Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-23
uuEN he asked sharply:


n and considerably as he could
s.. % had happened-that Manor Dyke
s.s WA ,one that a fire had broken out,
naS nas th.t the gale had swept the flames
an 40 that in an almost incredio'y snort
.puce OF time
Harden cut him short.
nanJ Molly?" he asked in anguish,
A. Ashford looked away.
"she is still living. but you have to
n.nr Young Wharton for it,
'nIn Harden stood like a man turned to
- He had thought that voice in
.t .bs night only dream. and 1t had been
.n', .n., She had cried to him across the
nile, that divided them. ~
For the moment he could not think
o. oMr sr'' Ashford touched his arm.
II think we ought to SO, and at
snce," he said. q,
,oun Yesterday a torture. That was
,bs thought in Harden's mind as they
,"ced back through the wind. swept
country to oil that was lett OF Manor
Dyke. , T., .ho so,ds ord
lanes, branches and leaves scattered
for and wide, gray clouds scudded
across a stormy sky.
dow without speaking n word. lie felt
himself to be an old man..
Mr.. Ashford had heard much of the
,ossin about Harden and Molly in the
s;Ilaee. but lie had never believed it
until ITardcn's impulsive words that
morninr. but one glance at the mans
farc MS he sat looking out with blind
.xcs on 70 the storm broken world told
him more. Whatever Molly was. or
migbt have been. this man loved her.
The agony in his face cut the elder
man TO the heart. Harden was not a
man whom one could know well, but
today Mr.. Ashford realized that he was
something more than millionaire who
saye literally to charities and helped
| The village; he was man with heart,
and man who loved his wife.
And Molly--cven now she might be
dead. lie dreaded what they would
hear when they reached Little Helpton.
The chauffeur from Manor Dyke was
waiting on the platform. He came for
Harden grlppcd his arm. A few
straggers on the platform were stand
Ing looking on in sympathetic curiosity.
'Well. man. we'll" he asked hoarsely
"Mrs. Harden Is still alive, sir" the
answer came broktnly.
Was that the best they could say OF
her? Harden sat with his face buried
in his hands rs they sped back
through the village. lie never looked
up rs they passed all that was left OF
his home. lie did not care that Manor
Dyke had gone.
"God-God!" llc cried, in his heart
God must hear him! God could no,
b. 50 cruel as to blast his life lik'
this.
The car stopped: they were at tho
White House.
They had taken Molly to her mother
md for once in her useless life Mrs
Dangcriield had forgotten to have hys.
tcrics and scream for strong tea and
was really being of use.
1t was she who met Harden on the
stairs. Poor woman, she had begur
10 realize, that she had q warm corner
for her little daughter somewhere in
her heart. The boys were standing
about. white faced and miserable. Ther,
was nurse in Molly's rOom-she mad,
way silently for Harden.
llc crossed the room like n man ].
his s!ccp. il was 50 hushcd and dark
For moment he cuuid not make on,
even the shane of the bed, or the littl;
sirlish figure lying t,tre.
Her face was untouched: he noticed
tLat with rush Of gratitude. But hcl
hair was all sccrchcI aud hung in pa
thctically ragged little curls. her hands
were bandaged, and the sheet wa.
drawn right up to her chin.
She lny 20 still, his heart seemed tc
stop beating as he looked at her.
The nurse seemed to read his
thoughts. She spoken gently.
"She IS Il little better. The burns
ere nothing very much, but the shock
has been great. You see, she is 50 little
ind weak"
lie knolt down beside her, and bend
Ing his head. kissed the bandaged hands
but she did not move. and presently
some one took him away.
Downstairs Mrs. pangerfeld told hirl
the story in medley Of sobs an,l
tears.
1t had all been so terrible-but for
Mr. Wharton, Molly would not have
been here now.
The name struck n chord Of memory
in bis brain. He passed a hand over
his eyes.
Wharton Yes, they tell me he saved
her life. I must thank him. Where 1.
he! l Should like to see him."
There was n tragic silence, then one
OF the younger boys began to sob.
Hes dead. lie died almost as soor
as they got him out. lie saved Molly.
iife--and Mrs. Fernald's. He brough,
hcr out first he said that Molly mad
Inn. llc went back again for her, ans
'"Oh, my God" said John Harden
Tragedy upon tragedy. lie felt as u
therc were an invisible hand upon hin
bearing him to tn" ground.
twenty four hours ago and he hat
said Gooi.by to them both, the DO,
who was dead and the girl who NIGH
even now be dying. He had eft then
with hatred and jealousy in his heart
End soon perhaps there would be moth
fng to be jealous Of any more.
He saved Molly's life," Mrs. Dan,
srrfe'd sobbed. Poor boy, poor boy
pc gave his life for hers. He wen
pack, to her. They said that the oni,
E0rd he spoke was to ask If she wa
Il right. He smiled when they tolt
ma yes, and thcn---"
Shc looked ut Harden. but some
hihS, In his face silenced even he
'olnhlc tongue, for presently she signe
the boys and they went away, leav
ny him alone.
And the big bear said to the littl
Pear Ned. II you done 81
klli' won't read another word !" tn
lgn pitched. delirious voice stopped
and Tor moment the silence OF tn
om loom vas unbroken save for Molly
Ut u was night, and for hours Johl
ntardrh had sat there beside the bed
airald almost to breathe.
ior hours the high pitched wear
aoncr had talked, and talked withou
ESnas!ns in a piteous jumble Of word
mat brought tears to the eyes Of tn