Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-07
BY RUBY M. AYRES

tnOse uays; sometimes she feIt as II
she could stand 1t no longer.
There. was no money with which to
make things easier. Day after day dis
appointed tradespeople called at the
house TO ask for ''just a little on ac-
count and went away scowling when
Molly told them with tears In her eyes
that she had nothing to give them.
Jane. the little maid Of all work, was
an invaluable friend in those days.
'l'or. don't you worrit! - she told
Molly time after time. 'You see II
something don't turn up and put things
straight before long"
Molly had not much faith in the
prophecy. but she tried to smile and
struggle on.
The day >of the funeral was worse
than anything--a hot, breathless day II
was, with not the faintest breeze to
cool the scorched earth.
From beneath the drawn blinds Molly
peeped out with tears In her eyes. to
catch last glimpse of the henrse nov
ing off down the road.
Mrs. Dahgerfield was in violent hys.
terics and had insisted that Molly stay
with her,
when I was a girl women never
went to funerals" she said. "I am
surprised that you should wish to go,
Molly
SO the boys and the dead mans
pOmpous brother went without her in
the one escOrting carriage; the pomp.
GUS brother, a little starchy and un.
comfortable and the boys awcd and
unhappy.
IF it had been anybody clsc's fu.
neral" Molly thought us she dropped
the blind nnd turned away. 'hnlf the
village would have turned out and sent
She stood in the center of the hot
room, in her cheap black frock. and
wondered what was to become Of them
all.
She had hoped that her uncle would
make some suggestion, but during the
half hour that he had been In tho
house beyond remarking upon the ex-
treme heat and the dullncss Of the vii
lagc he had said nothing.
Mean old pig!" Ned said angrily.
HE won't do thing for the mater or
any Of us. You see.
Molly thought the same, but an.
swercd nothing.
She wandered rcstlcssly abOIt the
house, and the time seemed to drng.
Once or twice she went into her moth
crs room, but was glad enough to leave
II again. Mrs. Dangeriield was lying
with drawn blinds and o. box Of old
love letters strewn over the shawl COW
cring her knees.
She had not looked at them for years
until today, but she was weeping copi-
ous,y now as she read extracts from
them to Molly.
"IIc wrote this after the first dance
I went 70 with him. Henry was such
a wonderful dancer; he never let people
bump into me-"
Molly tried not to smile: she Won
dcrcd II some day she would be u kc this
a widow-with nothing left to her but
box of old love letters.
"IIe used to call me Chippy. y
Mrs. Dangcrfield went on plaintively
''hc said l was SO cheerful
Molly could not quite see the analogy.
hut listened patiently. while all the
time her ears were strained for the
sound OF the returning carriage.
She wondered il her father would feel
lonely out there in the little tree shaded
graveyard; he had so loved cnml'any
the thing he had always dreaded and
disiked had been loneliness.
When ut last she heard the sound Of
whecls down the road she flew down.
stairs.
Tho pompous uncle was just coming
into the house. lie carried his silk hat.
and was carefully unlocking the
mourning band which he had worn on It.
lie folded it up carefully and put IL
into the breast pocket of his coat.
Molly watched him silently he was not
in the least like her father. she thought
resentfully. 1t seemed hard to believe
that they were really brothers
Presently she asked If he would take
tea. -.
1--WE have nothing else in the house, y
she added.
He stared ut her owlishly.
"Thank you-I-cr-ncvcr take tea.
Ilc looked round with sort of distaste.
"And really must be catching my
train. Er-remember me to yOur-er--
mother"
"Yes." said Molly.
She had already told him that Mrs.
Dangerfield had refused to see him.
ale never liked me he never forsave
Harry for marrying me-" Mrs. Danger.
field said. mo, will not see him.
And in another moment the head OF
the Dangerfields was out of the house,
and walking through the hot sunshine,
carrying all Molly's hopes with him.,
CIJAuTETR. XII