The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-09-04
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lessons were sweet to the child, as her
bedtime hour with Molly. Tormented
by her cnvious demons, Molly kept
away when the two were together,
sparing herself the agony Of watch
ing them.
She despised herself for her jeal-
ousy, knowing 1t for q base and UNI
worthy emotion. She read, in a doc
tors book. that jealousy is a disease,
with deadly ravages. She tried to
cur herself of it, as she would Of q
physical sickness, prescribing vari-
Gus antidotes.
It was unhealthy for a woman to
concentrate her emotions SO entirely
upon a child. In vain Molly sought
absorption, first in work. then In
trivialities. But the fear Of losing
Rita filled her life to the exclusion
Of all things else. Like q great un-
wholesome DOGGY, 1t stalked her day
and night.
Then came the afternoon when she
went to the nursery, and found Bob
there. Rita was In the park. Bob
had come earlier than usual, and wa
waiting for her.
Molly stopped on the threshold.
"Oh," she said. Il didn't know you
were here"
you've been avoiding me, Molly"
he accused.
mo, / haven't. What makes you
think so? I've been awfully busy,
that's ALL"
Anything special?" he asked.
Molly hesitated. II have It in my
mind" she confessed. ito write a
book. Something different. Quite
unlike anything I've done before. I've
been mulling 1t over for days"
"A romance, I suppose?"
"A blighted romance" she said.
He looked up quickly.
your own story?" he asked.
But she shook her head. coloring SO
guilty., he knew he had surmised CO...
rectly.
FOR a girl who has everything in
the world" he remarked. you're a
singularly unhappy person, Molly.
You're young and charming. You've
friends. and might have lovers. You've
q child to cherish. A beautiful home.
and plenty Of money. What more
could q woman ask?"
you've changed" he declared. "Thc
old sparkle's gone. You're not gay,
the way you used to be. You don't
laugh so much. And you've the sad
dest smile in the world. Molly"
well" she said. I'm no. SO young
as I used to be. And I don't think I'm
charming at all. / haven't any par
ticular fricnds-just Red. and volt
and Mr.. Durbin. maybe. And /
haven't any lover at all. OF course /
adore Rita. But. after al. she's not
mine. AS for my beautiful home
why. It's nothing in the world but q
rented flat! I don't own q stick Of
furniture In it. To have q home. Bob
"a really, truly home-you have to
have love. I guess -"
why don't you get married?" he
interrupted.
And who," she asked. wants to
marry me?"
It was q tactlcss question, born Of
q moments b~antcring. As soon a
the words were out Of her mouth,
Molly regretted them.
Bob was standing now by Rita's
crib. looking. not at Molly at all, but
at the mad March hare.
Il do" he said, and raised his eyes
to hers.
why Bob" she quavered.
1T isn't" he admitted. IAN exclus-
i've desire on my part. There are
plenty Of men who would like to
marry you. You'd be q rarely lovely
wife. my dear. You are the sort Of
woman q man dreams about when he
thinks Of the woman whom he would
most desire. For dream-girls are made
Of your sweetness, and tipped with
your flame-did you know that,
Molly? You're the kind Of girl"
Bob" she cried.
"Oh, I know, dear-I'm q good deal
Of an egg. and I've an awful nerve to
ask you to marry me. I've given q
couple Of unpleasant exhibitions of
Just what kind Of q chump / am. And
it's darn preposterous to expect YOU
to listen to me -. But, after all,
Molly, there + certain circumstances
to IS considered. I happen to be the
father Of q child whom you adore. II
you should marry me, YOU would be-
come Rita's mother. That ought to
mean something to YOU"
She shook her head wildly.
sDut, Bob. I have Rita now. You