The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-02-18
cd. striving to draw her hand away

cd. striving to draw her hand away
from his arm.
lyon are silly" Frank said, with
considerable energy. "1s there any dis
grace in being poor? 1t Is a good deaf
more to your credit that you weren't
willing to make your landladysweit for
her money so you could have new
dress. than If you had cheated her. Ia
sooner starve myself than do as most
the fellows do, go into debt as deeply
as they can, so you see | admire just
that quality in you" Il
"Well, it's the right thing to do,
Molly replied, softly.
"Inded 1t Isl and now l want you TO
do me favor, will you?"
"Of course"
IL want you to go home and put on
whatever dress you have, no matter
what 1t Is. and I'll bring you some roses
and we'll go to that party. NO matter
what your dress is, you will be the
prettiest girl there, to me, at least.
viii your"
TO her surprise, Molly said yes, and
hurried along, her heart beating SO
hard she could hear it.
without waiting for any dinner, she
rushed up to her room, and again took
out the despised dress. AT night per-
haps it wouldn't look so awfully BAD,
she thought. as she shook 1t out ana
began to sponge the satins, and by the
time she had pressed 1t with hot iron
she begged from the cook, 1t really was
improved Removing the soiled chlf-
|. fon. she replaced 1t with little lace,
cheap and somewhat torn, but clean,
| and when she added n bow Of ribbon
| TO hide the mended place in the skirt,
| Molly felt that it looked almost like
a new dress. She had scarcely finish
| ed dressing when Frank arrived, and
| putting on her wraps, she ran down TO
meet him, her face flushed and her
eyes sparkling. No one was in the
hall as she came down, and Frank bent
and kissed the face which had become
SO dear to him. saying as he did so:
You know that | love you, don't
you?" and Molly could only look her
| answer.
When they reached the hall where
the dance was to be held, Frank gave
her large bunch OF flowers he mao
been carrying. and left her at the door
of the dressing-room. a few moments
later he called for her, and starteu
when he saw what transiormatlou
happiness and dozen roses hao
wrought. She had pinned great Gus
ter of them in the torn lace, their glos-
sy leaves and velyety petals hiding al
deficiencies of the trimming, while oh'
of them nestled in her soft brown hair
Her cheeks glowed like companion
: roses. and her eyes were like stars. H'
said nothing, but Molly knew by hi'
, admiring look that he would not D'
ashamed, and she felt satisfied.
After spending the most enJoyaDI'
evening of her life, Molly said, as 5h
7 and Frank were walking to the stree
cars:
I've had the best time l ever had.
= Have you. dear?" Frank returned
pressing her arm to his side. Are yo'
willing to make me the happiest man II
!, the world?" and his voice tremDled a
J. he looked down at the little figure.
9 "How?" Molly whispered, withou
$ locking up.
e by promising to marry me, he re
r turned; and Molly's answer must nav
d satisfied him, for he said as they parte
z on the steps OF the boarding house:
t Now mind, Molly, this dress murt
;, kept. Well put it under glass ana kee
Q 1t in the parlor won't we, dearest! +!
t and Molly answered, rs sue ualocKe
q the door:
Yes well keep it, for it showed IN
= that you care for me and nog tor III
k clothes"