Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-06-24
Bv==
j. E. Harold Terry and Lechmere Worrall


was only 10 and she had been brought
! up by Mr.. Pollock tn consider every
thing that he himself said was right
and admirable. When she first got TO
know Christopher Brent she admired
his monocle. his leanness. his slightly
graying hair. the shape Of his head
and his square Jaw She admired. too.
his casual slightly blase manner.
which was yet so much more polished
than the laborious politeness OF Mr.
/ Pollock \ city friends She knew Chris
tophcr had been In the diplomatic
service. that he had Travelled widely.
that he was something OF mystery,
and the glamor of these things was
quite enough to make her fall In love
with him as she understood the term.
Now difficulties. suspicious and dis
agrceables were accommodating touch
ON touch. and she was bewldcred and
puzzled.
How horrid of you to say that
about father, Chris! You shouldn't
say such things about him to me"
mo. | shouldn't. and am n brute.
but apparently people may say what
they like about me to you
II don't care what they say" coun-
tered Molly in rush of enthusiasm.
Il Just love you and trust you thru
everything But surely you can trust
me a little more and tell me things2
Somehow Just now with Percy every
thing seemed 40 simple and straight
forward one knows all he is doing
and thinking and feeling"
Take care. Molly; YOU are develop
ing your seX's instinct for absolute
possession And you can't possess
man wholly. my dear-not man who
is man, at least"
Molly looked at him with troubled
eyes. In her simple philosophy love
and possession were synonymous
terms.
81 am frightfully sorry for you just
now, Molly" Brent went on, "and I'd
give the world to be able to tell you
why | can't enlist But | cant tell
you, not even you. ! will some day
soon, hope-but for the moment, like
the Tar Baby, | must keep on sayin'
muffin Trust me. do trust me, Molly.
Trust me at least to the extent Of be-
lieving that 1t isn't cowardice, or lazi-
ness. or apathy. that prevents me from
onlisting. It's something | can't help"
Molly sat still n moment, thinking
busily. and trying to evolve theory
that would fit the case. a terrible yet
not wholly unpleasant, because very
romantic. idea took possession of her
mind Christopher was probably suf-
fcring from some frightful disease
appendicitis tis-dccided Molly, and until
he had been operated upon could not
30 to the front. Naturally he did not
wish to distress her by telling her this.
She therefore tried To play what she
had read of somewhere as the won
ans part" and keep him cheerful.
Chris, will trust you" she said,
rubbing her soft cheek against his
sleeve. I'm sorry If | have seemed
not to, but everything has been so
queer since yesterday. Since Mrs. Lee
came" she added thotfully
, She felt Brent start slightly against
her caressng cheek.
What's 1t got to do with her? Why
, drag her into IT." he said. little
irritably.
, 81 didn't why do you take me up
, like that?" asked Molly. Chris
facing round on the seat and looking
o. Indignantly at him-"you haven't been
1 talking about II to Mrs. Lee?"
Talking about what?'
About why you can't enlist You
. haven't told her the thing you won
: tell me?"
! "Of course haven't. little goose
What on earth put such ideas into
: your head" asked Brent. trying to
4 speak naturally.
2 "Oh, nothing. only you seemed sc
very friendly with her. You played
Y smoker with her all yesterday eve-
/ ming"
I But, my dear child, you said you
= had headache and went to bed"
q "And then you have been with heI
p all this morning." continued Molly
: taking no notice of this.
well. of all the cheek!" said Brent
1 laughing. considering you went of
| with young Pennicuik and abandoned
{ me in the middle Of the lawn"
4 Father says" continued Molly
v that II he hadn't known you'd onl,
= met Mrs. Lee last night he'd have tho
o you must have known her before. Yol
A seemed so very intimate. considering.
e well. it's funng thing" confidet
I Brent, but | find that rr"w hel
$ husband years ago In South Africa"
@ oh" said Molly, s.arlug at MIN
Y when did you find that out?'
This morning
@ when were you in South Africa 2
- "Oh, about ten years ago now"
What were you doing there?"
/. diamond prospecting. but we didn'
[ find any. Do you want to dig up th
4 secrets OF my bad. black past, Molly
I Let dead pasts lie or they may b'
a lied about"
Chris"
4 "Oh. don't mean that shall lie.
said Brent hastily. Men don't lik
- to be questioned. Molly"
y 80 ! see." said Molly getting up
h II thot perfect love meant perfec
k confidence"
80 II does" said Brent" 1t mean
} having confidence in a person withou
e being told anything about him. Ii
d fact you might call love the conf
dence trick"
o CTO BE CONTINUED