The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1919-10-02
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DICKS DIPLOMACY
By ADELAIDE r. KEMP.
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Mollie stood by the little white gate
gazing down the road. grass-grown and
tree-shaded.
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 recently moved 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 Hetherington,
Jr," was the response.
"where have you been. Richard, with
your hiG?"
The boys face frightened as he an
swersd: "Oh! down to the station to
see some Of the soldier boys coming
home. Ny uncle will bs coming homo
any day now" He paused a moment
for breath, and then continued:
why didn't you 60 DOWN. Haven't
you got any sweetheartr
.Ne. I haven't, Richard. guess
you win have to ind me one"
All right, I'll Try" answered the
had promptly, and then saluting. he
shouldered his nag and continued up
the road whistling a martial air. Mol
lie watched him out Of sight. She
knew he considered himself . whole
band leading 4 company Of returning
heroes.
Two days later with all the fever
Of spring cleaning In her blood. Kol-
lie donned her biggest apron and with
scrubbins brush and broom made an
attack on the past winters germs and
dust. Up on the step-ladder in her
bright little kitchen she was seour-
ing paint with her usual vigor when q
voice from the open doorway startled
her 20 that she nearly fell from her
perch.
sEIeuse me! hope haven't friEht-
sned you, but I Knocked and couldn't
seem to make anyone hear"
Noilie, sainahering down as quickly
a possible, saw 4 xsune efncsr fn
olivedrab uniform, overseas cap In one
hand and battered suitcase in tho
other. he was bronzee from exposure
and rather careworn, but even at that
Mollie decided he was very good to
look 1T. There vas I moments pause
and then he continued:
Gould you direct me to the Heth-
erington's, I seem to have lost my
way"
aOhw Mollie exclaimed, you must
be Richard Winthrop Hsthertngton,
Jr.'s uncle" Then she stopped and
blushed scarlet.
'That sure Is my number" laughed
the Dung fellow. MY home Is IN
Michig gsn, but thought I would stay
here for a short time before going on.
You must be acquainted with my
young nephew"
II Just met him the other evening""
said Mollie, and she smiled reminis-
Gently. "They live In that big white
house on the hill"
Still John Hetherington fingered. Il
could come down some evening white
am here and tell you some great sto-
ries about the war II you wsuld Ike
to hear them" he said finally.
MoIlie clASped her hands. "oh.
win sou wuuldi don't know anyone
who has been ever there, and I have
wanted 30 much to hear 1t directly
from some one who was In the big
battles" After this, John, finding 40
new excuse to linger, picked ur ,his
suitcase ind dspartsd.
The weeks new rapidly BY. As John
Hethefinston explained to his reaativsx'
the peacs and beauty Of the New Eng
land hfliB were far better Tor. his
health than the rush and hustle OF
the busy West. 1t apparently took him
4 good many evenings to tell all his
adventures "over there" to Nollie. It
also quite often occupied his Sundays.
One evening late in August the two
sat rather silently in the rose-covered
porch of Mollie's little cottage. But
1t was 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, whis-
Ting as usual. When he reached the
white gate he stopped aSd hung over
It to gaze at the pair on the porch.
"Well, little scout. where are you
goingT asked John as general open
ing to the conversation.
The boy looked gravely at his uncle.
"rm going down to the store to get
some nails for dad. He said he asked
you to get them, but the place would
be closed before you ever reached
there, because you wouldn't ever be
able to get past Mollie's house"
There was moment Of embarrassed
silonce and then John, to relieve the