The Hartford herald. [volume] (Hartford, Ky.) 1875-1926, 1922-02-08
LOVE


AYE, but ifs dreadful thing" said
Mona.
"whyY ! asked.
You wouldn't ask II you ever had
one" answered Mona.
did you ever have one7" !
aueried.
did IT. retorted Mona.
what did she do to Your ! de-
manded.
"what didn't she DOR cried Mona.
you'll see for yourself one Of these
days, Miss Dodo."
II shan't. either" I retorted.
Don't be too sure returned Mona.
At that moment Molly appeared in
the door. They're coming on the
four-thirty," she said to Mona.
"who's comingY asked impa-
tiently.
"your papa and your step-mother"
answered Molly.
you shouldn't have told her" said
Mona.
"And why mott" bristled Molly.
1T won't have "a step-mother," I
cried, stamping my foot. go. ss
"what do you know about step
mothersp asked Molly.
Mona told me. They're horrid," I
answered.
\ FOUL lose your place." said Molly.
Earning to Mona.
"You will. too. most likely" snapped
Mona.
Cooks In an awful rage" went on
Molly, this is her sweetheart's night"
While Mona and Molly were talk
ing, I escaped to the garden. was
having a lovely time making mud
pies, when Mona pounced down upon
me. She held up both hands In hor-
ror.
my patience alive. You've got to
be cleaned from the skin ont, and
only an hour to do II in. Come along.
now"
'T won't" cried, and raced down
the path.
Mona could run, too, but as she put
out her hand TO grab me, i resorted
to m old trick. 1t was very simple
trick-merely OF dropping where
stood. curling my legs under me and
utterly refusing to walk. This trick
always had the effect Of sending
Mona's blood clear up to the boiling
point. II did now. s.
In desperation she finally offered me
a treasure had long coveted.
ewiss china clock.
With the clock mine, the bathing,
curling and dressing went on apace.
The next moment we heard the
sound Of the ar.omobile upon the
graveled walk.
Mona ran to the window. l fed in
the opposite direction. Spying the
door to the guest room ajar slipped
within, closing the door softly behind
me. 1t seemed but a moment before
I heard footsteps coming along the
hall and papa's voice calling my name.
Frantic with fear, tore the lace
spread from the bed. leaped into the
middle of the bed. enveloping myself
In the spread, forgetting in my frenzy
that the suspicious looking heap was
sure to be investigated. 4
my lair were not papa's- were not
Monas. Ihardly knew what I ex-
pected next, surely not what actually
followed; peal after peal of ringing
laughter.
4"Funny baby, playing at hide-and-
seek all by her lonesome" cried
merry voice.
opened my eyes and beheld, not
the woman Mona had pictured, but a
sweet-faced girl.
4 "Shy," said papa In an undertone.
) AS a great privilege, I was allowed
to sit up for dinner.
In the midst OF dinner papa had a
telephone message. Ted was coming
home. Ted is my big brother. He
and Ellsworth Gray CHATS his chum)
had been on a hike through the noun
tains. love Ted more than anyone
else in the whole world
! had been In bed long while-when
I heard the sound OF voices In the
hall and I knew Ted had come.
Jumped out Of bed. tiptoed along the
hall and peeped- over the banister.
The scene that met my eyes was
burned into my brain--Ted, my Ted,
being carried upstairs. his face as
white as my nIghtie his head bobbing
Imply. I shrank hack In the shadow,
my teeth chatterlng with fright.
The story Ellsworth told was this:
One day they had spied tiny cabin
clinging to the mountain-side. In the
cabin they had found man sick
with q fever. Ted had nursed him
two nights and day. having sent
Ellsworth for aid. When Ellsworth
and doctor got there. the man was
dead. Coming out Of the woods. Ted
had complained Of feeling queer.
The horrors Of an epidemic struck
panic to all hearts when my step
mother was stricken with the fever.
my beautiful young stepmother who
had helped fight for Ted's life.
Mona left us, and Molly-only Katy