The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-08-14

'T know Tom better than ! do you"
/ answered as she fed with the ten In
her hand. looked at Ruth Chester,
and we both laughed. 1t is true that a
broader sympathy is one of the by
products of sorrow, and a week ago 1
might have resented Pet to a marked
degree instead of giving her the $40
and blessing.
"Pm going quick, Molly, with that
laugh between u.s." Ruth said as she
rose and took me into her arms again
for just half second, and before
could stop her she was gone.
She met Billy toiling up the front
step with long piece of rusty iron
gaspipe, which took Off an inch Of paint
as it bumped against the edge of the
porch. She bent down and kissed the
back of his neck, which theft was al
most more than l could stand and ap-
parently more than Billy was prepared
to accept.
go away, girl" he said in his rudest
manner. Don't you see I'm busy"
l met him in the front hall just in
time to prevent hopeless scar on my
hardwood floor. He was hot, perspir-
ing and painting but full of triumph.
II found 1t, Molly, l found it,! he
exclaimed as he let the heavy pipe
drop almost on the bare pink toes.
"You can git hammer and pound the
end sharp and bend it so no whale we
ketch can get away for nothing You
and Doc kin put it in your trunk cause
it's too long for mine, and l can carry
Docs shirts and things in mine. Git
the hammer quick and I'll help you fix
itp' The pain In my breast was almost
more than j could bear
Lover" | said as l knelt down by
him in the dim old hall and put my
arms around him as If to shield him
from some blow couldn't help being
aimed at him, "you wouldn't mind
much, would you, If just this time your
Molly couldn't go with you? Your
father is going to take good care Of
you and-and maybe bring you back to
me some day."
why, Molly" he said, faring his
astonished blue eyes at me, "'tain't
me to be took care of l amt a-going
to leave you here. for maybe bear to
come out of a circus and eat you up,
with me and Doc gone. Sides, Doc
amt no good and maybe wouldn't help
me hold the rope tight to keep the
whale from Citing away. He don't
know how to do like tell him like you
do"
'"Try him, lover, and maybe he will
will learn to- l couldn't help the
tears that came to stop my words.
"Now, you see, Molly, how you'd cry
with that kiss spot gone" he said,
with an amused, manly, little tender
ness in his voice that l had never
heard before, and he cuddled his lips
against mine in almost the only volun-
tary kiss he had given me since / had
got him into his ridiculous little trous-
ers under his blouses. "You can have
most hundred kisses every night If
you don't say no more about not ago
ing and fix that whale hook for me
quick" he coaxed against my cheek.
oh, little lover, little lover; you didn't
know what you were saying with your
baby wisdom and your rust grimy lit
tie paddle burned the sleep place on
my breast like a terrible white heat
from which | was powerless to de-
fend myself. You are mine, you are.
you are! You are soul of my soul and
heart of my heart and spirit of my
spirit and-and you ought to have been
flesh of my flesh
don't know how ] managed to an
swer Mrs. JohnsoE's call from my
front gate but sometimes think that
women have a torture proof clause in
their constitutions.
She and Aunt Bette had just come
up the street from Aunt Bettie's house,
and the Pollard cook was following
them with a large basket in which
were packed the things Aunt Bette
was contributing to the entertainment
of the distinguished citizen. Mr.. John
son is Alfred's nearest kinsman in
Hillsboro, and. of course, he is to be
their guest while he is In town.
He'll be feeding his eyes on Molly,
so he'll not even know he's eating my
Washington almond pudding with
Thomas old port in it." teased Aunt
Bette. with laugh, as / went across
the street with them.
'There's going to be a regular cpl
uemic or love IN Hillsporo, do be-
lieve," she continued in her usual
strain of sentimental speculation. II
saw Mr.. Graves talking to Della
Hawes in front of the store an hour
ago as came out from looking at the
blue chintz to match Pet for the west
wing. and they were both so absorbed
they didn't even see me. That was
what might have been called confia-
grafton dinner you gave the other
night Molly, in more ways than one.
l wish a spark had set off Benton
Wade and Henrietta too. Maybe 1t
did, but is just taking fire slowly"
| think it would be good thing just
to let Aunt Bette blindfold every un-
married person 10 this town and mar
ry them to the first person they touch
| a.. l..