The Delta independent., 1920-07-30

t(opytikut lS<Vs western newspaper
Mollie sat looking ruefully over the
moonlit garden, as she braided her
hair for the night. Just one month
ago all had been love and roses -
At least that had been Mollie's roseate
vision of life. And tonight! Shadows
and darkness seemed everywhere. like
the shaded formers of the garden.
| And all because of Douglas. What
1 vast difference the man" can make
in ones life
Douglas had come. and seen, and
| cOnquered-as far as MOlIie was con-
cerned. She met him in her home city
at party given by the son of his
employer.
Douglas was a favorite with his en-
ployer; Douglas was, it seemed. a fa-
vorite with everybody. So it was not
strange that even little, elusive Mollie
should capituate to his charm. His
wooing was prompt and successful.
| Mother admired Douglas. Father
| thought well of him. Mollie's be-
| trothal was a time of jubilation. And
then-Douglas urged this visit to moth
er. He was very fond of his tender
| little mother, Mollie knew, and anx-
ious that she in turn, should become
| fond of the girl chosen of his heart.
So Mollie went with Douglas, out on
an afternoon train to dear old,
queer old house, in the country.
Gorgeous flowers framed the door
| ways, and inside there were myster-
Gus balls, with steps descending unex-
pectedly here and there. Mollie's room
led from a branching upstairs hall;
at the opposite end was the room Doug
las had occupied In his chilhood,
and which. was kept unchanged for
his frequent visits. Three steps to
the right was FaithfuTs room-and
Faithful was the girl who had, inno-
Gently enough, brought this new heart
ache to Mollie. Douglas mother had
introduced Faith laughingly, that first
day of Mollie's arrival. as an old
sweetheart of his And though Doug
las later painstakingly explained that
the sweethearting had been a joke
Of pinafore days, the insinuation ran
kled. Jealousy, heretofore an uu-
known experience with the carefree
Mollie, held her now baffled In its pow
er. For while Mollie in secret derided
herself for her foolishness, and made
firm resolve to pay no attention to
the comradeship of Faith and Douglas
no sooner did she come upon the
two talking together than Mollie i'm
mediately became frigid in demeanor
toward her lover. inflicting upon him
perplexing hours of unhappiness.
This unfortunate state Of affairs
had eliminated in the present quarrel.
Hotly had the new tempestuous Mollie
accused her fance of unfaithfulness,
while he. suffering under this injus
uce, had taken back silently his ring.
Pride raised between these two an
insurmountable barrier. As Mollie
turned from the window. she noticed
beneath 1t a mans moving figure and
recognized the shutting outline as a
tramp" whom Douglas mother had
helped on his way with a warm sup
per.
People were almost too trusting in
the country, Mollie thought, as her
weary head pressed the pillow. II
was in the dead of night that she sat
up suddenly In bed, every nerve a.
trembie at the strangness of her wax
ing. The stealthy sound which had
reused her came from the direction of
the clothes closet, whose small win
dow opened on a sloping roof. And as
Mollie watched, plainly discernible in
the moonlight. the white knob of the
closet door moved slowly. then was
still. She had locked her bedroom
stared fascinated, the closet door han
die turned again, this time distinctly.
With one bound the girl sprang to the
door and turned the key. Then, with
her heart pounding. Mollie sank to
the floor. II was the skulking tramp.
she was sure. who had sought en-
trance through the roof window.
When she could summon her shaking
voice, Mollie asked weakly. ''who Is
there;"
The twice repeated question was
answered merely by a renewed and
now aggressive rattling OF the door
handle. The man would force the door
presently in defiant strength. she fear
ed. Wildly she reached for an en-
veloping kimono. Mollle's cold lit
tie feet found her slippers. then she
opened the bedroom door. and fled
straight to that other door at the op-
poSite end of the hall.
Douglas !" she sobbed. "Oh, Doug
lasw
Coming" he answered with re.
markable promptness. and in a few
moments. still struggling into his coat,
Douglas was at her side.
Burglars /" Mollie gasped-"in my