Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-02-14

no pretense Of comfort in the house
meals were snatched anyhow, rooms
were untidy, and rows had been more
frequent.
Molly had reduced things to a sem .
blnncc Of order; the food was better
cooked and better served: Jane was
more amenable; life was thousand
times more rosy. But now, sac was
going away again. and this time for
good-and boys as they were, they
dreaded tho idea Of the house with
out her. $500.
said after a moment; II say, there's the
doctor next door again. Mr.. Fennald
must be bad"
The others crowded to the window
Z neat car was standing ut the gate in
the morning sunshine.
"Mouy VII nave better car thar
that when she's married." Dick said
suddenly. "Molly will be able to have
everything she wants In the world,
mother says"
Ned snOrted.
That's a mighty tall order" he
said. "I'm going out" He turned To
the door and the others followed. Ned
was the ringleader Of the Dnngerfield
quintet; he led. and the others fol
lowed at his heels.
As they crossed the hall Molly called
to them.
Where are you going, boys?"
I,iy They stopped and looked round
,"only to the woods" Ned answered.
I'VE shall be In to dinner"
Yes, be in to dinner" said Molly.
ITS my last day, you know" Her
voice broke, and the boys turned tail ;
they were all feeling very unhappy.
Molly wiped her eyes fierccly; what
q fool she was! What was there to cry
for when TOMORROW she was to be mar.
ried to the man she loved and live with
him happily ever after? Most girls
would have been singing with joy most
girls would have been off their heads
with excitement.
And SO should have been" she
thought, IF 1t hadn't been for-last
night"
She had cried herself to sleep after
Harden had walked away down the
road wi ithout a backward glance; she
had wakened in the morning with a
weight of depression hanging over her
II only he had said good-night---it
only he had not hurried past the gate
as II anxious for her not to see him.
Deep In her heart there was an un
formed fear. She felt as If she were
in the presence of an enemy whom she
could not see, but who she knew was
lurking close ut hand, waiting for q
chance to spring out.
Jane, coming from the kitchen, saw
the tears on her cheeks and hastened
to administer comfort.
"Lor' now, don't you go and take on,
Miss Molly. I'll look after them all for
you, and it's not that you're going fur
away - just stones throw. 50 to
speak and Mr.. Harden such nice gen .
tleman and all"
Molly tried to smile.
''Do you like him, Jane?" she asked
In shaky voice.
"Do I? Don't I JUST" came tho
downright reply. "And to see the way
he looks at you. Miss Molly--fair loves
the ground you walk on, he does"
Jane was drawing largely upon her
imagination, but It had the desired ef-
feet Molly dried her eyes and put her
handkerchief away.
II know I'm silly, and I am happy.
really! Don't let mother know I've
been crying. Jane"
Jane shifted.
me! ] never let your mother know
anything. Miss Molly"
She hustled back to the kitchen. She
liked to pretend that she was so busy
in preparation for the wedding that she
did not know which way to turn, but
in reality she had nothing extra to do,
for Sthe wedding was to be in London
and the informal luncheon afterward
at hotel.
The White House was to be shut UP
for the day, as Molly had insisted that
Jane must come to London and see her
married.
"You don't mind, do you?" she asked
Harden anxiously. "But she's been so
kind to me-"
Harden said that he did not mind
ut all, which was true; his one great
longing was for it all to be over. lie
told himself that the sooner he was
married the sooner he would be able
to settle down and forget: just lately
forgetfulness had seemed the most de.
sirable Y thing in all the world:
the garden, her hands folded in her
lap.
II thought you'd be too busy to spare
done, Molly? Are all the wonderful
prcnarations complete?"
She shook her head; somehow the
sight of him had brought back last
night and the tragic moment when she
stood in the dusk and watched him
walk way down the road.
"I'm tired !" she said. Somehow
oh, do you really want to marry met"
she said with a sudden little wall.
Harden flushed DULY.
why, Molly, Molly" he STAN
mered.
She caught his hand; they were out
of sight of the house.
Don't be angry she said with n
sobbing breath. But it isn't too late
today, and it will be tomorrow. If
you don't really love me-oh, I don't
want to marry you II you don't really
love me-" she added in whisper.
Just for a moment he did not an
swer; just for moment the fate of
both of them hung In the balance. He
looked away over the low dividing hedge
to Lilith's garden--to the little house
that she had made 80 dainty, and 1t
seemed to him that he was an old man
looking back on his youth.
"What have done to make you say
these things?" he asked angrily. Eyes.
terday you were happy enough--tell inc
what l have done"
1t was like Molly Immediately to toll
him she blurted 1t nll out In rain Of
tears; how she had waited for him,
how she had stood ut the gate to say
good might to him, and how he had
passed her without a look.
He drew sigh Of relief; he even
smiled,