The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-10-28

ENDS WELL
BY EDNA FOREST.

Mollie had been playing a game, 9
: very interesting and secret game, and
sne had never been so happy In all her
llre. The game was "Hide and Seek
OF an entirely new, and romantic ma.
, ture, and MOllie returned from her
, last exploit In high but subdued
j, spirits.
Eleanor, the married sister, whom
sne visited, must not suspect the de-
nghtful pastime Of her summer after.
Moons. Eleanor, strictly conventional,
would be horror stricken. The secret
game had begun by chance, and on
Mollie's side was the advantage.
When she had arisen early one in
wiling morning slipping silently down
past closed rooms to dewy garden be-
meath, she had intended to take but
q brief dip In the sea, and when Mollie.
disporting herself among the waves
looked down the isolated beach, she
1ancied herself monarch--or perhaps
| monarch "ess." of all she surveyed.
AS she sat upon a great stone IN
the early sunshine, she saw, however.
that another as ambitious as she. was
swimming about in the blue.
Mollie In embarrassment, darted
again into the water, going further out
tnan she had heretofore ventured, and
being roughly brought to her senses by
the swimmer himself.
1T is dangerous for you to be- ont
here Alone" he said. II am returning
to the hotel. You'd better come back"
Mollie suddenly weakened, request
cd breathlessly, his help
When the two reached the shore she
resting In the warm sands, thanked
him, beginning in her pretty way. q
sort OF holding conversation.
The man at least was held by It, for
ne made no motion to carry ont his
intention Of returning to the hotel
ana this was Mollie's advantage from
the beginning. She recognized at once
IN her rescuer, a certain noted 'curato
from the city, whose arrival at the re-
sort had been heralded few days be- |
fore. Eleanor, indeed, was an attend. |
ant at his city church.
But the curate himself was left IN.
enlightened as to Mollles knowledge
OF his identity, and ignorant of her
own 1t was as they were pleasant.
~ chatting that she waved her hand
In quick farewell, and literally disap.
peared.
MIR. Sutherland. Eleanor innocent,v
regretted, was returning to the civ
al the end of the fortnight and she
reared she would have no opportunity
81 entertaining him at the cottage.
Molliee, in her secret planning de-
cioed TO completely disappear from
Mr. Sutherland's life before the end of
MS fortnight, leaving to him ever af-
Ter but romantic. and, she hoped. a
pleasing memory. T.
So. she was seated demurely read Z
Ing in the rector's favorite book as no ,
came down into the glen. Her dress :
was blue cotton, her white collar and ,
cuffs neat and plain.
Her wide eyes expressed surprise :
at the rector's appearance. His keen :
eyes expressed pleasure. When Mol.
ne. would have politely departed, he :
begged her to remain. !
The sun proclaimed the noon lunch !.
con hour, when she finally took from
VII. Sutherland, the volume of poems /:
which he had been reading aloud
Goodbye" laughed Mollie, and was :;
instantly lost to view among the trees I
Though the rector arose in mast :.
II her, Mollie was gone. Which /!
path she had chosen he !
I'D not know. But he went back to !.
lis seat beneath the oak-to sit again :
md dream of her. Then at last Z
eleanor brought Mollie's fascinating :
'ame to an unexpected end .
Mr.. Sutherland, the rector is com.
ng to dinner at five tonight she said. :
l cannot be back from our motor trip
NTH six. Be here to welcome him. !:
loille, and, do make pleasing i'm {
ression, dear. Mr.. Sutherland's opin. Z
On is worth while" i;
Mollie sighed. So she was 70 have !
o memory romance after all. and 70 &
ne man she would be but a common !
lace girl, in commonplace. modern.I !
ONE.
Freda was admitting the tall figure /
the rector as she reached the foot +
the stairs. 1t was impossible for J!
lollie to retreat. In desperation she I
tipped into hall closet beneath the !
fairs. :
Mollie knew after suffocating lapse !
the closet that he had made himself Z
for long wait. Hone !
lily Mollie fumbled along the wall I
nding there evidently maids en-. !
eloping apron. Frantically she stuff Z
her hair into the starched cans /;
own, her feet, sandals and all, went 8
ito the shoes, then Mollie opened the /
oset door. /
The rector stared and Mollie stared s
9 reflection Of herself in the mirror. !
reda's borrowed apron was far from Z
can. Mollie's hair was escaping from !
reda's cap. Speechlessly, she fled up (