The Washburn leader., 1916-05-19
MolLrs PLANS
BY CATHERINE cRANMER.

+ sy CATHERINE cRAhMER. I
~+++++@+s@%%++$++++s$++3
"Good morning, family" was Mol.
lies CHEEKY greeting as she entered
the breakfast room. Mother O. mine.
let's 60 away for a month. You know
1t will rain all through March, and
rain makes me weep more than the
clouds"
"Mollie Ainsworth! OF all the short
sighted creatures, you are the most
hopeless!" Her mother looked discon-
solately at the girl as she spoke.
with the most eligible man in town
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 60
away to escape the March rains"
"Now, mother, dear, you're jeal.
Gus, painstaking mother for debu-
tante. and you're on the Job every
minute. But come On, family, let's all
take q vacation from cur several pro-
fessions."
She included her mother and father
IN q wkeedling glance.
"As for that eligible man-other.
wise known as Leslie MCrehouse-
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 r1en!"
They'll have to catch him on the
run instead Of on the rebound, I'm
thinking" laughed Moilie, ''as he is
leaving today for parts unannounced
on hunting trip"
"Wculd you mind telling me what
you mean by turning down the catch
Of the seascn!" asked her mother,
with mock calmness.
"1 near Just what I told him. though
softered 1t bit, for when saw him
with his society manners off and his
seart manners en-, he cid seem pretty
rice." Molly blushed a bit, but added:
'Dut don't lock so stlemn, 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 ct 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, anG I've got suggestion to
Eake about where to co." Her father
was suddenly enthusiastic. Zone of
my clients has been after me for years
to go out and enjoy the big tireplaces
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-
posed trip. After their first evening
before q wood fire in a huge fireplace,
wnerc all of the family grew reminis-
cent and sympathetic, and the eve.
ming ended with Mollie playing softly
Dc 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 its broad win
lows and the quaint caretakers. She
lid not even mind when q drizzly day
came. In the afternoon, she put on q
long corduroy coat and a fuzzy yellow
scarf and cap and went out for q walk.
AS she descended q hill toward the
:umbling mountain stream she
caught q glimpse, through an opening
In the trees, of some wild ducks on
the water. Very cautiously she went
lown toward the river bank. but the
elusive ducks had sailed around q
bend, and to widen her vision she
stepped out on the edge Of wet and
slippery rock. At sight Of her, the
iucks first huddled and then rose in
graceful flight. but suddenly scattered
N confusion as shots cracked from q
,lump of shrubbery farther up the
stream.
Mollie gave a start of surprise at
the first shot. lost her balance and,
with frightened scream, fell into
the water. In her heavy long coat she
was unable t. make good stroke and
promptly went under. She came up
still more frightened as she felt the
strong force of the current. She lost
consciousness as she went under the
second time without noticing that two
uen were running toward her from
where the rifle shots had been heard.
When she regained consciousness
she was being carried up the hill by q
big. strong man, whose face was not
visible to her until, in response to her
tired exclamation, he bent over her
and she recognized Leslie Morehouse.
"Mollie, DEAR" he whispered. and
Mollie replied with long sigh of con-
tentment.
| -