The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1929-09-14

I've mao more tnan ! can stand al.
ready"
May I come In, mama?"
Rita. at the door, raised her child
tsh voice pleadingly. Il want to show
you n daddy my bunny"
mot now. dear" Molly told her.
Run along like q good little girl. Ask
Marie to take you to the park, and
tell her she may buy you q balloon
LET her come In" instructed Bob
gruffly. The child's old enough to
speak for herself"
"Oh. Bob, she isnt!"
Molly laid her hand restrainingly on
his arm. But he had risen to his feet,
and was striding toward the door. He
threw her hand aside impatiently.
"Come In. Rita. Daddy wants YOU"
She stood In the doorway, with her
stuffed bunny Rugged to her pinafore,
like q quaint child on q magazine
cover.
Ills names Cherie." she said.
Marie named him. Don't you think
it's a pretty name2"
"A beautiful nanle," agreed Bob
politely. Come here. Rita. Daddy
wants to ask you something"
Don't, Boil" begged Molly. Don't!
It's cruel. You mustn't"
But Bob had stopped. and lifted her
into his arms. He kissed her gently.
Mama doesn't love your daddy"
he told her, land SO daddy must go
away. and take his little girl with
him."
His voice was very grave and sad.
Rita looked from one to the other.
Molly had begun, softly, to cry. The
child's eyes grew big and frightened.
"Mama!" she cried.
And. slipping from her fathers
arms. she ri to Molly, and threw her
arms about her.
Well go away, dear" Bob was
saying. because mama wants us to.
Rita and daddy together"
The child covered in MOlly's arms,
clinging and crying.
"Ill be good!" she promised. III
be good!"
"Oh, sweetheart, it isn't that" cried
Molly. Daddy wants to take you
away, darling. He's going to break
both hearts. But you'll feel bet
ter BY and by, because you're only a
little girl. And little girls always feel
better by and by"
II don't want to CO." protested the
child. Don't make me daddy"
do you want to stay here, and
let me 60 away all alone?" ques-
toned Bob gravely. do you want
your poor daddy to go where nobody
loves him. without his little girl to
keep him company"
Rita buried her head on Molly's
shoulder. She was sobbing unre-
STRANGELY, and her breath came in
great, heart-wrenching gasps.
Don't you torment the chi!d!"
commanded Molly, raising her tear
stained face from Rita's curls. II
never heard Of such q cruel thing In
my life!"
But she has to make up her mind"
insisted Bob ~stubbornly. Come now,
Rita, stop your crying. dear, and be q
brave girl. Tell daddy II you want
him to 60 away all alone, and leave
you here"
mo. No" walled the child pitcously.
mo. daddy"
"You seer" He faced Molly tri-
umphantly. Blood Is stronger than
water"
Then suddenly his manner changed.
MY God. Molly, can't w fix things
up? This Is horrible"
Dreadful" She shuddered. Poor
baby. There Rita. Don't cry, sweet
heart. Daddy isn't going to talk that
way any more" :.
Bob patted his daughters tousled
hair. His eyes were wet, and his
voice unsteady.
'There, there" he soothcd. Its all
right. Rita. Daddy's not going to
hurt his baby. Everything's going to
be all right"
He averted his gaze from Molly's.
Were not in any shape to 60 over
this now" he said. I'll get in touch
with you by and by. You won't
mind II I phone for an appointment
later? viii you come to the door
with daddy, Rita? Poor little girl. I'm
sorry I made you cry"
He took her In his arms.
"Qoodby, Molly. It's a CHASTITY mess.
I'm sorrier than I can say. But
there must be some way out. ! want
to do the right thing. You believe
that, ! hopper"
She nodded miserably.
yves, Bob. Your technique's
tough, that's all" She smiled through
her tears. 'You and I, both-we've
! perfect genius for doing the wrong
thing"
IT will come out all right" he in
sisted. ITS Just that I love you,
Molly, and you don't give . darn about
me. Loves like an illness. People
ret over it-only. instead Of feeling
better, one feels worse"
II couldn't feel any worse my
self" she told him. II don't see how
you could either. Whatever hap
pens. Bob, I reckon we've got to start
feeling better pretty quick"
When he had gone, Molly went to
her room 70 repair the ravages Of her
latest conflict. 10 please Rita. she
changed her dark dress for . neglt-
re- Of hyacinth crepe. They would
Spond the day In the house. That
would Be safest. It would be i'm.
possible 70 avoid reporters and pho.
tographers. y they should 50 out TO-
getheF.
The negligee. WORN o. . special IA
vor to RITA, was q lovely thing. with Z
train that hung from Molly's shoul-
ders and trnileds the carpet, like the
royal robe Of . princess IN ! fairy
tale. The flowing sleeves were
weighted with ostrich feathers the
color Of Chinese yermillion. Her lit
IL slinners were orange. When Rita