The Tacoma times. [volume] (Tacoma, Wash.) 1903-1949, 1916-07-01
"A TALE OF RED ROSES

Jessie Peters.
why. he'd be SO gentle to you
as to be Ridiculous" she said.
mot even Dicky could be more
gentle"
Jessie Strengthened immediate
ly. and Molly patted her shoulder
thoughtfully.
81 guess you and Dick love each
other very much" she suggested.
II don't know how to tell IT,"
confessed Jessie shyly. Love Is
such tremendous thing, Molly. 1t
cries."
Molly was startled into silence.
What was this thing that she was
doing? She was entering on the
most serious relationship in life
as the termination of a game, in
which love, such as Jessie knew,
had had no part; in which even
romance, to which every girl is
entitled at least once, had been
made subservient to business, to
stock manipulations, to real estate
deals, and to stubbornness. The
only one who had been at all ro-
mantle, and she smiled with a
trace of humiliation as she re-
member 1t, was big, coarse Sledge!
You're going to be very happy.
JESSIE" admitted Molly.
I'm so happy I'm selfish" re-
piled Jessie, comfortably. I've
even forgotten to ask why you
were so insistent this morning up
on having me come over at such
an exact minute"
II wanted you at my wedding"
smiled Molly.
Molly" exclaimed Jessie.
That's why you and Fern are all
in white"
There was a knock at the door,
but 1t was Fern who stood there,
in place of Nina.
1.-THE minister is here" whisper
ed Fern. He's in the parlor,
Bert's in the library, and your
fathers in the den, most respect
ably quiet. Jessie, you come
down with me. I'll send up Mr..
Marley. and when he and Molly
start downstairs, you're to play
the wedding march, while l back
Bert up under the chandelier. Now
She flew down the stairs and
hurried back to the dent. A mo-
ment later they heard a shrek.
and running to the den, they
found Frank Marley sprawled on
the floor, with Coldman's check
crumpled in his nerveless fingers.
II took halt an hour to bring
Marley back to consciousness.
Molly knelt on the floor beside
the couch. with her arms about
her father. while he explained
what had happened
Then all our plans are off,
discovered Bert. Molly, it looks
like a postponement!"
mot on my account" protested
Marley, and arose feebly
Molly, seeing that he wavered.
hurried to his support. He turned
to her and put his hands on her
SHOULDERS.
I'm sorry. Molly" he said
simply, looking into her eyes with
more fondness than he was in the
habit of showing her.
I'VE can stand it," she COM
forted him. After all, it's only
just. | feel so much less wicked
| il we suffer with all the poor peo-
pie we have helped to ruin"
The minister. tall chap who
had won. the hammer-throwing
medal in his last year at college.
had withdrawn discreetly to the
parlor when the conversation had
begun, but now came back apollo
getically.
II am sorry to urge you," he
observed. looking at his watch.
Il have brief appointment, but
| can return"
II don't know" hesitated Mol
~. glancing at Bert. Wait just
a minute"
The thin butler came through
1.-THE hall to the front door, which
he opened, and second later he
was sitting in the umbrella rack
Say, youse!" beloved the
voice of Sledge, as his huge
bluk, followed by Tommy Reeler
slammed back through the hall
Us 1t all over?"
Fern was the first to recover
from the shock. NO." she said
meekly, but her eyes danced as
they met those of Tommy Reeler
Then it's off" yelled Sledge
and grabbed the startled Molly by
the wrist.
Bert endeavored to throw him
self in between the two, but
Sledge gave him quick elbow IN
thesbit of the stomach and Bert
dropped heels up on couch
clawing for breath. while Sledg.
dragged the struggling Moll,
steadily toward the front door.
| Opposite the library he me-
with an unexpected defender. The
tall young preacher threw him
eaIf ttuou the pt1 Dnxr hnI;Iy N m