The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-01
Copyrighted.

(OOmtmued from our last issue.
Honest. l can't giggle about
anything any more" regretted
Fern, rescuing a discarded shoe of
Molly's from under the boudoir
couch. I'm solemn In spite of
myself"
please DON'T" objected Molly,
almost piteously. "If you turn SOL
emn. my last prop is gone"
II didn't mean to-" apologized
Fern. but getting married is
rather weighty thing, after all.
Besides. my conscience hurts me
about Sledge. Molly, he's nice
old fatty. I've a notion to marry
him myself to make up for it,"
The pang of distaste which Mol
ly felt at that speech was not
jealousy: far from 1t. IL any
thing, Ii was a mere questioning
of Ferns taste In making such a
remark. That was 1t!
Molly changed the subject. 81
don't believe you like Bert very
WE'LL" she said.
Indeed | dot" demonstrated
Fern, also too quickly. Hes
still the handsomest fellow | ever
saw. You should be very happy,
Molly, about the new home and
the fine business prospects, and
the social triumphs which | know
are waiting for you; and you'll
have a polished husband of whom
you can always be proud, and just
bushels and bushels of love, of
course
"Of course" agreed Molly, look
ing at the little Dresden clock on
the mantel Goodness, Fern; the
minister is due to arrive in ten
minutes, and Jessie Peters isn't
here yet"
.'If she knew the Importance of
your informal invitation to call
this afternoon, she'd have been
here hours ago." laughed Fern.
II don't wonder, Molly, that of all
your girl friends, she was the one
you insisted on having here. She's
a darling!"
'She's true" added Molly.
Somehow. | always feel safe,
even against myself, when she's
around me. | love you to death,
Fern. but you're wicked"
Nina knocked at the door.
Miss Peters," announced Nina
gloating once more over her hand
iwork as she surveyed the hand
some Molly and the pretty Fern.
"Have her come right up" d.
rected Molly, and waited with an
expectant smile, which changed to
look of concern when she saw
the poorly concealed traces of
tears in Jessie's eyes.
whats the matter, Jessie?"
she asked; and Jessie, not seeing
that painfully fluffy wedding
gown. threw herself dismally into
Molly's arms.
They didn't want me to GOMEZ"
she gulped. But I had promised
you. and Dicky said | might
"Why didn't they want you to
Gomez" asked Molly anxiously.
''On account of your father"
"Father!" gasped Molly. "What
about him?"
Don't you know" wondered
Jessie, half crying again.
why, no. child" varied Mol
ly. what is it? Tell me-" and
she heard Fern slipping quietly
out of the room. She led Jessie
over to the couch, and all forget
full of her shimmering satin, sat
down.
"It's the street car stock" Jes-
sic explained. 'Dicky just came
out to the house with the news.
There is to be no consolidation.
Nobody would have the stock for
a gift. And it's Thanksgiving
day."
Molly held her closer.
ssIt isn't fathers fault, it's
mine" confessed Molly. aghast, as
she began for the first time to
fully realize the hundreds of real
sufferers in this high-handed
game which she and Sledge had
played. "Mr. Sledge wanted te
marry me, and / was engaged tt
Bert. He broke Bert. Then faith
or said he had money enough fol
all OF us: so Sledge tried to breal
father. and I don't know how
many people besides us have hat
to suffer for that. It's Sledge ant
I. Jessie-not father"
"Sledge is beast" charged
Jessie. vehemently.
He isn't really so bad" de
clared Molly, trying to be Just
He's like other strong people
He doesn't know how badly h,
hurts. He's like football play
err shaking hands with YOU"
Hes brute." shuddered Jes
sic. II stood by him in Maberly'l
candy store yesterday, and wal
actually afraid of him for fead
would annoy him by being in hil
way. and he might turn around
and be rough to me-"
Molly laughed softly at the ides
OF Sledge's being rough to little