Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-04-22
THE MELTING OF MOLLY
By MARIA THOMPSON DAVIESS
Copyright h

"Why. Molly, you know me better
than that" she exclaimed from be-
hind a perfect rise cloud of bushes.
II know Tom better than | do you,
| answered as she fled with the ten
in her hand: [ looked at Ruth Chess
ter and we both laughed. It is true
that a broader sympathy is one OF
the by-produets of sorrow, and a
week ago | might have resented Pet
to a marked degree instead of giving
her the ten dollars and a blessing
I'm going quick, Molly. with that
laugh between u.s. Ruth said as she
rose and took me into her arms again
for just half a second, and before |
could stop her. she was gone.
She met Billy toiling up the front
step with long piece of rusty iron
gas-pipe, 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 almost more than | could
stand, and apparently more than
Billy was prepared to accept.
go away, girl" he said in his
rudest manner; don't you see I'm
busy?"
met him in the front hall just in
time to prevent hopeless scar on my
hardwood floor. He was hot, per-
spring and painting. but full OF
triumph.
az found it, Molly, 7 found iti' 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 git away for nothing.
You and Doc kin put it in your trunk
cause it's too long for mine, and
can carry Docs shirts and things in
mine. Git the hammer quick and I'll
help you fix it," The pain in my
breast was almost more than | could
bear.
Lover" / said as | knelt down by
him in the dim old hall and put my
arms around him as il 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
Ddck 10 me some udy
''Why, Molly" he said. flaring his
astonished blue eyes at me, "'taint
me to be took care of! / amt a-going
to leave you here, for maybe a 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 right
to keep the whale from Citing away
He don't know how to do like l 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 Siss-spot gone" he said with
an amused, manly. little tenderness in
his voice that | had never heard be-
fore, and he cuddled his lips against
mine in almost the only voluntary
kiss he had given me since I had got
him into his ridiculous little trousers
under his blouse. you can
have most hundred kisses every
night if you don't say no more about
not agoing 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, little paddle burned the
sleep place on my breast like a ter
rible white heat from which l was
powerless to defend 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!
I don't know how I managed to
answer Mrs. Johnson'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 fol-
lowing them with a large basket, in
which were packed the things Aunt
Bette was contributing to the enter
! tainment of the distinguished citizen.
Mr.. Johnson is Alfreds nearest Rims
man 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 pud.
ding with Thomas old port in it."
leased Aunt Bette with laugh as
l went across the street with them.
There's going to be a regulaf
epidemic of, love in Hillsboro, I do
believe she continued in her usual
strain of sentimental speculation. II
saw Mr. Graves talking to Della
Halves in front of the store an hour
ago, as came out from looking at
the blue chihtz to match Pet for the
west wing, and they were both so abb
sorbed they didn't even see me. That
was what might have been called a
conflagration dinner you gave the
other night, Molly, in more ways than
one. | wish a spark had set off
Benton Wade and Henrietta. tao.
Maybe 1t did, but is just taking firs
| slowly"
n.