The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1916-06-15
you can't" she told him. "It isn't

"You can't" she told him. "It isn't
legal if don't say Yes"
you got to say Yes" he insisted.
Look here, Molly, couldn't let you
marry that pinhead. He's woman
fusser. He's been mixed up with them
since you We're engaged, and he'd nev-
er stop"
1T won't do you any good to belittle
Bert" she f1ared
Il can't" he informed her. II kept
my mouth shut, but now l got to spill
what l know. These pretty men are
always worse after they're married.
Berts bum! He's got streak Of
yellow the size of a canal. He amt
got the brains of a tadpole. He can't
make living unless somebody helps
him. You'd hate his bones in six
months. So don't you marry himr'
Il am the one to decide on that"
Molly Indignantly advised him.
Sledge looked at her a moment con.
iemplatively, then he opened the for
ward window.
S'op' hC oiueicu Diiiy, anu ClOSeU
the window again. "All right; go to
it; decide" he Unexpectedly told her
as the machine stopped. But be on
the level now. Do you love Bert?"
That's my affair."" she evadel, flush
ing.
Nav, it amt" he insisted. ITS
mine. Do you love him enough to be
poor with him? Now. be square,"
Molly was silent.
You don't" he concluded. Put It
the other way. How about Bert7
Now, don't kid yourself"
Again Molly was silent. She could
answer that question if she chose, and
the picture of little Jessie Peters sub
lime alteration Of Dicky Reynolds came
before her eyes, linked with the men,
ory Of Berts face when he had sug-
gested postponement Being broke
was an incident with Jessie and Dicky
and entirely aside from their love.
With Bert and herself it was the love
which had been incidental
Sledge waited a reasonable time for
her to allege Bert's enthusiasm.
Homer he commanded Billy. "You
see, I'm wise, Miss Molly. That pin
head couldn't love anybody enough to
| go the distance. l can I'll murder
anybody you name. Want anybody
killedw
| Your she savagely rctorted and
then. to her own surprise, laughed.
| She had put her hand on the catch Of
the door; but, since he made no at.
tempt to stop her, she left it there.
| "You don't hate me that much," he
calmly informed her. you like me. "
Again she laughed, this time at his
naivete. You see, it's like this" he
explained: I'm big slob, and I'm
rough. I amt pretty, and l know It.
/ but Lean start something any minute,
and when l do / can finish it. You
don't know it, but you're strong for
that"
With thrill Molly realized that he
was right in this. She did admire
force. She admired Slcdge, and, now
that she had time to think it over,
something within her responded to his
direct and simple method of breaking
up her wedding.
"But love is different" she replied,
arguing more to herself than to him.
"Nixv' he denied. Its the strongest
thing there is.'
Love cries." Molly mused, remem-
bering Jessie
ut hurts" he agreed. ut used to
sound like joke to me-till got 1t.
Now ! want to break chains with my
chest. Molly. when I think of you I
could holler. l don't dare touch you.
1t makes me weak. You don't want
to go back and marry Bert, do you?"
His voice had in it trembling plea.
so un-Sledge-like that she would have
pitied him had she not been so abb
sorbed in her startling attitude toward
the question he had asked her. Moth.
ing seemed more remote and absurd
than that she should 20 back and
marry Bert.
mo" she bluntly confessed.
Slcdge opened the front window.
Hurry upr' he admonished Billy,
and Molly laughed.