The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1920-12-02
MOLLY
Ely NELLIE A. FAIRBANKS.
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Molly's grandmother pictured a
dark, uncertain future for Molly, for.
the cid lady shaking her head, ex-
claimed, No good ever comes of girls
who continually whistle and cheH
gum" But worse than that the hor-
rified old lady threw UP her hands
few Gays later when she heard Molly
confide tc little neighJO. that Il kin
lick any kid in this town." and by
way Of emphasis started to climb to
the roof OF the shaky old barn.
The grandmother closed the window
with Shudder, then sat down to Won
der for the hundredth time where
Molly got her peculiar characteristics.
Her son, MOlly's father, died when
Molly was one year old, and as the
daughter-in-law had always been cold
and distant to her mother-in-law they
soon drifted apart. For years the old
lady heard nothing from the daughter
in-law or baby. Then when Molly
was thirteen her mother died and
some friends knowing the grandmoth-
er's address sent her word that the
little girl was all alone in the world.
She lost no time in sending money for
clothes and car fare to have the child
sent to her. and with the picture in her
mind Of the golden-haired baby, she
had not seen for II years she start
ed fer the station and was almost
taken off her feet when an overgrown
girl with red pigtails and stub nose
covered with freckles timidly APP
preached her saying: Are you Grand
ma Curtls?'
Yes, she was Grandma Curtis, but
for some time she was speeches. ana
could not admit it. Then she closed
her eyes to the frightful girl and pic
tured IN her place the son she had
worshiped and who was the father of
this child.
Then came days Of agony for the lit
tie old lady, for she never knew what
Molly was going to do next. Perhaps
the most objectionable act the child
committed was to sneak the minister's
handkerchief out of his pocket and
carefully wrap up a small toad, then
siyly Slip the handkerchief back. The
minister disappeared soon after, and
so did great part of the old lady's
peace of mind.
Everything in the Curtis household
seemed to be going the wrong way
since Molly came.
A feeling of despair was fast steal
ing over Grandma Curtis, and she
tried hard to make herself believe she
was not beginning t o hate this
strange, wild grandchild.
Molly was sent to the post office
for the mail one evening, and when
the clerk handed her small blue en-
velope addressed to Mrs. Curtis she
at once recognized the childish scrawl
as that Of her little playmate back
home. A look of fear crept into the
big blue eyes, Molly's only pretty fea-
ture, and, clutching the envelope tight
ly, she started for home. When she
was out of sight Of the post office she
hastily ripped open the envelope and
read the following:
"Dear Grandma: l have been wait
ing to hear from you. Please let me
come to you; am so lonely since
mamma died. Even my little play
mate that mamma took to our home
three years ago went away, and no
one knows where she went. Let me
come to you, grandma, and I will al
ways take care Of you.
"Your loving grandchlld,
MOLLY CURTIS"
A horrible feeling took possession Of
Molly, such as she had experienced
when she was coming down with the
measles, and she thought Of the other
letter she had opened four weeks ago,
and Of the wild desire that had come
over her when the money tumbled out
that was to bring Molly Curtis to her
grandmother.
Starting to run she soon reached the
Curtis home, but what changed
molly. lie NuItc liSt SuoMcu UP lilt
brown freckles painfully and Grand
ma Curtis was really alarmed at the
state of affairs She hurried Molly
and her guilty conscience into bed and
giving her a hot drink she sat down
by the bedside and took the cold little
hands into hers. Yes, Molly was sure
~ sick. There were tears In her eyes
and those tears softened Grandma Cur
it's heart. She knew now that she
loved her little girl and did not want
her to be sick. Drawing Molly close
to her she stroked the soft red hair
and called her "Dear little grand
daughter" This was too much for
Molly, and burying her head in Mrs.
Curtis arm she confessed all how the
real Molly's mother had taken her to
live with them three years before, and
how she had secretly opened the letter
Mrs. Curtis had written to Molly and
last of all how she had presented her
self to Mrs. Curtis as Molly when she
was really Mary Clark.
All was silent for minute then
Mary thought she heard a sob and
looking up through her tears discov-
cred that Mrs. Curtis eyes were wet