Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-08
CHAPTER XIV
Tho Strange Ways Of I0vo

Harden had never heard such anguish
in n woman's voice before; for q mo.
ment he could think Of nothing to say
then he turned and went over to the
desk where the bunch Of keys still huns
In the lock d the drawer. and dragged
up chair.
Molly watched him through binding
tears; she was terrified now at what
she had done; II Harden had turned
her out of the room she would not
have been in the least surprised; she
only wondered that she had ever sum-
moned sufficient courage to come to
him at all; perhaps It was the little
tussle with Wharton that had made
her brave; perhaps it was the soft tone
in Harden's voice yesterday when he
asked her to look upon him as friend.
He came back to where she stood he
held cheque in his hand on which the
ink was hardly dry he held it to her.
"I've made It out for fifty pounds. I"
he said. when that's gone, come
back for some more. II you want It." =
Molly fell back with q choking CRY !;
she was trembling from head to foot.
"oh. couldn't! Oh. please. it's
only six pounds that he wants. Oh. I
d. don't TX know NOV, h how to thank you'll Oh,
She caught his hand, and. carrying
it to her lips, kissed 1t in passionate
gratitude.
II don't know what We should have
dcne,' she went ON wildly. HE said
he was going to take some Of the f.irni.
ture--it isn't worth very much. Oh.
don't know what we should have DONE"
She was sobbing and hysterical she
hardly knew what she was saying.
Harden put her into chair; he went
out Of the room, closing the door be-
hind him; 1t was some minutes before
he came back. When he did he
brought a glass Of wine.
Drink this, and you'll feel all right
Molly shook her head.
II can'tl ! hate wine! I-oh, very
WE'LL" she added submissvely.
She drank the wine Obediently; 1t
burned her throat, but it did hsr good |;
presently the color came back to her
cheeks; she wiped her eyes fcrcely.
'4'm sorry I've been such an idiot !"
ahe said. Don't tell the boys that you
saw me- cry, will your" she appealed.
~ shall not tell them---or any one,"
hc assured her gravely.
1--WE should all have been turned out
in the street but for you." she told him
in q tremulous voice. '"There were
| Gtner pllS rs Wcil, tne Dutcner ana the
baker. We don't have any more to eat
than We can possibly help, but one
must live," she added pathetically.
| Harden had never guessed that
things were so bad as this he thought
OF the waste and extravaganza that
went on In his own household. and he
lonycd to be able to take Molly out of
the struggle of life at the White
House; to give her good time, to buy
her pretty clothes.
IT shall never be able to pay you
back, Molly said; there was a CULVER
In her voice; she rOse from her chair.
"Oh, ought not to take 1t. can never
pay you back.
He laid his hand on her shoulder.
"It's just a gift from one friend to
another" he, said. Don't hurt me by
talking about paying me back !" =.
She shook her head. VIC = =,
"It's sweet Of you TO put It like that,
but-but all the saIpe, II know It y
not right. Oh, think you're the best
man I've ever met In all my nfe! r. she
added with humble gratitude.
CONTINUED TOMORROW