The Rock Island Argus and daily union. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1920-1923, 1922-06-02
PRINCESS MOLLIE.
By Susan G. R0NIes.
Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
dictate. Inc.j


| Copyright, 1922, by Wheeler Syn
dictate. Inc.5
| Contrary TO a popular saying
about listeners, MolIie had just ov-
erheard some laudatory remarks
about herself Ordinarily she, be-
ing scrupulously exacting in all
manners of feminine decorum
would have scorned the thought OF
listening without making her pres
ence known. But one of those mis-
chievous and inversiye impulses
which seemingly have no eXplala-
! ton. had persuaded her to remain
and. shuddering at the very thought
of the ugly word, Mollie inwardly
confessed that she vas eavesdrop-
ping.
Her womanly intuition told her
Cor so she fancied) that she was
bound to hear more agreeable talk;
and what woman, even though
knowing it to be wrong. can resist
the natural yearning to herself
praised? So there she stood. ap-
parentIy riveted to the floor, two
feet from her sisters bedroom door,
which was. slightly ajar.
1t was the remarks of Ada, her
sister, and Miss Grace Sumner,
their guest, which had arrested
Mollies attention. YES" the lis
tener heard Grace repeat, I'm
sure the Prince loves Mollie.'
But don't you think it bit pre-
sumptuous TO assume that he is in
love-" countered Ada doubtfully.
And even if he thinks he loves
.MolIie," continued Ada, we mustn't
forget that all men are tickle.
They are the prey of every pretty
face"
NO" replied Grace firmly, as if to
resent the other girls sweeping in
dictment. not this time. anyway.
The Prince was quite in earnest
when he spoke of Mollie's dancing,
her high marks at school and what
not OF course, he probably meant
to be merely complimentary. but"
And Miss Sumner shook her head
significantly.
Mollie felt she had heard enough
as. conscious of a mixed feeling of
shame and remorse, she prudently
decided to withdraw out of hear
ing.
And now it should be explained
that these three fortunate girls
had, the previous evening, been en-
tertained at an exclusive social by
the unaffected and charming Prince
Paul Alberto de Grazio. a young
nobleman whose title. wealth and
lineage were proverbial and the
envy of rival aristocracy. And
Alberto, as he preferred TO be
called. had shown himself to be a
regular fellow" unspoiled by for
tune station or name.
Alone in her own room, Mollie
sat down to think it over. and dis
tinctly recalled that Alberto had
been partial to her. Ada and Grace
were dear girls. of course. and both
deserved paragon husbands. But
if the prince chose to Be
sides, wasn't there q saying among
Any good reason why this sort of
etiquet should exist solely for
men? Progressive Mollie had oft
en- wondered at the ancient and alb |
surd custom restraining women
from proposing; and some day. !
when she would be safe from re-
proach. she would advocate and +
fight for this much needed re- !
form.
Then. like a lola heroine. she J
persuaded herself that she did have
some claim to a refined and su-
perior personality; that the Prince /
was not the kind TO be ensIaved by {
first Impressions unless merit were !
beyond question. He was quite right !
and to agree with him was neither .
selfishness or egotistic. She felt for /
the first time Justly proud of herr
accomplishments, and she'd been a