Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-07-09
TIE
MELTING
OF MOLLY
By MARIA THOMPSON
DAVIESS
Copyright. 1912. by the Bohbs-MerriTl
Company

Os-.-.-.-s-s-s-.-s-s-.-s-s-s
I was not the foolish thing he evident
ly had classified me as being. l snatch
ed at my mind and shook out mix
myself and gave them TO him. looking
straight in his face. l would have
cracked all the ten commandments TO
save myself from his contempt.
I'm not Joking" ! said jerkily. II
am lonesome. And worse than being
lonesome, I'm scared. l ought to have
stayed Just the quiet rellct OF Mr.. Car
ter and gone on TO church meetings
with Aunt Adeline and let myself be
fat and respecta BILE, but / haven't got
the character. You thought I went to
town to buy a monument, and didn't
! bought enough clothes for two brides,
and now I'm scared to wear 'em, and
/ don't know what you'll think when
you see my handbook. Everybody IS
talking about me and that dinner, par
~ Tuesday night. and Aunt Adeline
says she can't live in a house of mourn
ing so desecrated any longer. She's
going back TO the cottage. Aunt Bet
tie Pollard says that If I want to get
married | ought TO do It to Wilson
Graves because Of the seven children.
and then everybody would be so re-
lieved that they are taken care of that
they would forget that Mr. Carter
hasn't been dead quite one year yet.
Mrs. Johnson says ] ought TO be de-
clared a minor and put as a ward TO
you. l can't help Judge Wade's send
ing me flowers and Toms sitting on
my front steps night and day. I'm
not strong enough TO carry him away
and murder him. ! am perfectly mis-.
cradle. and I'm
Now. that'll do. Molly: just hush for
a half minute and let me talk 10 YOU"
said DR.. John as he took my hand in
his and drew me near him. NO won
der your heart hurts II il has got all
that load Of trouble on II. and well
just get a little of that scare off. You
put yourself in my hands. and you are
TO do just rs tell you. and ! Say-fOr-
get IL. Come with me while | make n
call. 1t is Il long drive. and Tm-Im
lonesome sometimes myself"
saw the worst was over. and |
breathed freely again. but had talked
so much truth i'm that fiction that | felt
just as said did. which is slightly
unnatural feeling for Il woman. There
was nothing for it but To- go with him.
and | wanted 10 most awfully
To my dying day I'll never forget
that little house. way out on the Cane
Run pike. he took me to in his shabby
little car. lust two tiny rooms. but
they were clean and quiet. and a girl
with the sweetest face | ever saw lay
in the bed with her eyes bright with
pride and tiny. tiny little bundle close
beside her. The young farmer was red
with embarrassment and anxiety.
shes all right today. but she wOr-
ricS because she don't think | can tend
10 the baby right" be said. and be did
look helpless Her mother had TO go
home for two days. hut is coming to-
morrow daSn't undresS and wash
the youngSter myself II won't hurt
him 10 stay bundled up until granny
comes. will IT. DOc?"
Not a bit" answered Or. John in
his big comforting voice.
But looked nj the girl. and under.
stood her She wanted that baby clean
and fresh even if IL was just five days
old. and felt all OF a sudden terribly
! capable picked up the bundle and
went into the other room with IT,
where a kettle was boiling on the
stove and large bucket by the door.
I found things by just n glance from
her. and the hour | spent with that
small baby was one OF the most de
liciouS OF all my life. never was left
entirely to myself with one before. and
] did all wanted 70 this one. guided
by instinct and desire He slept right
through and was the darlinGest thing
ever saw when laid him back on the
bed by her never looked in DR..
Johns direction once, though felt
him all the time.
But on the way home l gave myself
the surprise OF my life! Suddenly
turned my face against his sleeve and
cried as never had before. | felt
safe. for It Is n cliff road aud he had 10
drive carefully. However, he manag.
ed to press that one arm against my
b cheek in way that comforted me into
/ stopping when | saw we were near
town. got out of the ear AT the gar.
age and walked away through the gar.