Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1905-1919, 1917-06-24

cheeks and she pulled her hand away.
This, then, was what her doubts and
perplexities led her into. She was be-
ing disloyal to Chris and making
Percy unhappy. 1t only showed how
unsafe II was TO get thinking about
things. She felt quick reaction TO
her old allegiance. She saw Chris
as misunderstood by all save her. lie
was too fine nature for the rest OF
the world to appreciate. The inSenu'
Gus simplicity OF Percy seemed clum>
siness in comparison.
"Oh, Percy, how can you! You
mustn't" she stammered. I'm aw-
fully sorry. | never thot-I mean I'm
aWfully fond OF you, of course. but-not
in that way" Molly was saying all
the conventional things and became
dimly aware of 1t, and aware. too,
that the genuine quality OF Percys
feeling deserved something better
She put out her hand again and this
time took his. She could think OF
nothing to say, but Percy's miserable
young face made her feel very un-
happy. Her lips trembled; she did
the wisest thing she could have done
to put an end to the situation and
distract Percy from his feelings. Sht
burst INTO tears.
Molly, my darling. don't cry.
begged the distracted Percy, kneelinR
up in the sand and dabbing az her
eyes with a khaki silk handkerchiei
she herself had given him. Don't
cry. What a brute ] am! Forget it
dear: 1t only makes you unhappier.
Soon Molly's sobs died down and
she smiled wanly. IT'S all right
Percy. I'm sorry to have been 50
silly, but I'm feeling upset today. Il
think we had better go back"
Percy got to his feet and helped hei
up. and then, still holding her hand
as he stood looking at her for
| minute
molly, just promise me this" he
urged; 'if you should find you are
not happy in your present engage
ment, YOU will tell me, won't you
an let me have my chance"
I'm afraid I'd sooner be unhappy
with Chris than happy with anyone
else in the world"
still, promise me-"
"If | do you mustn't count on 1t
Percy, will you? Because it's quite
quite impossible; it can't ever hap
PEN
"All right, then" he said more gay
", well leave 1t at that. If the I'M
possible happens. as it often has be
| fore now. you'll tell me about II, hon
est Injun?"
Honest Injun." promised Molly
Now l must go home"
| But Percy still kept hold OF he'
hand. Il say, Molly" he begged
won't you? just one-you never
have" .,u
But in Mollys eyes a kiss was still
a supremely important thing: ON
Percy, how can you? 1t wouldn't D,
] l.. fhrt
ut wouldn't hurt him, and II
wouldn't hurt you, and it would dc
me no end of good. 1t would, really
Ever such a little one. Molly?"
Molly hesitated She had always
been proud of the fact that until the
coming of Chris she had never al
lowed anyone to kiss her. Yet she
was oddly conscious now of the fac
that her refusal, instead of sounding
noble, seemed rather selfish. Sh'
looked appraisingly at Percy, at hi
/ eager anxious face and his nice blu'
eyes. and 1t was not entirely unselfish
ness which prompted the sudden up
lifting of her cheek toward him.
All the way home she felt rather
wicked, but pleasurably aware of th'
fact that even If Chris were flirting
with Mrs. Lee, she herself had no
been entirely faithful, either. Sh'
wondered whether Chris would minC
IL he knew. and hoped he would bu
truer instincts told her that he wa
much more likely to call her blessed
infant and say he was glad she hat
been able to do that much for poo
old Pennicuik. 1t was probably thi
instinct rather than any new foun'
wisdom which made Molly eventual!
decide to keep the affair to herself.
As may be seen, Mr.. Brent counted
as something of a mystery In a house
hold where everything seemed ordi
nary and open as 1t did at West Crest
Yet his history, II he could be said t.
have one, was nothing out of the way
except that it reflected far more credi
on him than he would have admitted
even to his intimates. No one a
Wave Crest was an intimate of Chris
topher Brent, with the ratheI notable
exception of Mrs. Lee-and this alth'