The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-09-22
Perfect LOVER
BY ELIZABETH z. HOYT.


Molly alone had shown no signs of
losing her heart She had studied
nursing. And. Of course, she might
have gone on nursing peaceably for
ever had not DR.. Richard Randall
come to town.
Molly apparently did not recfpo
cate DR.. Richard Randall's devotion.
The first to speak to Molly about it
was Carrie Smith. who had been Car
RE Waters. Carries husband had had
an attack Of pneumonia, and Molly
had come to help Carrie out-and Doc
tor Randall was the doctor. One
night she told her friend just what she
thought of her indifference to the
young doctor.
Molly, my dear she said, 81 am
going to speak to you plainly. Let me
tell you it is great thing to have the |
devotion of a man who is interested |
in the same things you are. Think 1t
over, Molly, dear"
It was Helen Lake who spoke the
next word to Molly about Doctor Rich
ard. "You ought to be mighty thank
full. Molly Foss," Helen said, ito have
a man like Doctor Randall. He is sc
exactly the right size for you" Helen
sighed
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 SIS a week.
Molly" said Betty, "The slightest
mischance would send us both to the
poorhouse. Doctor Randall is the most
! prosperous person in Easton."
Grace Mcpherson overlook Molly
! few DAYS later. molly" she said.
you may think it is none of my bust
! ness and I am awfully silly, but you
know I've seen quite a lot of Tom
Sears lately, and like him very much,
But Sundays he just stays at home
and smokes, and when he takes me
home from evening meeting he al.
ways waits outside the church door.
I feel so wicked, Molly! DR.. Richard
Randall comes to church every Sun
day envy you, Molly"
Gertrude Fiske Ingraham called on
Molly on purpose to deliver her mes
sage. 81 am going to tell you frankly y
she said, that you don't half appre
, ciate DR.. Richard Randall's family con
nections. I know girl who lives II
Rye, where his family came from
, and she said his mother had just rea(
, paper before the women's club OF
= the mistake it was for relatives t.
D come to live with young couple
VOW never spoke of this before, bu
a what with Mother Ingraham AM
n Grandmother Ingraham and Cousin
Sophronia and Great-aunt Dorcas al
G living with Percy and me and a.
wanting to run the house, from poul
= ing the tea to bringing up the bah!
o tell you sometimes it almost break
e my heart"
It Molly's dearest friend, Lou Thoml
y son, who was to be married in JUNE
IS came to Molly few weeks before tn
g wedding. Molly" she said, Il kno'
you'll understand why I tell you thi
10 for I'm doing it not to hurt John, b'
10 for your own sake ! love John, bl
II he's so forgetful Of little things th'
sometimes he almost breaks my hear
10 He doesn't take off his hat as soon {
he comes into the house-and thint
like that, you know. never dreamt
" of speaking of this before. Unit
you've had an experience like mil
you won't know that manners can
more aggravating than anything ell
in the world. And you ought to kno
- how important they are. Molly, 4
81 DR.. Richard Randall has the be
- manners | ever saw in any man in {
90 my life"
Then Molly unburdened herse
or Dear Lou" she said, Richard Ra
re dali is too perfect. He is Interest,"
se. in the right thing he is the right siz
up he has a good income, he's got &
ell best kind of habits, and the best xii
I'D of relatives, and he's eugenic, a
I'D fatherly and generous, and he has I
best disposition in the world Al
ne to cap the climax, he has absolute
Ig fawless manners. Lou, | am not p
DIX feet myself, and I'm not going to mi
ne nv a man who is. II ! ever did
les thing that wasn't quite right, or
iat cepted, you know, Richard wot
never say a word, but | would II
er his reproach to the end of my da
II could only find one single lit
hu human failing in him | would mar
'io him. but | won't marry perfect mi
?" and if | were you, Lou Thomps'
'eu I'd be mighty thankful that John dc
.,e sometimes forget to take off his ha
Dr. Richard Randall continued
in. his devotion and Molly Foss contlnu
IN in her indifference until early Il
out July. On the Fourth they were
yited to dinner several miles fr'
Ugh Easton. That night as they were dr
all ing home in the soft summer da
be ness. for the seventh time Richi
I'M Randall asked Molly Foss to ma
not him. and TO his infinite surprise