The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-08-07
The Eoe,,b,e Story

| The Eoentne Story
! Molly's Decision.
| (By Louise Oliver,
| II won't marry him!'
you'll have to-"
mo don't-just because n stunid
old viii says So" Ap'>.
| Then you'n lose the money!"
aon,t care about the money! de-
clared Molly. ITS nothing In the
protested dosgedly. ''You don't even
know his name. You may chance
your mind when the lawyers open
the sealed letter that was enclosed
with your uncle's will and find that
the fortunate fellow il someone whom
you know-and like"
Never! Harley. won't you believe
But I'm poor!"
Don't you want me? You're act
ing awfully silly today" she pouted.
What do you wish me to say? That
l Will do as the will says, and on NV
tWenty-hrst birthday next week an
nounce my intention Of marrying this
anonymous person just SO T can have
lautomobiles?''
+. He caught her to him a. though
ne could never let her 70. "MoiIv.
darling. the thought Of losing YOU is
making me insane. I cannot sleep, I
has come between us.'
l. she patted his cheek tenderly. eft
hasn't come. Harley! It's always been
there Why. you were the very ono
to tell me Of It first! That was Why
you came-don't you remember? You
came out there to Aunt Lainey and
FINE in our little home In the hflls-
hunted up po3r little me, whom Aunt
4:ainey had guarded like q dragon for
Gently. .And was fishing the dav
you came-siiting on q rock. watch
ing the tops Of the hills and wonder
ing what lay beyond"
And while you were dreaming" he
scared you to DEATH
No wonder: I'd never seen q man
In my life. I've told you that Aunt
Lainey had even cut all the illustra-
tons out Of my school books She
was . picture in the Bible she had
never dared to touch. the twelve
apostles with flowing robes and
boards. I thought all men looked and
dressed that way. No wonder you
scared mel"
! He laughed. "And I've told you a
million times since then, dearest, that
had never seen SO beautiful a picture
as you made!" He glanced at the
heavy coils Of copper-colored hair so
| pecomingiy arranged. that had hung in
neavy bratds THE day he spoke of. And
the clear blue cf her eyes had reflected
the limpid depths Of the lake.
| He went over in his mind the events
OF that wonderful day. how Mr.. Mea-
ger. the senior member Of his law
firm. had detailed him to take the
trip to the mountain home OF Miss
Lainey and her niece and tell OF the
VIII the girls Uncle had left.
Later Molly had been sent to a
fashionable school in his own city and
they had met often at the home Of the
Meagers. who had been friends Of Mol
ly's uncle. It seemed that something
more than chance arranged their
meetings. They fell desperately In
love with each other in spite Of the
fact that Molly was absolutely forbid
den to marry anybody but the mys-
terious person named In the will
upon pain Of fcrfeiting every penny Of
the fortune.
Suddenly no spoke. molly. you
must not throw yourself away upon
q poor fellow like me. I can't let
you do 1t. You-you are too mAgnifl-
of-a-guq who hasn't thing In the
world to offe- you but his heart and
two willing hands"
'Hush!'' she whispered. That's all
want: There You must run along
now. It's late ana I must pack.
go to Aunt Lainey's early in the morn
ing. you know. Goodnight. dear"
Molly found Miss Lainey, her friend
and guardian. sick. ''She e at the
end of her string. Miss Molly" said
the doctor. "a life Of hard work has
| worn her out. She needs pampering
and codd1.ng-about q year Of 1t. II
! she could travel when she's able to
be round . bit it would put new life
into her. Any place she wants to go.
thing else. Do you think am pre-
scribing medicine that il too rich ?" he
asked gently.
Molly's face had gone deathly white.
She knew her aunt had. almost mo-
money. She herself had n6ne, except
what the estate allowed her for her
schooling. That had stopped Unleas
next week was her birthday! IT was
for her to decide then what should be
will. Now her aunt who. had befriend-
ed her. and had taken the place Of her
parents for years, was sick and in
want! She shut her eyes. sWAying
slightly In an instant her decision
was made.
s'She shall have anything she needs.
doctor. She car travel for years If she
from hero ~ soon 40 she y able to co.
The week, years long e seemed 70
Molly, dragged 1loW1y by she nurDeo
her aunt, moving about her 0uf1e1 in
almost deathlike Ailence. There wa
no way Of hearing from Harley. She
yas just a. Glad, tor she Aad decided
four. three. Two dayA toslusFoU. -
q So ss IS