Ruth Chester was the unfolding q
the first hour petal. and got glimps
of a heart Of gold that I feel dunn
with worship to think of. She's God
own good woman. and he made her
one Of his holy hours. wish coul
have borne her. 80 she me. and th
tenderness of her arms was sacr'
ment We two women just stood asid
with life's artifces and concealmen1
and let our own hearts do the talking
She said she had come because 81
felt that II she talked with me migt
be better able to understand Alfre
when he came and that she had see
that the Judge was very determines
and she thoroughly recognized b
force Of character. We stopped thel
while gave Der the document 10 rea'