The Glenwood post., 1923-01-18
Wooing in the
E Dark
By JESSIE DOUGLAS
-
20 by Mcclure Newspaper syndicate.)

Molly began TO sing to herself.
tree-toads strumming their guitars, and
a little chorus of sleepy birds made
her laugh with delight.
Ii was pure delight. Meadow-sweet
in the air and the whisper of grass
under her feet and pail on her arm
that was to bring back fresh butter.
She gave sudden start.
Il can't do It'll"
1t was almost dark now, but she
could see the foot bridge across which
she must step to reach the other river
bank. There wasn't even hand-rail.
But how could she go back and face
Mrs. Bascom and admit that she was
just one Of those silly city girls" who
was afraid to cross the bridge?
"If there were only some other way
to cross" Molly said aloud.
"There isn't
The voice sounded out of the dark
ness so close at hand that Molly
jumped
''.f you WISH" the voice went on,
"I'll see that you get across"
"Oh, do" Molly said breathlessly.
he stepped out ahead of her and
she saw by the stars that he was tall
and straight. and as he gave her his
hand she knew by its pressure that
he was strong She scarcely breathed
until she reached the other side.
".fhank yOu,' she sighed.
He walked little distance apart
from her and she saw that he was
locking down at her. She was CRATE
full that he could only see the faint
blur of her figure in the dusk.
"You have to go back again, I sup
pose" the voice went on, land If you'll
let me, I'll see that you get back
safely. I'm Jim Stevens over at the
Haleys'."
1t was pleasant talking to man
like this by starlight. Molly for
got all her self-consciousness. She
was just like any other girl talking
to young man under slip of July
moon, just as young, just as charm
ing, just as-pretty.
"If you'll wait here I'll go in and
get the butter" she told him as the
farmhouse loomed up.
She was grateful that the porch
was in darkness, and that when she
passed into the lighted kitchen the
door closed after her.
He was waiting for her when she
came out and she felt her heart beat
with a new sense of happiness.
1t was the first time young man
ever had waited for her outside IA
gate; it was the first time she had
ever talked serenely unconscious of
herself to any man. She drank in
all the joy of the moment as they
sauntered home to Mrs. Bascom's.
May l see you again?' Jim
Stevens asked her as they came to
the white farmhouse. Molly caught
her breath. She knew what 1t would
mean if he saw her again.
''But perhaps we-you-might be
disappointed next time!" she tried to
say lightly.
"Disappointed?' he asked. II know
when first heard your voice you were
pretty? How Disappointed"
She couldn't answer him.
He said suddenly: "If its introduc-
tions you're thinking about I'll ask Mr..
Haley to come over to Mrs. Bascom's $
and bring me along and introduce me
tomorrow afternoon"
"Oh, nor! Molly gasped. "But 1
might meet you tomorrow night down
by the bridge" Then she ran into
the house.
The first thing she did was to climb
breathlessly the steep stairs to her
own room. then she lighted the kero.
sene lamp, and, taking care to pull
down the shade, she went over to the
crnkiy mirror and studied herself No,
she was just the same. Her hair was
not gold and curly. 1t was mouse-col-
ored and very straight. She had moth.
ing in the way of Greek profile. but
an apology of a nose, and her eyes
were not large and lustrous, but gray
and sweet and unnoticeable altogether
1t was not that that troubled her so
much, but across one temple was
mark, delicate blue mark that time
would never erase and that her hair
would never quite cover
1t was this that made her self-con-
scious, wretchedly sure that girls were
pitying her and men turning away
from the sight with disgust It was
this that made her promise to meet
Jim Stevens after dusk.
Just once she told herself she should
have all the JOY Of talking to man
and pretending she was pretty. She
could pretend
Next evening she met Jim Stevens
down by the bridge. She wore white
dress with some airy rufiles that made
her seem some delicate moth as she
fiuttered down to him. She lifted her
face bravely, sure that that tell-tale
scar was hidden. They talked and
laughed and came singing back along
the road to the Bascoms and Jim car
ried her promise that she would meet
him the next night.