The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1916-05-13
MOlLVS PLANS
BY CATHERINE cRANMER.

| Mollle AlnswOrthi or all the short
sighted creatures, you are the mos
hopeless!" Her mother looked discon
solately at the girl as she spoke
With the most eligible man in towr
ready to drop at your feet and with
the two most attractive debutantes
canceling trips to Palm Beach and
Aiken for fear you'll capture him
while they're gone, you want to &c
away to escape the March rains"
Now, mother, dear, you're jeal-
GUS, painstaking mother for a debu.
tante, and you're on the job every
minute. But come on, family, let's all
take vacation from our several pro-
fessions."
She included her mother and father
In wheedling glance.
"As for that eligible man-other-
wise known as Leslie Morehouse--
he's already proposed and I've told
him it's too sudden"
And as sure as you live one Of
those other girls will catch Leslie
Morehouse on the rebound. Oh, /
know menl"
They'll have to catch him on the
run instead of ON the rebound, I'm
thinking laughed Mollie, "as he is
leaving today for parts unannounced
on hunting trip"
Would you mind telling me what
you mean by turning down the catch
Of the seasch?" asked her mother,
with mock calmness.
Il mean just what l told him, though
1 softened it bit, for when / saw him
with his society manners off and his
heart manners on, he did seem pretty
nice" Molly blushed a bit, but added:
But don't look so solemn, mother. I'm
still 'one and twenty with beaus a.
plenty. And, daddy, throw down your
paper and let's all plan out some nice
trip for fun instead of for form. Aiken
and Palm Beach are disqualified, for
what we need is some secluded spot
where we can talk common sense with
each other and with our souls and
come back home better acquainted"
That does sound like common
sense, and I've got a suggestion to
make about where to co." Her father
was suddenly enthusiastic. "One of
my clients has been after me for years
to go out and enjoy the big fireplaces
and armchairs and first editions and
mountain scenery Of his ancestral
home that he occupies only about two
months in the year"
A few days later they made the pro-
poseds trip. After their first evening
before wood are in a huge fireplace,
where all of the family grew reminis-
cent and sympathetic, and the eve
ming ended with Mollie playing softly
on the big piano while all of them
Joined in singing old folk songs.
AS for Mollie, she reveled in the
many delights of the big house, the
wonderful view from it's broad win.
lows and the quaint caretakers. She
did not even mind when drizzly day
came. In the afternoon, she put on
long corduroy coat and fuzzy yellow
scarf and cap and went out for walk,
AS she descended hill toward the
mountain stream she
caught glimpse, through an opening
in the trees, of some wild ducks on
the water. Very cautiously she went
down toward the river bank, but the
elusive ducks had sailed around
bend, and to widen her vision she
stepped out on the edge of wet and
slippery rock. At sight of her, the
ducks fir& huddled and then rose IL
graceful fight, but suddenly scattered
in confusion as shots cracked from
clump of shrubbery farther up the
stream.
Mollie gave start OF surprise al
the first shot, lost her balance and
with a frightened scream, fell into
the water. In her heavy long coat she
was unable to make good stroke and
promptly went under. Shd came III
still more frightened as she felt the
strong force of the current. She lost
as she went under the
second time without noticing that tw.
lucu MSIC IuHulHS tOWuAu hCA nun
where the rifle shots had been heard
When she regained consciousness
she was being carried up the hill by a
big. strong man, whose face was not
visible to her until, in resporne to heI
tired exclamation, he bent ever heI
and she recognized Leslie Morehouse. |
''Mollie, dear" he whispered, and
Mollie replied with long sigh of con
tentment.
A half hour later both of them we're /
in dry clothes and sitting before the
big fireplace. Mr.. and Mrs. Ainsworth |
left the room to give orders for an
early supper and a big fire in the din.
ing-room fireplace. and Morehouse
got UP and stood behind the high,
wing-backed tapestry armchair in
which Mollie sat Then he leaned |
over and looked into her face, speak.
ing very softly to her.
Hasn't this condensed our ac-
quaintance enough to put US nearer
the time when you will give me the
answer you withheld the other day?"
''Ye-es," came Mollie's answer, "and !
| believe that whatever of our society
veneer was not washed away by that
cold water has been melted by this
darling fire -