Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-06-29
Waller Gray'o
Rival
Ey CLAIRE sMITH

Walter Gray had never understood
the depth OF a womhn's love until he
was engaged to Molly Puryis. There
was some discrepancy In their ages
he was thirty AMI she only twenty.
one; it was not enough 10 count. but
enough to make "A difference in lheII
outlook upon life. Molly v-us a sprite
lively, m.schleyous, and merry
while Walter was serious beyond his
years.
Perhaps an unhappy love affair In
his enrller days was now having its
wholesome reaction.
He soon learned that Molly's light
ness of manner only served to conceal
a depth of nature of which he had
never believed any woman to be capa-
Bile. Their love was mutual and al
most immediate. Their engagement
was warmly welcomed on both sides
OF the family.
waiter" said Mollie one day, "did
ever tell you about my chum, Elsie
MantOn? She was at school with me,
you know. Her brother and she are
coming to pay us weeks visit. He
used TO admire me a good DEAL" con
tinued Molly.
Walter took her by the arms.
Sand you admired him?" he de-
manded sternly.
"Well, a llttle," Molly confessed.
But Of course not since l have loved
you"
That was all Walter could get out
Of her.
Elsie arrived alone. however. Her
brother. who had heen 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
MOllys 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
with each other as ever, Walter had
retired to the library, where he
awaited Paul Mantons arrival. When
at last the front door bell rang it
took him full minute to recover his
eQuanimity, 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
his 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 a hack came
crawling up the road. In 1t sat a
young man, nursing a suitcase on
his knee. Walter stared at him in
establishment. 1t was Paul Manton.
He knew him by the photograph Elsie
had shown him.
Bewildered, 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 hack2 But his sense of indig-
nation was too strong to permit his
mind to work clearly. He reached his
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.
1t was Elsie. l 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.
1T was trick of Elsie's to surprise
me and make you jealous" Molly fal.
tered. ut was your overcoat and hat
Didn't you see that? 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-"
light dawned upon Walters be-
wildered brain. Ashamed and humili-
ated, he stood there. while Molly's
arms wound themselves lovingly about
his neck again.
Molly" said Walter, 1--WE been q
COMPOUNDED fool. I'll believe in you al.
ways after this lesson"