The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1883-10-12
WHAT ONE GIRL DID.

Aud kissed her again in the shadow.
Modern ArJo.
WHAT ONE GIRL DID.
Molly Perry woke, the morning Ct
Memorial Day, about rs cross as it is
possible for 4 healthy. sunny-tempered
girl to be. and with some reason.
For, TO begin, her waking senses were
first greeted by strong Whit of to-
bacco- smoke waited into her open win
dow from the pipe of the ledger below;
and as she bsa gone to sleep with the
same incense ~ her nostrils. you must
own that it was -rying, particularly to
a country-born nose that knew the
fragrance of wild grape-vines and To-
cust-trees. Whatever You may think.
Molly was wrathful. and fiounced out
OF bed, shut the window with emphasis,
and sitting down in her one rocking
chair, eyed with strong disfavor a pile
of clothes on another chair. And here
was another reason for her croSsneSS.
The night before she hAd taken accofnt
of stock in the way of clothes. and
found herself on the verge of bank
ruptcy. Not q decent thing among
them except that gray suit she
thought, disconsolately; and the truth
is they were shabby lot. Barring the
gray suit, navy blue serge Dragged as
to edges and shiny as to back. a faded
cambria, an old black cashmere. hot
and dusty-looking. made up the sorry
display.
.'Why didn't she buy some new
clOthes?n Well. there was no particu-
L. 81, Il.
money to buy and no time 10 make. be-
ing one of the forty or more clerks in
the Mart of Fashion, on Washington
street, at salary of six dollars 4 week
ANY one mathematically inclined can
do the little sum which Molly did each
week:
Washing and ironing. ............-..... 80
One sitting at Trinity" ia very humble
oneb----. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 10
And out of the difference between this
total and six dollars must come boots
and gloves and hair-pins and pocket
handkereh;efs and everything else. so
YOU can see that the Queen of Sheba
was quite safe from rival as far as
Molly was concerned.
But this. mention of the Mart of
Fashion brings me to the cap-sheaf
OF Molly's discomfort. She had ex-
pected TO have the day to herself. but
Rush Il Crush, seeming possible profit
from country visitors. had decided to
keep open. So it was a very cross face
that looked at Molly from the little
wavy looking-glasS. and the soft brown
hair was hatchelled and twisted with
very few of the little pats and touches
usually bestowed on it, and the blue
dress was donned with some twitches.
The sight of the breakfast table did not
tighten her mood. She looked down its
long length. and noted the spots ard
rings and splashes on the coarse cloth.
the knives and forks IT all angles. and
the dishes piled up. fragments and all.
by the untidy table-girl and felt an IN
utterable disgust for it all.
1t is not necessary to 90 into the story
OF sickness and debt and death which
had brought her from a quiet refined
home TO be clerk in the Mart of Fashion
and an inmate OF Widow Jackman's
second-rate boarding-houSe. but we will
start with her this Memorial morning.
when, after trying her sharp little teeth
on some tough steak. and turning over
on her plate some tiabby fried potatoes.
she fished a fly out of her coffee. and
took her way to the sore.
Half the long forenoon had worn away
when Molly, with q box of tumbied
laces before her. stood looking after a
lady who had just passed with cluster
OF violetS at her throat and thinking
wistfully of a certain place she knew
of where they grew. cool and moist in
their green leaves, when the voice of
the IrDiquitOuS fioOr-walher brought her
back TO the present
Miss Perry, if you are not more at
tentive. l shall have 10 report YOU"
Il will save you that trouble" said
Miss Perry, and clap went the cover on
the box, and swish went the box into its
place, and Miss Perry. with very red
cheeks and bright ewes. went down the
long store TO the Office and rendered her
resignation. ''to take effect at once, if
YOU please"
Mr.. Rush pleased, for trade was
slackeuing, and there were twenty girls
for every vacancy. But YOU know
our rule" Yes, she knew the rule. !
which was that clerk leaving without
notice should forfeit pay from the last
Saturday night settlement But Molly's
ancestors did not fight at Concord with |
put leaving something of their spirit to
their descendants; so she turned to 90
with an air which betokened no ac-
guaintance with rules" when Mr.. |
Rush. whose heart had been trife |
softened BY memories of certain grave |
in Mount Auburn which would be dec |
GRATED that day, handed out three trade |
dollars, and in ten minutes Molly vas |
in the Common, ''with all the world be- |
fore her where 10 choose.
The unusual leisure was so pleasant |
that the girl loitered and fingered. en-
ioying the sunshine and sir, and only |
when the noon whistles blew did she |
come down to reality.
After dinner, with locked door, she
held a council of war. Here. on one
side. was Molly Perrr, twenty-four
gears old, with health and hope, five