Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1916-04-18
Euening. Story
THE PERFECT LOVER
Copyright, 1916, by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
BY Elizabeth e. Hoyt.

| Copyright, 1916, by Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
Molly Foss was one of seven girls
who had grown up together in Easton.
At the time of this story the girls had
reached the early twenties. Four OF
them were married, one engaged and
two were excepting steady company
as they say. Molly alone had shown
no signs of losing her heart. She had
studied nursing and she declared to
her friends that to cure the sick was
all she wanted in life. And, of course,
she might have gone on nursing peace
ably forever had not DR.. Richard Ran
dali come to town.
I'm the very first, It was evident
that the young doctor took great in
terest In Molly. He saw good deal of
| her, for she was the only trained nurse
who lived in Easton and in small
town like Easton If one person is very
much interested in another everybody
else is pretty sure to know it. How
lever, the. town was sorry to see that
Molly apparently did not reciprocate
Dr. Richard Randalls devotion, and on
one except D. Richard himself, felt
worse about this than Molly's six girl
friends. 's.,s.St &
The first to speak to Molly about it
was Carrie Smith, who had been Car
rie Waters Carries husband had
had an attack of pneumonia and Molly
had come to help Carrie out-and DR..
Randall was the doctor. This was
when D. Randall was new and Carrie
was the the first person to see that he
was head over ears in love with Molly.
And so one night she told her friend
just what she thought Of her indiffer
ence to the young doctor.
molly, my DEAR" she said. 81 am
going to speak to you plainly, for
think you can be saved something
from my experience. I have never
spoken about this before, but let me
tell you it is great thing to have the
devotion of man who Is interested in
the same things you are. My poor Hen
ry doesn't care for thing in the world
but automobiles and he'd rather look
at new catalogue than eat his dinner.
My playing the piano disturbs him aw,
fully. We havn't thing to talk about
evenings nor pleasure to share. 1t
almost breaks my heart sometimes.
Think 1t over, Molly DEAR
It was Helen Lake who spoke the
next word to Molly about Dr. Richard.
Helen was going with Ralph Griggs,
fine young man, but some four inches
shorter than herself "You ought to
be mighty thankful, Molly Foss,' Hell
en- said, ito have man like DR.. Ran
dali to take you to places. I'd be pref
ty nice to him If were YOU He Is so
exactly the right size for YOU Helen
sighed. molly, I never spoke OF this
before, but girl with such chance as
you have ought to appreciate good
tall man. Poor Ralph-sometimes he
almost breaks my heart"
A week or two later Molly was call
ing on Betty Arnold Wister, whose
husband, Peter, had brought her much
love and a salary of fifteend ollars a
week. Molly" said Betty, Peter and
l are just crazy over each other, but
I'm sure it is really my duty to tell you
how gloomy it Is to think that the
slightest mischance would send us
both to the poor house. Oh, don't
think believe in marrying for money.
Molly, but you ought to take 1t If you
can get a good man, too. DR.. Randall
is the most prosperous person In Eas-
! ton. I never spoke before Of poor Pet.
! ers-er-misfortun but sometimes it
almost breaks my heart"
Grace Mcpherson overlook Molly a
few days later. Molly" she said, "you
may think it's is none of my business
| and I am awfully silly, but you know
I've seen quite lot Of Tom Sears late.
ly and like him very much. But Sun
days he just stays at home and smokes
and when he takes me home from
evening meeting he always waits out
side the church door. feel so wicked,
Molly! And all the good women Of the
church look at me so reproachfuliy, as
! if they were asking why hadn't con-
/ verified Tom yet. But If you knew how
impossible-oh dear! when l see DIR.
Richard Randall coming to, church
every Sunday and especially last Sun
day when he took the boys class in
Sunday SCHOOL, just envied you Mol
ly and thought fought to tell you
what that means. I never spoke Of it
before. but although poor Toms dar,
ling, sometimes he almost breaks my
heart"
! Gertrude Fiske Ingraham called on
| Molly on purpose to deliver her mes
sage. Il am going to tell you frankly"