Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-05-19
DAILY NOVELETTE,
RICHARDS DIPLOMACY
By Adelaide X. Kemp

A'l gate gazing down the road, grass
grown and tree shaded. The last rays
Of the sun were fast changing the feecy
pink and gold clouds to soft violet. and
in the swampy marsh not far distant
the young frogs were giving one of their
annual spring concerts. The nature
loving soul of Mollie enjoyed all these
things. and yet withal there was a
deep tinge of loneliness.
She was just about to return to the
house when the figure of small boy
coming up the road holding small
flag and whistling Yankee Doodle" at
tracted her attention. As he came
nearer she saw that he belonged to the
new family only moved recently into the
big house on the hill The strong feeling
Of loneliness and her desire for human
companionship caused her to smile and
say:
Hello, laddie. What's your name?"
Richard Winthrop Hstherington,
.Jr.." was the response.
How old are you, Richard?" she
went on. Richard looked at her with
proud air.
"I'm seven, most eight How old are
you:"
Mollie was stunned by the sudden
change in this procedure of cross ex
. animation. But her eyes twinkled as
she said. Guess" The boy with the
long name looked at her critically and
answered:
."Oh. about forty, should think
The girl gasped.
"Why.' she said Indignantly, "I'm
only half of that" She watched him
carefully calculating.
well, twenty is pretty old, isn't
it,"
YES. | suppose il seems so to seven
answered Mollie meekly. Presently she
asked:
Where have you been, Richard, with
your fag?"
The boys face frightened as he an
swered "Oh down to the station to see
some Of the soldier boys coming home
My uncle will be coming any day now"
He paused a moment for breath and
then continued:
why didn't You 60 down? Haven't
you got any sweetheart?
NO. | haven't. Richard. | guess you
will have to find me one
"All right, Ill try" answered the
lad promptly. and then saluting. he
shouldered his flag and continued up
the road whstling n martial air. Molie
watched him out of sight She knew
he considered himself whole band
leading a company of returning heroes
Two days later. with all the fever of
spring cleaning in her blood, Mollie
donncd her biggest apron and with
scrubbing brush and broom made an
attack on the last winters germs and
dust Up on the stepladder in her
bright little kitchen she was scour-
ing paint with herslsual vigor when a
voice from the open doorway startled
her so that she nearly fell from her
perch.
Excuse me. I hope haven't
frightened you. but Knocked and
couldn't seem to make any one hear"
MolIic. clambering down as quickly
as possible. saw a young officer fn
olive drab uniform. overseas cap in one
hand and battered suitcase in the other
He was bronzed from exposure and
rather carewOrn. but even at that
Mollc decided he was very good to look
at. There was a moments pause and
then he continued.
Could you direct me to the Heather
ington's: seem to have lost my
way.
, "Oh - Mollie exclaimed. "You must
bc Richard Winthrop Hetherington
Jr.'s uncle Then she stopped and
blushcd scarlet
THAT sure is my number" laughed
the young fellow. MY home is in
Michigan. but I thought | would stay
here for a short rest before going on.
You must be acquainted with my young
nephew
II just met him the other evening"
said Molle. aud she smiled reminiscent
Iy. They live in that big white house
on the hill
Still John Hetherington fingered. "T
could come down some evening while, |
| am here and tell YOU some great stories
about the war il you would like to hear
them" he said. finally.
Mollie claspcd her hands. "Oh. /
wish you would | don't know any one
4 who has been over there. and | have
wanted so much to hear it directly from
, some one who was in the big battles. :"
p After this, John. finding no new excuse
to lnger, picked up his suitcase and
departed.
The weeks flew rapidly by. As'John
Hetherington explained to his relative.
, , the peace and beauty of the New Eng
land hills were far better for his health
than the rush and hustle of the busy
= west. 1t apparently took him good
> many evenings to tell all his advcn-
, lures "over there to Mollic. 1t also
, quite often occupied his Sundays. One
n evening late in August the two sat
o rather silently in the rose covered
t porch, of Mollie's little cottage. But it
e was a silence that contained all speech
$ The moon had risen in all her glory
- over the distant purple hills. As John
looked up the road he saw his young
nephew approaching, whistling as usual.
When he reached the white gate he
It stopped and hung over it to gaze at the
pair on the porch.
3 We'll. little scout, where are you go
ing?" asked John as Il general opening
d to the conversation.
The boy looked gravcly at his uncle.
< I'm going down to the store to get
some nails for dad. He said ne asked