Jotham produced a pencil and thinking that Molly might recognize her
writing, Randy printed in large letters this legend:

"For Mollie Wilson, from one who loves her."

After viewing her work with satisfaction, Randy said,

"There, now they are all ready, but Jotham," she added a moment later,
"what will you do with them between now and twilight?"

"I'll take the packages home, and as you wish no one to know about them,
I'll hide them in a safe place in our woodshed. When I start for Molly's
house I have to go in the same direction that I would if I were intending
to stop at Reuben Jenks' door, so I'll leave the presents at the Wilson's,
and stop at Reuben's on the way home; then if I'm known to have been at
Reuben's no one will guess that I was running about delivering presents."

So at a bend of the road they parted, Jotham happy in the thought that he
had a part in one of Randy's plans, and at the same time doing her
bidding, and Randy wondering if Molly's delight when she looked at her
gifts would be as great as that which she had herself experienced in
sending them.




CHAPTER III

GOSSIP