Bradford County telegraph. (Starke, Fla.) 1888-current, 1900-04-20

''Not going? Come, now, that's
too bad. Didn't you get @ bid?"
Yes"
''Then Why don't you go?" was the
astonished question.
because 1 have no fit dress"
Molly replied, the tears standing in
her eyes. 81 won't go in debt for
anything, and you know I have moth
ing except what I earn, since my
brother died last winter"
''Oh, that's too bad, =" returned her
companion, carslessly, turning away
to wait upon q customer, and Molly,
after making dab or two at her eyes,
continued her work, unaware that
Frank had been listening to her little
confession. A few moments later she
was waiting upon a disagreeable Gus
toner, and he was calling to the cash
girls to hurry, yet he managed to give
her q tender. bright smile as he passed,
that lifted the heavy cloud which was
hanging over her, and she started
! for home with IN almost light heart
As she was hurrying along the street
she heard some one call her name and,
looking around, saw Frank Her
cheek flushed, and she looked rs
| though she would have liked to have
run from him. He gave her another
| tender look, saying, as he took her
hand and drew it through his arm
"Why didn't you tell me your rea-
son for not accepting my invitation"
Because" Molly began, and then
hesitated.
'Iknov what it was. heard you
telling Nelly this afternoon" Frank
continued, looking down at her blush
ing face
"Oh, graciousI" Molly said, half
crying. 81 wouldn't have had you
know it for anything"
And why not?"
Because 1 wouldn't" Molly re-
turned. striving to draw her hand
away from his arm
''You are silly" Frank said, with
considerable energy. us there any
disgrace in being poor? 1t is a good
deal more to your credit that you
weren't willing to make your landlady
wait for her money so you could have
a new dress, than if you had cheated
her. I'd sooner starve myself than
do as most the fellows do-go into
debt as deeply as they can; so you see
1 admire just that quality in you"
''Well, it's the right thing to do, "
Molly replied, softly.
Indeed it Is, and now I want you
to do me . favor, will your"
''Of course."
'1 want you to go home and Put o.
whatever dress you have, no matter
what it is, and I'll bring you some
roses and we'll go to that party. Nc
matter what your dress is, you will be
the prettiest girl there, to me at least.
Will you?'
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 it out and
began to sponge the stains, and by
the time she had pressed it with a hot
iron she begged from the cook, it
really was improved. Removing the
soiled chiffon she replaced it with 4
little lace, cheap aud somewhat torn,
but clean, and when she added bow
of ribbon to hide the mended place IN
the skirt Molly felt that it looked al
most like a new dress. She had scarce
ly finished dressing when Frank ar
rived, 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 linn, saying as
he did So
''You know that I love you, dom
you?" aud Molly could only look hel
answer.
When they reached the hall where
the dance was to be held, Frank gave
her q large bunch of flowers he had
been carrying and left her at the dool
of the dressing-room. A few moments
later he called for her and started
when he saw what TRANSFORMATION
happiness and a dozen roses hst
wrought. She had pinned a grea
cluster of them in the torn lace, thei
glossy leaves and velvety petals hid
ing all deficiencies of the trimming
while one of them nestled in her sof
brown hair. Her cheeks glowed like
companion roses, and her eyes wer'
like stars. He said nothing, bu
Molly knew by his admiring look tina
he would not be ashamed and she fel
= satisfied.
After spending the most enjoyable
! evening of her life, Molly said, as she
aud Frank were walking to the stree
cars
GIVE had the best time I ever had.
Have you dear?" Frank returned
. pressing her arm to his side. ''Ar
|, you willing to make me the happies
al