The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1913-05-16

SOS
o'clock. You got to go today?"
"Yes," said Molly, "she wants me
to go after groceries"
"Then I'll be waiting at the end
Of the lane. l hate to deceive any
one, but there is no sense in your
walking that five miles this kind or
weather.
at doesn't seem quite right,
Fright or not, you're not going to
walk"
Molly thrilled at the note of domi-
nation in his voice and rode away be-
hind the black team.
Many things happened which the
girl never mentioned to her old
aunt. After a big snowstorm she
always found the path to the spring
where the cattle drank carefully
opened. Hay appeared overnight as
if by magic upon the feeding floor
so that she need not go up into the
NOV.
When the wood began to get
alarmingly low and she started for
the woods with an ak over her shout
der she found a great pile of freshly
cut sticks ready for the stove.
Neither did she mention any of
these things to the young man on
their frequent trips to town, al
though they talked together Of many
things.
One afternoon, when the gun had
begun to cut into the snow crust
with a promise Of spring, and the
business had been accomplished EAR
lier than usual, Bob stopped in
front Of the only theater the little
town boosted.
lets go in" he suggested. owe
have plenty Of time"
"0h, mol" The girls face flushed
painfully.
"Why notP"
Il don't look fit" She glanced
over her inexpensive, bedraggled at
"See here, Molly" Bob's voice
was hoarse, 81 can't stand this kind
Of thing. You're not the right sort
Of girl to have to work like a man.
you know 1 want to take care
Of you, dear?"
"oh," cried the girl, 81 cannot
leave Aunt Mary, no matter how
queer she seems"
They rode home in silence.
"Molly, said her aunt a few days
later, put on your things and go
back to the sap shanty. l see smoke
from that direction. Some
Of our neighbors are none too good
to help themselves to our sugar bush
now I can't get around"
As she approached the low old
building, Molly distinctly did see
smoke rising from the rude chin
ney. A sleigh with two big tin can
Of sap stood beside the door, and to
the sleigh was hitched the black
team which had given her so many
trips to town.
AS she crouched behind a tree.
Bob Farnley came out and carried
two pals Of the precious sweet fluid
into the interior of the hut.
The girl staggered back to the
barn, sick at heart. Could it be trueP
Was Aunt Mary right2
Everything was all right" she
said miserably, when she went back
the house.
On Saturday a big thaw had set
in, 80 her trip to town was post
She did not 90 to the woods
again, though her aunt bade her keep
a sharp lookout for sugar thieves.
Several nights later the girl was
by her aunt's hand upon
her face.
Keep still-help me up-there is
some one moving outside the kiteh-
en- door," she whispered.
Trembling with nervousness, Mol
ly hastily wrapped the old lady in
a warm shawl and half carried her
to the door, outside of which could
be heard mufled footsteps.
Miss Mary fearlessly flung open
the door and there upon the door
stood Bob Farnley, a tin syrup
can in each hand.
"oh, you've caught me. / might
have trusted you to do that, Miss
Pve made this syrup for