The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-02-18
MOLLY'S DRESS.
A CHARMING LOVE STORY.

Molly was determined 10 20 w
marty. and yet she knew that she wouiu
be the worst dressed girl III tne roolii,
Her frocks were all so shappy, anu
none of them mere so than the QUE ,n
would be forced to wear IL she auIopeu
Frank Gillman's invitation. WIN
deep sigh she rose from the oeu wheio Will
she had been lying, thinklng the WIZ
..,a.tnr over and turned towards the
inv closet where all her dresses were
bunp Reaching into it's musty re-
ccsses. Molly drew forth a mucn De
drabbled gray dress and iooked at IL
endlv When new the preceding sum-
NOR Il had served as best gown ana
In that capacity. did enough service 10
have been placed upon the retired lsS'
hut Molly was not as conslderate as
that With considerable ingenuity she
had transformed the coat basque ih'o
low-cut evening waist, and the lonS
sleeves into pretty little pui1s. hrounu
the neck she had draped llttle che'p
chiffon. and above 1t her soft wh-le
neck had emerged like lily. NOV,
however the dress was creaseu anu
stained and the chiffon rumplei. Sne
might afford new chiffon, but tn's
would not cover the stains, OF sIene
tear in the skirt. All the other ealis
were going to have new dresses, pue
that was something beyond her scah'y
purse. ,,, ,oss;n,
ooh dear" she sighed again, tossing
tho dress aside and sinking back on tne
he'd "if I were a girl in story Door,
IA have some convenient garret 10 go
IN and there I'd find n handsome piano
cover. or a lamp mat, or bedspreau,
or something equally useiui, OUT ",
which I'd rig up dress that "ouiu
make all the other girls turn green WIN
envy. AS am just Molly frentEss, a
clerk on five dollars week. can
have q new dress, oh, dear! on, uear'
and poor Molly buried her pretty lace
in her hands and sobbed olttery' Sno
was only twenty, and 1t was SO IaIu "
deny herself all the things girls ol hei
age most love. AT last she rouseu nei nc,
self. and sitting down, wrote eoui
nous refusal to Frank Gillmans invita-
tion, although her eyes we're 50 plinu,
od with tears that she could scarcely
urite tho address Not waiting, for teaT
she would change her mind, molly
caught ND a shawl, and, throwing II
around her, rushed out to the reares'
letter box and dropped the ietter IN
As she saw it disappear she caught per
breath. and would have given worlds
to have recalled 1t, but it was 100 late
and she returned to her room very
much depressed in spirits.
boarding house is not the mos
cheerful place in the world, and Molly
thought hers had never seemed 81
gloomy as it did that evening, ahc
when she went to bed at last she SOD
bed herself to sleep.
The party upon which she had Sc
'her heart was not great social event
hut to herv 1t was of vast importance
II was merely a dance given by th
young men in the store where she wa
employed. and Frank Gilman was Tn
floor walker OF Molly's department. fo
some time she had noticed that he ha'
paid her special attention, overlooking
little things she said and did, but
was not until she had read his note
which was awaiting her when sh
reached home the preceding night ina
she realized that he regarded her Wit
any special favor.
When she took up her position be
hind the counter and tied her DlacI
apron about her waist, Molly saw tina
FRANKS eyes were fixed upon her race
which still bore the traces OF her weeI
ing, and she tried to smile at him, pu
her eyes filled with tears. Ihe youh
man noticed her emotion, but was 10
busy to 90 over and inquire into III
cause of it for several hours. When n
did so, she had recovered her self-pos
session, and merely laughed away nj
Inquiries. When Frank received nc
little note however, he began 10 I'll
derstand that something was worryln
her, and he resolved to discover IN
cause of her depression. During u
lays which followed, however, MOL
avoided him constantly, and he felt tn
he must have offended her in SON
manner or other, when he overheard
little conversation between another 81
and her which enlightened him wol
derfully. 1t was the day Of the part
and all the girls were chattering abo'
1t upon every opportunity.
.Say, Molly" whispered one Of Il
girls to Molly, as the two were sor
ing out some of their stock TOWARD
the close of the day, what are you g
ing to wear tonight
I'm not going" Molly replied, wi
little catch in her voice.
Not going; Come, now, that's t
bad. Didn't you get bid?"
YES"
"Then why don't you go" avs u
astonished question.
Because | had not fit DRESS" Mol
replied the tears standing in her ey'
II won't go in debt for anything, al
you know l have nothing except VIII
earn, since my brother died last wi
ter"
"Oh, that's too bad" returned b
companion, carelessly turning away
wait upon customer; and Molly, aft
making dab or two at her eyes, CO
tinued her work, unaware that Fra
had been listening to her little conft
sion. A few moments later she "
waiting upon disagreeabe custom
and he was calling to the cash girls
hurry, yet he managed to give her
tender, bright smile as he passed, tt
lifted the heavy cloud which was har
ing over her, and she started for hol
Dl.