The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-09-11

@HEYSNSSS1S 1922 WNS S9& 1SSH ~
child Is 70 marry the father.
Bob. to prove how ruthless he
might be. has already called Il Molly's
flat with = policeman. to demand the
surrender Of little Rita, WHO lives with
her. After the fracas has subsidized.
Molly asks Bob to return the next
day. when they may discuss matters
amicably. Then che proposes the
trial engagement, with the stipula-
ticn that the experiment shall be kept
secret until such time - they may
decide to marry. She suggests . per.
iod Of three months - the probable
time required to ascertain the prac-
ticabiltty Of marriage.
NOW GO ON WITH THE STORY
CHAPTER Xiv
Eventually Bob had agreed to the
trial engagement.
And he began, Immediately, being
very nice indeed. Molly had spoken
of q painting she had seen and loved
in Florence. AS though he were q
genii, and waved a magic sceptre. Bob
procured a very fair copy. It was La
Maddalena by Carlo Dolci.
The usual conceptions Of Magda-
lenc. as Molly had seen them In var
ious galleries. were of older women,
with tragic faces. But Carlo DOlci
had painted a young girl, Of high
school age, who had been bad. and
was sorry. She was q beautiful, in
tense child. Her eyes were dark and
passionate, and her lips were full. and
fashioned for kissing. There was q
holy light in her face. and it had been
TRANSPORTED by q great love. Such Z
girl might have lived in any age. And
in any town. Molly thought of her
as a girl Of the centuries. She had
wanted to procure q copy ever since
she saw the original.
Molly knew nothing at all about
paintings. She had seen only two in
her life that she would have liked
particularly to own. The first was
La Maddalena. And the other was
Correygio's Virgin Adoring the Baby.
Now Bob had found the Magdalene
for her. and he had not forgotten that
she coveted the most exquisite OF Ma
donnas. He thought he knew where q
copy might be obtained. A modern
reproduction. Molly was touched and
delighted.
She hung her lovely Magdalene
where the light played on her up
turned face. And. because Bob had
given her the beautiful thing, she
felt-almost-as though she could love
him, because he had brought her un-
expected happiness.
Bob was proving a rather pathetic
lover. Like O. Henry's waitress who
longed for romance. he tried too hard
to please. He brought Molly lolli-
pops and peanuts. because she had
said she liked them.
And he took her to all sorts Of odd
dirty places to cat. Molly knew that
he hated restaurants that pretended
to be Bohemian. She knew that q
soiled tablecloth could ruin q meal
for him. And that arty places were
his pet denomination. But. because
she liked poking about. he took her "a
inns that once were barns. and still
smelled slightly horsey. And q kitch-
en- where the guests sat about q long
table. and ate from common dishes
They went to q French place. where
napkins were never used. And to an
Armenian cafe, where the chef wore q
dirty apron and waited on table. And
all the time. Molly knew that Bob
would have sold an Bohemia for fresh
l 1inon onA {mnvaanas1AAn c0rs,tNn
He hated sports. But he bought sea-
son. tickets Tor the Braves, because
Molly was q baseball fan. and had q
weakness for Hank 0owdy.
you're too good. Hpbl" she pro-
tested. We're always doing the
things I like. It's time you took me
to something intellectual. How about
an art exhibit. Or ! musicale3 You
must be bored to death with my low
brow entertainment"
But that evening he bought tickets
for the circus. And the next night hl
took her to . movie.
The trouble Is" she told herself
hes too nice. He's letting me vail
all over him. No man could 60 or
forever. pretending to like things HI
despiSes. It's pathetic. too, the waS
he makes believe he's having = goot
time"
And then It was she thought Of Q
Henry's waitress.
Poor Bob. I suppose that's thu
way ! was with Jack. It's probably
always that way when there arc tvt
people. and one Is ever 50 much morl
in love than the other. The one VIII
wants terribly to be loved tries tol
hard to please. to please. It nevel
pays"
But. since pity Is akin to love. MOLLY
was beginning to love Bob = little. 4
was. undoubtedly. because she va
sorry for him. His pethettc attempts
to rouse her affection made her n
most cry.
Every time he called he brought he
q gift. Odd little things that he has
q way Of picking up. A bit Of Ak
damask. or . ptece 0f rare china. 1
first edition Of GalQrne, With tll4stEA'
lions BY Aubrey peardaley. And ops
= Venetian glass sc0pcf from tn
Doge's palace. HQb loved beautiful
things. and he had the happy facQlt!
Of finding them.
aomettmes be sent her orchids. Ne
the cQmmpn cAtelya. hut TIE yellqv
marshellisnQm. They s4lted PER nes,
he said.
re had rare appreciation of paint
ipgs and az music. H loted flower
and knew them hy thelr Latin nelAal