The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1920-01-23
MOLL.IE
BY MILDRED WHITE.
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David, said Eleanor, II warn you,
do not pl oppose to me again. It's get
ting TO be the habit with you, and |
am at the end of my patience. You
know very well that do not love you
IL did, / would have married you
long ago. Frankly, you are not a low
able man, David, or rather, you are
too humble TO inspire deep admiration.
Women do not wish to be iunreason-
ably adored, David. / tell you this
for your own good. They admire in
dependence in man, 1t wins respect.
Now, David, haven't you adored me
unreasonable No matter how /
have treated you, and admit that my
whims have been fnexcusable-you
have promptly forgiven them all, Da-
vid, and such devotion is tiresome.
Please stop it. Devote your mind TO
your work-and forget me-"
Eleanors black eyes gazed up at
her patient lover relentlessly. She
nodded to him without a softening
smile, and bent determinedly over her
desk. David sighed and turned slow
iy TO cross the floor to where his own
desk stood. He reflected, as he fell
into his easy chair, that Eleanor was
| right. No woman respects mans
utter self abnegatiOn. But it had been
impossible to give anything save en-
tire devotion to Eleanor, from the mo-
ment she had first entered the office
employ years ago and the vision of
her there had filed his honest heart
with daily joy. David had been a me-
thodical plodder until the time of her
coming; since then his hopeful dreams
had fired him with a new and sue
rapidly in his place. Eleanor had &C
cepted his attentions. the little pleas
ures he delighted to give her until
| David asked her to marry him.
| Eleanor did not wish to marry David.
She told him so and was aggrieyed
ship to close. The dark-eyed, witch
| ing little creature had long cherished
an ideal of the one who must master
| fully win her heart A dominating,
yet tenderiy winning prince. who. all
unheeding of various other admirfng
maidens, would come to her and claim
| her ..:
David, bending patiently over his
WORK. his wistful, gray eyes turned
often in silent appeal toward her
David had no part in this picture. He
would not, he told himself YEARLY, an
noy Eleanor again with his protesta-
tons. and he looked up absently at
a young girl who stood before him.
She was the new stenographer, he re-
membered, awaiting his orders So
David proceeded to give them. The
girl fingered for a moment, copy book
in hand her wide blue eyes full of I'M
spoken sympathy. Uncomfortably
David realized that she, as well as the
rest of the office force. was aware of
his secret and hopeless affection.
During days which followed, Mollie,
the new girl, was often at David's
side She formed a habit of leaving
fresh flower or two on his desk, or
of staying after hours, unasl1ed, to
help him with an accumulation of
work. David liked the girl. There
was something SO unaffectedly boyish
about her. A chummy, vet wholly re-
spectful attendance which charmed
Mollie's sincere admiration for David
became an office watchword.
"If old Dave says so, it's all right"
her companions would jibe. @
Mollie unmoved and smiling cOltin-
ued her allegiance.
He is so wonderful" the new girl
ingenuously confided to Eleanor, full
of quiet power like the great men who
do things in movies"
David - Eleanor exclaimed. David
like that"
"And his hair" Mollie went on
dreamily, don't you love the way it
sort of whitens at the sides, and the
look in his gray eyes as if he'd Suf-
fered and all. and borne it,
Eleanor turned TO look unbelieying-
ly in the girls pretty rose flushed 1
face.
"Mollie," she said slowly "AIollie.
it cannot be that you are falling in
love with David Morse
Tie girl tossed her head "why
not?" she asked defiantly.
Eleanor was unusually thoughtful |
during the remainder of the day. She
looked asRance at the little stenogra- /
pher when upon the following morning |
she placed single carnation upon !
pavid's desk. And when David. true /
to his new determination. was about |
70 pass Eleanor at closing time with /
out a word of good-by, she arose sud- |
lrnly and came with nroffered hands I
toward him.
''Bayid," murmured Eieanor. her
litfidence charmed him. David, would
you like to walk home with me to-
hight. IL have missed you So"
"Likew cried David jayousiy. And