Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1916-03-23

SAOiiS3 AoiIS SAllCASo IL u i,
half running and half humping down
the stairs. "Run to the window, quick,
and sec the parade. O-o-o-ohi It's
coming hcre!.'
Molly laid aside her just Indignation
for a moment, feeling intuitively that
a Sledge miracle was some place in
the neighborhood, and glanced out of
the window, IS Fern, gurgling inco-
herently, flashed by on her way to the
door.
Up the winding driveway, one fol-
lowing the other, were two Of the
most beautiful little colonial oupes
in the world, such cars as would make
any girl so stark bowling mad with
ecstasy. They were exactly alike, eX-
cept that the II in front vas hung
with lace and filmy red silk curtains,
and the other had blue with it's fluffy
white. Both the cars were empty, ex-
cept for the hard featured men who
We're driving them, looking as much
out Of place as a coal HEAVIER in a lin
gerie bonnet.
1.-THE blue ones minc!' exclaimed
Fern, dancing up and down in q de-
lirium Of JOY as Molly joined her at
the door, through the hangings of
which the girls now peered out in
frantic impotence.
Il wonder what brings them here?'
specialized Molly, dreading the worst.
Il don't care!" returned Fern. "That
blue cars mine. and 1 know it. Molly.
do you really suppose it could be a
present?"
Certainly not" decided Molly
promptly. ooh. but aren't they ex-
q%uisite?"
Exquisite? They're the dearest.
sweetest, darlingest little things l ever
saw" cried Fern. ''The only thing
that's missing is that there should be a
band leading them. Say, Molly" and
here she sank her voice to Il giggling
whisper, CPL bet you that Sledge''-~
Certainly not!' interrupted Molly.
almost fiercely. and then she. too, gig
gled, and the two girls scattered away
from the door as the chauffeur Of the
red car who was the gentlemanly sales
man in disguise, dismounted and came
slowly up to the door.
They waited in the library with the
froWning and bewildered Bert while
the thin butler with the tall brow an
sWered the bell, and they distinctly
heard the chauffeur ask for Miss Mar
ley and Miss Burbank. They waited in
half frightened decorum while the thin
butler solemnly brought hat message,
md then, With no more trace of excite
:nent than if they had been dragged
Away from q tiresome French lesson,
they walked sedately into the hall.
Miss Marley?" observed that person,
nodding to the right girl. 81 have the
pleasure of bringing out a very beauti-
full little gift to yourself and Miss Bur
bank and here he nodded to the other
young lady, who was holding her toes
to the floor by gripping them. ''The
red lined II is for Miss Marley and
the blue one for Miss Burbank"
II said the blue one was mine" half
shrieked Fern. unable to contain her
self any longer. 81 want to ride in it
now"
Molly looked longingly past the per-
sons shoulder out at the red curtained
car, and she felt that sick, sick sensa~
ton of self ab%negation clamoring
within.
who sent them?' she asked family.
Your father" replied the conscience
less salesman, looking her more clearly
in the eye than any honest man could
have done. eff you have the time we
shall be pleased to give you n lesson in
running them"
Fern was halfway upstairs.
do you want your gray coat or your
furs, Molly?" she called as she went.
Something light" replied Molly,
equally excited, running out to inspect
the car. with the gentlemanly salesman
right at her elbow and highly pleased
with his job. The chauffeur in the
blue car waited with bright eyes.
Fern. followed by Nina and another
maid, both of them too slow to be OF
any service, came gathering on the
porch with two afternoon coats and
two bonnets selected with less discrim-
nation than she had ever used and
tossed any Of them to Molly. "In bet
it was Sledge," she whispered as she
ran and popped into the blue car.
Her coupe was the first to whirl
down the driveway, but the red one
followed in close order. Bert stood on
the edge Of the porch, with his hands
rammed in his pockets, and watched
the end Of the world. Being a young
man Of keen thought, however, after
fifteen minutes of numbness he curled
his mustache, took up the telephone
and called Frank Marley.
did you make Il present of two au-
tomobiles to the girls?" he inquired.
did I what?" gasped Marley out of
the midst Of his plans for making the
proposed street car consolidation worth
twenty points advance on his stock to
the up state syndicate.