Molly smiled at the old man’s imagery, and thought, “What a race the
Irish are! I am glad I have some of their blood.”
She turned at the sound of laughter and saw coming toward her as strange
a figure as Wellington Station had ever sheltered, she was sure. A tall
girl of about twenty years was approaching, dressed in a stiff blue
homespun dress with a very wide gathered skirt and a tight basque (about
the fashion of the early eighties), and a cheap sailor hat. In her hand
she carried a bundle done up in a large, flowered, knotted handkerchief.
Her hair was black and straight and coming down, but when your eyes once
got to her face her clothes paled into insignificance, and Molly, for
one, never gave them another thought. Imagine the oval of a Holbein
Madonna; a clear olive skin; hazel eyes wide and dreamy; a broad low
forehead with strongly marked brows; a nose of unusual beauty (there are
so few beautiful noses in real life); and a determined mouth with a “do
or die” expression. She came down the platform, head well up and an easy
swinging walk, no more regarding the amused titter of the crowd of
girls, separating to let her pass, than a St. Bernard dog would have
noticed the yap of some toy poodles. On espying her trunk—of course it
was hers, the little hair trunk with the wrought iron hinges and
lock—she quickened her gait, as though to meet a friend, stooped over,
picked it up, and swung it to her broad fine shoulder, more as though it
had been a kitten than a calf. Turning to the astonished Molly, she said
in a voice so sweet and full that it suggested the low notes of a
‘cello, “Kin you’uns tell me’uns whar—no, no, I mean—can you tell me
where I can find the president?”
“Indeed, I can,” answered Molly. “I am going to see her myself just as
soon as I get settled in my quarters in the Quadrangle, and if you will
tell me where you are to be I will take you to your room and then come
for you to go and see President Walker. Mr. Murphy, the baggage master,
will attend to your trunk. You will see to this young lady’s trunk soon,
won’t you, Mr. Murphy?”
“The Saints be praised for answering the prayers of an ould man in such
a hurry! Of course I will, Miss Molly; and where shall I be after
sinding the little trunk, miss?”
“I don’t know until I see the president. I think I’ll just keep my box
with me. I can carry it myself. ’Tain’t much to tote.”
“Oh, no, I wouldn’t do that,” said Molly, hardly able to keep back the
laugh that she was afraid would come bubbling out in spite of her. “I
tell you what you do: let Mr. Murphy keep your trunk until you find out
where your room is to be, and in the meantime you come to my place; then
as soon as you are located we can ‘phone for it.” The girl looked at her
new-found friend with eyes for all the world like a trusting collie’s,
and silently followed her to the ’bus.
“My name is Molly Brown, of Kentucky. Please tell me yours.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account