Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1916-02-12

/ Tiers like q maniac bout 1t all and
forbade me TO come near this house"
Molly held her closer.
"Dicky brought me. though. He said
that he didn't think Mr. Marley was
the thief. and that if he was you
weren't. and that if wanted to come
was coming. He's good Dicky,
| Molly" and here Jessie cried little
more. just on account of Dicky's good
| ness.
1T 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
had played. "Mr Sledge wanted to
marry me- and | was engaged to Bert
He broke Bert. Then father said he
had money enough for ell Of US; so
Sledge tried to break father. and l
don't know how many people besides
us have had to suffer for that. It's
Sledge anil I. Jessie. not father"
"Sledge is a beast" charged Jessie
vehemently. He is the most cruel
and vicious man In the world, think.
Dicky says he should be killed.
He isn't really so bad" declared
Molly. trying to be just. Hes like
other strong people. He doesn't know
how badly he hurts. He's like a foot
ball player shaking hands with you"
He is a BRUTE shuddered Jessie
Il stood by him in Maberly's candy
store yesterday. and | was actually
afraid of him for fear | would annoy
him by being in his way and he might
turn around and be rough to me"
Molly Laughed softly at the idea of
Sledge's being rough to little Jessie
Peters.
Why, he'd be so gentle to you as to
be ridiculous" she said. Not even
Dicky could be more gentle
Jessie Strengthened Immediately
How absurd she laughed You
don't know Dicky. Molly. He isn't like
other men. Why. when we found that
we had lost every cent we had in the
! world and would be in debt besidcs
and would even lose our home father
blamed mother for signing the mort
gage and has been cross with her ever
since he got into difficulties. and there
isn't a better father than mine. But
Dicky. Why, when the West End
bank failed because it held too many
street railway securities and Dicky lost
the $4,000 he saved to buy us home.
do you know what he did: He took
me TO the theater and patted my hand
all through the show and told me how
young we were. and how much money
| we were going to make. and how happy
we'd be even if We didn't. and lie
| wouldn't hear to fathers having US
postpone our wedding for minute
| Why. Molly. he can't do without me,
and | can't do without him It's Won
derfulr'
Molly patted Jessies shoulder
thoughtfully
Il guess you and Dicky love each
other very much" she suggested
| Il don't know how to tell it," con-
| fessed Jessie shyly. Love is such a
! tremendous thing, Molly. 1t cries"
Molly was startled into silence.
What was this thing that she was do
| ing? She was entering on the most
serious relationship In life as the ter.
mination Of 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
manfpulations. to real estate deals and
to stubbornness. The only one who
had been at all Tomantic-and she
smiled with a trace of humiliation as
she remembered twas big, coarse
Sledge.
You're going to be very happy. Jes-
sie.'' admitted Molly. refusing to own
she was envious.
! I'm so happy I'm selfish" replied
Jessie comfortably. I've even for
gotten to ask why you were so insist
ent this morning upon having me come
over at such an exact minute"
Il wanted you at my wedAiHg."
smiled Molly.
"Molly~ exclaimed Jessie. That's
why you and Fern are all in white.
Oh, and I came over in my old blue
tailored suit"
That's lucky" laughed Molly. You
know the old rime, Something old and
something new, something borrowed
and something blue"
II shan't be something blue" de-
clared Jessie. I'm too happy for that.
and SO are You. You're lucky girl.
Molly. You have everything in the
world-fricnds and money and a pref
~ home and everything you want. IN
Guiding the man you love"
Il suppose am lucky" agreed Mol.
Iy. putting her arm more lovingly
about her friend. Somehow she did
not like to let 60 Of little Jessie.
There was a knock at tie door. but
Of Nina.
THE minister Is here" whispered
Fern In her most mysterious air, and
her eyee were dancing He's In the
parlor. trying not to see that shocking
picture. and Pert's In the library pull.
/ ing his thumbs. md your fathers IN
the den. most respectfully I1ier. JeR-
=. o.. ,u----- ...."A mitd me. I'll seua
! Ip Mr.. Marley. and when he and Moi
! ~ start downstairs you're TO play the
wedding march. Willie | back Bert Up
| under the chandelier. Now. every body
to their posts.