South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-12-10

the $3.50 local at Mayfeld, she en-
sconced herself at once, on the broad
seat of the depot buggy and pre-
pared to jounce comfortably along
the hilly old depot road to her des-
tination.
The air was deliciously sweet, and
the rain that had spattered against
the car windows had made every
thing green.
Molly had plenty to think about
as she rode along. and just for a
while she allowed herself the luxury
Of thinking about John Graham.
which as a rule she sternly forbade.
For what is the use as she said. OF
thinking about things you can't
have. But now as they slowly climb
ed the winding road, it was impOs-
sible not 10 think of him. There was
that time once, when she was a
child, when the family had arrived
at night, getting out into the black
ness of the little meadow station.
long past her bedtime. All the
young people had been there 10
meet Matty and Mona. and they had
ridden up together. she had been
snuggled in between. That ride 10
Molly had been a succession of bliss
full driftings off to sleep with brief
returns to very drowsy consciousness
when John Graham's deep laugh had
sounded close to her ear.
Now they were passing the place.
where he had rescued her from the
hornets. when she had stopped TO
pick the Bouncing Betsy's; and there
over beyond the second meadow.
she had gone on picnic once. She
had been younger than the others,
and when they had begun to chose
partners for the Virginia Reel how
dreadfully afraid she had been no
John Graham had. and she had
walked on air. To tell the truth
Molly's visits to Mayfield had been
mingling pain with pleasure, lately.
for the reason that John Graham
(who was off 70 the war now either
couldn't or wouldn't look on her as
anything but the Carlton girls little
sister.
The aunt's greeting was so warm
and they both looked so much Trailer
than last year, that Molly's kind lit
tie heart went out 10 them, and
when she went up TO her own room,
and saw again all the loving evil
dences of preparation for her COM
ing. she resolved to be especially
gentle and considerate toward them.
There was the little blue dressing
table with the white dotted net
freshly pleated on, there was the
wash stard hung with the best
towels. and on it an old blue pitcher
of rain water the aunts knew Molly
loved: while over the dresser was
pinned a big unframed picture of
Priscilla and John Alden, that she
had asked 10 have there long ago.
She had rolled it up and put it away
few years go, but the aunts evil
IDENTIFY remembering her childish
fancy for it had put it up again to
please her. Underneath were the
familiar words, why don't you
speak for yourself, John >" Having
involuntarily read them once more.
and given her face a gurgling plunge
into a basin of rain-water, Molly
went down to tea.
It was just as she was serenely
helping herself to cut up peaches,
that Aunt Kate told her She had
heard il that afternoon. and there
seemed to be no doubt that it was
true. John Graham was coming
home. bli l. For a minute Molly
OF il. It couldn't be! She wouldn't
let it be, 1t wasn't possible, And
then far away she heard Aunt Hates
voice saying that il was raining,
and would she shut the upper win
dows, and so she escaped The next
afternoon she picked some flowers
and went over to the cemetery to put
them on Mrs Graham's grave. That
at least, was something that she
could do. Seeing people and feeling
shy about her errand, she went a
roundabout way. approaching the
Graham's lot from the other side of
a big grass covered vault, and there
as she turned the corner stood John
Graham himself.
For a second Molly didn't know
what to do or say, and then as she
saw the pathetic signs that he did
not see her. and looked into his face.
she spoke quickly saying the most
foolish thing that she could, it SEEM
ed TO her afterward.
"Oh! John! John Graham! Don't
you know me?"
John Graham held out both hands.
Il surely do" he said IT'S little
Molly Carlton, and nobody else"
And if he himself looked thin and
worn there were no signs Of attenu-
alton in his voice. Molly shyly slip
ped her arm in his and they walked
on together.
Come over some night" she
plucked up courage 10 say, as they
neared home, "and Wen sing. I
brought up Hattie's songs this year"
Il will" he said. and then with a
sensitiveness unlike him. But I'll
only be in the way won't I? You
don't want me around evenings with
all your beaux.'
"Beaux!" cried Molly, Il haven't
any beaux. Why there isn't a soul
LEFT in Mayfield."