The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-10-18
THAT ENDS WELL
BY EDNA FOREST.


Of an entirely new, and romantic na-
ture, and Mollie returned from her
last exploit in hisA, but subdued
spirits.
Eleanor, the marHed sister, whom
she visited, must not suspect the de-
Hghtful 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
Viting morning slipping silently down
past closed rooms to a dewy garden be-
meath, she had intended to take but
a brief dip in the sea, and when MOllie,
dispOrting herself among the waves,
looked down the isolated beach, she
fancied herself mOnarch-or perhaps
monarch cess" of all she surveyed.
AS she sat upon 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
than she had heretofore ventured, and
being roughly brought to her senses by
the swimmer himself
"It is dangerous for you to be out
here alone" he said. 81 am returning
to the hotel. You'd better come back"
Mollie suddenly weakened, request
ed breathlessly, his help.
When the two reached the shore. she
resting in the warm sands, thanked
him, beginning in her pretty way, a
sort of holding conversation.
The man at least was held by it, for
he made no motion to carry out his
intention Of returning to the hotel.
And this was MOllie's advantage from
the beginning. She recognized at once
in her rescuer. certain noted curate
from the city, whose arrival at the re-
sort had been heralded a few days be-
fore. Eleanor, indeed, was an attend
ant at his city church.
But the curate himself was left un-
enlightened as to Mollie's knowledge
Of his identity, and ignorant of her
own. 1t was as they were pleasant
ly chatting that she waved her hand
in quick farewell, and literally disap-
peared.
Mr.. Sutherland, Eleanor innocently
regretted, was returning to the city
) at the end of the fortnight and she
feared she would have no opportunity
of entertaining him at the cottage.
Mollie, in her secret planning, de-
cided to completely disappear from
Mr.. Sutherland's life before the end of
his fortnight, leaving to him ever af-
ter but romantic, and, she hoped, a
pleasing memory.
So, she was seated demurely read
ing in the rectOr'S favOrite book as he
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
lie would have politely departed, he
The sun proclaimed the noon lunch
con hour, when she finally took from
Mr.. Sutherland, the volume of poems
which he had been reading aloud.
Goodbye" laughed Mollie, and was
instantly lost to view among the trees.
Though the rector arose in quest
of her, MoIlie was gone. Which
branching path she had chosen he
did not know. But he went back to
his seat beneath the oak-to sit again
and dream of her. Then at last,
Eleanor brought MoIlies fascinating
game to an unexpected end
'Mr. Sutherland, the rector is COM
Ing to dinner at five tonight" she said.
II cannot be back from our motor trip
until six. Be here to welcome him.
Mollie, and, do make a pleasing i'm
preston, dear. Mr.. Sutherland's opin-
ion is worth while"
Mollie sighed. So she was to have
no memory romance after all, and to
the man she would be but common.
place girl, in a commonplace, modern
home.
Freda was admitting the tall figure
of the rector as she reached the foot
of the stairs. 1t was impossible for
Mollie to retreat. In desperation she
slipped into hall closet beneath the
stairs.
MOllie knew after a suffocating lapse
in the closet that he had made himself
comfortable for a long wait. Hope
fully Mollie fumbled along the wall,
finding there evidently a maids en-
veloping apron. Frantically she stuff
ed her hair into the starched caps
crown, her feet, sandals and all. went
into the shoes, then Mollte opened the
closet door.
The rector stared and Mollie stared
at a reflection of herself in the mirror.
Freda's borrowed apron was far from
clean. Mollie's hair was escaping from
Freda's cap. Speechlessly, she fed up
the stair.
It was Freda who knocked present
ly at MoIlie's door