The Sun. [volume] (Price, Utah) 1915-1932, 1920-11-05
MOLLY
Uy NELLIE A. FAIRBANKS.


CNCNCNCoCNoC0C " " NCN 0CO
60 io2o. BY Mcclure Newspaper syndioate)
Molly's grandmother pictured a
dark, uncertain future for Molly, for.
the cid lady shaking her head, ex-
claimed, mo good ever comes Of girls
who continually whistle and cheB
gum" But worse than that the hor.
rincd old lady threw up her hands a
few days later when she heard Molly
con1de tc little nelghbor that II kin
lick any kid in this town." and by
way OF emphasis started to climb to
the roof Of the shalxy old barn.
Tie 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
md distant TO her mothor-in-law they
soon driftcd tpart For years the old
lady heard nothing from the daughter
in-law or baby Then when Molly
WINS thirteen her mother died and
some friends knowing the grandmoth-
cr's address sent her word that the
little girl war all alone In the world.
She lost no time IN sending money for
clothes and car fare 10 have the child
sent to her. and with the picture IN her
mind Of the golden.hnlrod baby she
had not seen for Il years she start.
cd Tor the station and was almost
taken on her feet when an overgrown
glrl with red pigtalls and n stub nose
covered with frcckles tlmidly np.
preached her saying: "Are you Grand.
ma CurusT
Yes. she was Grandma Curtis, but
for some time she was SPECIFICS ana
could not admit H. Then she closed
her eyes 10 the frlghtful girl and pic.
turcd in her place the son she had
worshlpcd aud who was the father Of
this thild.
Then came days Of agony FOR the 1t
tlc old lady. Tor she never knew what
Molly was going 10 do next Perhaps
the most objectionable act the child
committed was 60 sneak the minister's
handkerchief out Of his pocket and
carefully wrap M n small toad, then
slyly slip the handkerchief back. The
minister disappeared soon after, and
20 did n great part OF the old lady's
peace o. mind.
Everything In the Curtis household
seemed 10 be going tho wrong way
since Molly came.
A feeling OF despair was fast steal.
ing over Grandma Curtis, and she
tried hard 20 make herself believe she
WINS not beginning 10 hate this
strange. Wild grundchild.
Molly was sent 20 the post once
for the mail one evening. and when
the clerk handed her n small blue en-
yelope addressed 10 Mrs. Curtis she
at once recognized the childish scrnwl
ne that Of her little playmate back
home. A look Of fear crcpt into the
big blue eyes. Molly's only pretty fea-
turc. and. clutchlng the envelope tight.
~. she started for home When she
was out OF sight OF the post ofiico she
hastily ripped open the envelope and
read the following;
"Denr Grandma: I have been wait
ing 10 hear from you. Please let me
come 10 you; am 30 lonely since
mamma died. Even my little play
mate that mamma took 90 our home
three years ago went away, and no
one knows whore she went Lot me
come 10 you, grandma, and VIII al
ways take care Of you.
'Your loving grnndchlld.
MOLLY CURTIS"
A horrible feeling took possession Of
Molly. such ns she had experienced
when she was coming down with the
measles, and she thought 81 the other
letter she had opened four weeks ago,
ana ~ the wild desire that had come
over her when the money tumblcd out
that was 20 bring Molly Curtis 20 her
grandmother,
Starting 20 run she soon reached the
Curtis home, hut what changed
Molly. The white face showed up the
brown frccSlos painfully ana Grand
ma Curtis was really alarmed nc the
state of affairs. She hurried Molly
and her guilty conscience into he'd ana
giving her n 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 s0ftencd Grandma Cur
It's heart. She knew now that she
loved her little girl ana dld not want
her "a be sick Drawing Molly close
10 her she strOked the soft red hair
and called her "Dear little grand
daughter" This was too much for
Molly, ana burylng her head In Mrs.
Curtis arm she confessed all how the
real Molly's mother had taken her 10
live with them three years before, and
how she had secretly opened the letter
Mrs. Curtis had written 10 Molly and
last NJ mn how she had presented her
self 20 Mrs. Curtis as Molly when she
was really Mary Clark,
All WAS silent FOR n minute, then
Mary thought she heard sob and
looking mp through her tears dlscov-
cred that Mrs Curtis eyes We're wet
also, "Why, grandma" then she