Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-02-04


white satin as the happy briderroo-. I.
teased Mr. Moore as they arose ~.
the table.
Nonsense" laughed Molly. blush,n.
Billy. sleepy and solemn even. suIss
ly endured Molly's good night =.
when she came to his bed In an 4.
glory of the peach colored satin. q.
expressed open disapproval Of the h.,
piled masses of her powdered hair -
the audacious black patch on =,
round chin.
Good night. lover boyw whlsne-.s
Molly. But Billy turned a hot n,rs
cheek away from her caress. -wu,
you go skating with me tomorrory,
she asked.
"Alone?" he questioned
"Alone with me-" said Molly. and
she did not know her tone quayered
"AlI right" growled Billy and kis..s
her sheepishly. You look ane." h.
added.
Molly quite forgot Billy and his zeal
Gus heart by the time she reached IA,
Bigleys'.
But when Ned Hildred hurried m \,
her. incomparabIy handsome In whit.
velvet and silver embroidery, Mollys
color deepened and all softness van
ished from her eyes.
You haven't saved one for meY' \,
asked, his face quite white.
$50 sorry" murmured Molly as shs
glided away with her partner for III,
first waltz.
Ned Hildred stared dumbly sfts
lovely Molly. The exquisite strains Of
the waltz wrung his heart.
Presently he went home. After thu
Molly's gayety was entirely fctitou.
The next day it was very pale aH
wan Molly who tramped over tt
snowy paths to Silver lake. BHy
trudging beside her with their skate
swung over his shoulders, was
gloomy companion.
Once there among the crowd Of uer
~ skaters Mollysrecovereda degree o.
cheerfulness, but Billy's gloom deepen
ed with each passing moment.
They had skated to a secluded par
of the lake, where Molly sat down OF
a fallen log to rest
"Ill go and buy some sandwiches
Aunt Molly" said Billy. turning away
every well. dear. Don't be long"
Billy raced back among the skaters
His bright eyes sought out Hildreds /
tall form.
ooh. Mr.. Mildred. please come to
Aunt Molly right away; it's awful in
portant," quavered Billy, grasplng The
mans hand.
Hildred's one thought was that Molly
had fallen through the ice. He uttered
a strangled cry of alarm and dsrted I
off, dragging the frightened Billy By
one hand.
Breathlessly they dashed up to The
spot where Molly sat pensively upon +
her log. She started violently as the! I
pirouetted to a standstil.
"Why, what is it?' she stammered T
Indignantly.
IL beg your pardon" murmured
Hildred with a furious glance at The
wretched Billy. He lifted his cap and
wheeled about.
wait a minute. please" cried The
IL
and you both got to be here aud lis
ten"
BILLY Moore. what is it," demand
ed Molly, and then. seeing the qul'
ering lips of the little man. she realized
that he was bracing himself for sous
difficult performance She put be-
arms around him, and he seemed CAD
of their support. "
What is it, dear?" she asked.
Billy told his story in a shaking
voice-how he had hated Mr.. Hildreo
because he came between Billy anu
MS adored Aunt Molly. Then the Gay
before. when he had met Mr.. Hildred
n his car, he had lied to Aunt MoAy +
He had not told her that Mr. Hilore'
lad stopped the car and babe him taSs
message to Molly; that the fair pas
,enger in the car was Hildreds sister
n-Iaw. Mrs. Reed. who had been can
ID to the deathbed of parent IN Wess
hester and that Hildred was PUSHES
Ter there at top speed.
Billy related how he had gone none
md read about the exemplary youa
IL 6eOTSe washington. anu NV
en- by remorse. he unburdened ~
,uilty conscience to those ne DIV
HE never told a lie.' walled BIZ
n a final outburst of anguish. luz
ell one. ! can never be the sane /"
im."
"Laddie." whispered Hildred fenoe
Y, ''at this moment there IS no MAJ
reater than you" And Billy was n
omforted.
Later the three sat there with alns
ntwined and heads in loving prom"
y.
"Old man." suggested Hiidreo.
-onder If you wouldn't feel dinerenI.
'ward me If you called ne un'"
ed?'
"Hurrah" cried Billy. 1T NV
eem different somehow. Let's ~
ISIS Aunt Molly. Uncle Ned.
Is suggestion was carried out