The Nevada County picayune., 1922-03-30
Walter Gray's
 Rival
. aaaiN aaaaiNNsIANlalIIsasiizIsEsIgIgEvglHgxvsrsgsr
By CLAIRE SMITH


 the depth of woman's love untu ho was engaged to Molly Purvls There was some discrepancy in their ages- he was thirty and she only twenty. one; 1t was not enough to count but enough to make a difference in tba,r outlook upon life. Molly was snr,ta lively, mischieyous, and merry- while Walter was serious beyond hi, years.
 Perhaps an unhappy love affair in his earlier days was now having lts wholesome reaction.
 He soon learned that Moly's light. ness of manner only served to conceal depth of nature of which he had never believed any woman to be cana. bles Their love was mutual and al. most immediate. Their engagement was warmly welcomed on both sIdes of the family.
 Walter" said Mollie one day. did ever tell you about my chum, Elsie | Manton? She was at school with mo you know. Her brother and she are coming to pay us a weeks visit. Hs used to admire me good deal" con. tinued Molly.
 Walter took her by the arms.
 And you admired him7 he dc. handed sternly.
 Well, little." Molly confessed. But of course not since ! have loved you"
 That was all Walter could get out of her.
 Elsie arrived alone. however Her brother, who had been detained on business, was to arrive the following day. Elsie proved to be even more vivacious than Molly. The girls were so absorbed In their discussion of the good times they had had together that Walter found himself out in the cold.
 The wedding day had already been set and Walter spent every evening at Molly's house. Paul Manton was to arrive the following evening, and Molly had insisted that Walter be there to welcome him.
 The girls being still as engrossed ! WILL td(il OtIitA do NfSit " aANOA aoN retired to the library, where hs awaited Paul Manton's arrival When at last the front door bell rang It took him a full minute to recover his equanlmlty, and by the time he had stepped into the hall he saw the visitor on the threshold.
 He saw him enter, and Molly go out to meet him. Then he saw him open hls arms and fold the girl In them. And suddenly he bent his head and kissed her, and Molly began toto giggle.
 Hatless, coatless, Walter left the house He must have walked half way to the station when hack came crawling up the road. In 1t sat young man, nursing suitcase on his knee. Walter stared at him in astonishment. It was Paul Manton. He knew him by the photograph Elsie had shown him. | Bewlldered, Walter turned home ward. His brain was dizzy and he could not understand the situation at all. If Paul arrived and kissed Molly, how could he now be coming up the hill in a hack? But his sense of indlg- nation was too strong to permit hls mind to work clearly. He reached hls home and
 And on the step stood Molly, hat less and wrapless, and crying desPer- | ately. She turned as he approached and ran to him and threw her arms round him.
 "Walter !" she sobbed. Listen to me. It was Elsie. I didn't know until she kissed me-"
 What do you mean?" demanded Walter, holding her at arms length and looking Into her woeful. tear stained face.
 Tt was a trick of Elsie's to surprise me and make you jealous" Molly fai' tered Ut was your overcoat ana nat Didn't you see that7 She put them on inside and went outside and then rang the bell and came in. thought 1t was Paul until-until she kissed me-"
 A light dawned upon Walters be widered brain. Ashamed and humiii ated, he stood there, while Molly's arms wound themselves lovingly abou' his neck again.
 Molly" said Walter, eve been confounded fool. I'll believe In you al ways after this lesson"