The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1922-06-29
THE PHOTOGRAPH
o noLLlE HATHGR

eswrsll issa western ss~ssaBsF paisH
Iauey sat looking 81 her adoFed
friend
why. she asked impuisively. do
you never have your picture taken.
MollIei I have not seen one Ia ths
house. and you would Janeys eyes
we're csressing. make such a lovely
picture
Miss Mollie Demine. spinster, smiled
NO oae would value my photo
graph. Unless 1t might be YOU she
replied My relLriyes would doubt
less write polite notes ~ appreciation
when they received them. and rele-
gate them 10 some aforementioned cor
ner."
You know better than that" Janey
+ jeered
She jumped to her feet
Anyway, ! want picture and am
I going 10 have Il. You look especially
lovely today. like some sweet shepherd,
ess lady. with your soft crinkly white
i hair. and your true-blue eyes. Poor
1 Terry viii be glad Of job. He really
I should have been an artist I'm the city.
Sentiment, holding him here, alone pre-
vented
I Mollie Deming laughed. when she
\ and the girl Jane were al home again.
Terry posed me 50 many times aud
was altogether peinstakng that his
efforts should be rewarded with sue
cess, she said.
you looked" Janey unused, so
pretty, and, sort Of wistful, sitting
there Mobile Do you know, that is
/ the way your eyes always impress me,
/ by their wlstfunessf Tell me. please,
did you have an unhappy love AFFAIR."
| | wonder so much about you al times
/ suppose, because | love you. | would
be your confidante, Mollie."
The older woman gazed tenderly
thoughtfulIy. into the eager young
face appraised to hers.
"People would tell you-your own
mother may have told you, Janey-that
was Ia u careless, unthinking way
noted years ago for my conquests. IL
was ~ the time considered clever to
faunt ones captivating power, And
well, well, there were many young
men who came to my uncle's home,
and /, uncle's ward and charge, played
merry game Of hearts with them
all, my own heart ever untouched In
the game. Some day, ] hoped TO ind
my true love, to marry and settle
down to a life of devotion. And when
he came, my own love, / knew him;
knew him instantly, by the thrill OF
Joy that filled my days. And he loved
me. That, / did not doubt. Why
doubt the sincerity of this man, when
others had been sinceref ! think
lived In a dream" Miss Mollies eyes
were misty, across the years; still
her voice trembled its sorrow. II live
on In that dream OF the past" she
ended, sadly.
Janey's hands went out to her. "He
died then2 she questioned-"your
lover7'
81 almost wish that ! might tell you
So" Mollle hesltated.
NO" she added, for the first time.
| will speak the truth. 1t was thought
that John Douglas, like others, had
been Tilted. But one knew, and after
John disappeared this friend of his
came and told me the truth. II was
whom John Douglas had Tilted,
heartlessly, and with purpose. The
friend said that he had been instructed
to tell me that John deliberately
planned my punishment, AS he had
deliberately, and oh, so sklllfully,
acted his part
"He was charming in manner you
see. and well known for his winning
way with women. SO, coming TO our
small town and hearing Of my merry,
never-may-care fiirtations, John Doug
las confidently and successfully planned
the retaliation Of winning my OVID
heart, to cast II as carelessly away. |
But this | could not guess. as he held |
me close In his arms and babe me |
goodby, until tomorrow.
Tomorrow, he promised gently, 4 |
will come back to you. Tomorrow, |
my dearest, watch for me-
so. through all the tomorrow have |
watched and waited; and have lived |
how YEARLY no one may know-my |
punishment"
When Janey framed her friends
photograph and placed II upon her |
dresser, she was moved distressfully /
later to hide that same photograph /
away For the sadness OF Mollies
pictured eyes had a provoking trick
Of bringing quick tears to her own.
THAT mani" exclaimed Janey con
temptously Fancy being true to the
memory Of such a creature"
Then one day, as Janey entered un
announced Miss Mollie's sitting room
she faced a picture. And the two
central figures facing the picture con
tinued, happily. oblivious Of her pres
ence.
1T was fate r the distinguished APP
pearlng man was saying, and even In
her establishment Janey responded