Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-09-24
THE DAILY NOVELETTE,
Molly's Choice of Envelopes
Rx ELINOR T. sPERRY

BY ELINOR +. sPERRY
MOLLY picked up the letter she had
~'1 just written and. with head on one
side and lips pursed, read II through
thoushtfully.
Dear Peggy Prime--T am In love
with n very cstimnble young man and
I know that he is In love with me,
but is too bashful to tell me so. Even,
although 1t is leap year. do not
want to do the proposing. yet ] feel
very sure that he would be glad to
have me help him out. What shall I
do? PERPLExED.
Once more she perused II, inserted =
common then laid II aside and spread
out Peters brief note to answer. Dear
Peter! Somehow, between tho lines she
could read the affection he could not
manage. even after several years of
courting, to put into words.
MY dear Peter" ran her reply. mo,
I haven't forgotten my promise to ac.
company YOU to the bankers outing on
June 20. will be ready early.
Yours sincerely,
MOLLY ENDICoTT."
Then she folded the two letters care
fully, slipped them into envelopes. and
went down to the postoffice.
For some time now Molly had been
very sure that Peter loved her, and she
had been racking her brains for a means
Of helping him overcome the bashfulness
which apparently stood between her and
a proposal Of marriage. Then. idly read
Ing one day In the daily paper column
where lovelorn maidens sought the ad-
vice OF older. wiser heads than their
own, sho found her inspiration. At hrst.
che hesitated about putting 1t to the
test. II It worked, It would be wonder
full. but Molly was a retiring soul with
q shynsss only bit less than Peters
Eventually. however, not without
numerous misglvings. she had written
her modest plea for advice. From the
moment that It had slipped irrevocably
into the letter slot she was on tenter-
hooks Never before had she barred her
heart so brazenly to another.
But even az she worried over the out
come she busted herself with prepara-
tons for the cutting which was the big
event Of the season In Medville's social
calendar. She freshened the bows on
her pumps. finished ruffly organdie
dress whose apple-biossoin pinkaess set
of the youthful bloom of her cheeks, and
remoieled straw hat to tho last degree
Of chicness and allure. oh. Molly was
not leaving undone In the meantime any
of the customary things which inspire a
man to pour forth his heart in dscisra-
tlons of undying devotion.
Three days before the outing Peter
telephoned: What time shall I call
for your" he vented TO know.
"Didnt-didn't you get my note?--
You dld?-I didn't mention the tirne7
% o'clock" Molly hung UP the re.
eeiver thoughtfully.
On the morning of the outing Peter
found waiting for him girl whose
youthful attractiveness made her seem
10 him very desirable. not only as
companion for the day. but as COM
rade throughout life. And as he sat
beside her during the long automobile
ride and listened to her dear voice he
inwardly perated himself for having
feared these many months 10 risk all
on the asking OF the simple question.
will you marry me. Molly EndicottT'
Arrived at the shore. the merry crowd
took part In games and contests, a
swim and bountiful elannbaks. Molly
seemed to be enjoying Il all to the ut
most, although at times Peter fancied he
caught her regarding him with an -ex-
preston that was slightly quizzieal, Not
.s ,Gs' tSsst siass tRs a :Ss ssrt sSl nI%i
quiet m ,nent apart from the. others
Then. at Peters insistsnce, she con-
sented to sit beside him on the beach
n the shelter Of q huge boulder tynbled
Fer several minutes they chattsd casu-
ally. suddenly. with a twinkle In his
a temporary silence, Molly" ne said
,Sa THAT would YOU think Of q young lady
envelopes?"
81, should think she was extremely
careless" retorted Molly firmly, but her
Cheeks were. very rosy and the hand
wstsp %as wss sss NJ. ss y.sy tSss ssS sses' into
Peter. all at once turning serious
possessed himself OF the slim. restless
hand Forgive me. darling" he whis.
pered. II was Just teasing. You mus,
but never had the courage to suppos,
that such wonderful person as Your
SELF could csre for an ordinary fellow
IKE me. But when you made that mis-
take with your letters and I received
instead OF Miss PeEgy Prime, your deai
little plea for information as to how
Y make me propose, know what A.
ssst tSlet ! had been. Look at me, Molly
And. as Molly lifted to his. her loys
lighted eyes, he drew her gently into hl'
arms and kissed her,
Il little later. Molly. from the depths
q his shoulder, spoke In q muffled voice
Peter" she SAID Il don't want to bsslr
qur engaged and married life on q foun
SSStien ot dscsit, ! am ashamed Of Il
Sss Ssi,I ! pa. that letter in the wrong on
For 4 minute there was silence exc4p
Tor the soft siap-slap Of the water 0,
me rocks, Then, over her dark head
Peter, smiling contentedly. looked ou
aoross the blue waters OF the bay rensct
ING the aftergiow OF the sunset. "Tha
was what ] hoped T. he said. ....,
copTt0At. isso. BY Public Ledger 90.
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