Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1910-12-27
EVENING STORY.
THE MERRY CHRISTMAS OF
/ MOLLY.
BY Temple Bailey.
Copyright, 1910. by Associated Liter

Copyright, 1910. by Associated Liter
airy Press.)
ooh! but you couldn't, really"
Molly cried, incredulously.
yes. I can" Mrs. Phelps insisted.
She had fancy to see how this
pretty creature would take with the
men of her set:
Il can lend you a gown, and a hat
and wrap, and you can take Vera
Patterson's place. She has just tele-
phoned that her cold is worse and
that she can't be with us for Christ
mas dinner"
I'D love it," Molly's eyes were
like stars. But"
There are no butts" Mrs. Phelps
said calmly. "If choose to add an
other guest to my Christmas dinner
no one can possibly criticise."
1--we never dined In any of the big
hotels" Molly confessed. Terry
wanted to take me once. but 1
couldn't-not in my old clothes.
II don't see why you don't have
some nice new gowns" Mrs. Phelps
said.
She had taken fancy to her little
seamstress; the girls youth and
beauty made her different from the
usual cut-and-dried spinsters who work
by the day.
"You could go around lot II you
had the things to wear"
Molly shook her head. There are
mother and father and Billy and
Babe" she said. Il have to help out
with the family expenses, and l
mustn't spend everything on myself
$50 you just sit at home an. stag
nate" Mrs. Phelps complained.
Molly laughed. "Oh, Terry takes
me out now and then"
who is Terry?"
well, he's very nice boy who
likes me-" Molly confessed.
"And I suppose you'll marry him
and be poor the rest of your life"
was Mrs. Phelps's comment. You're
very silly, Molly" J.
Molly began to wonder If she wasn't
silly. Here was an opportunity star
ing her in the face Opportunity to
meet rich men, opportunity to wear
beautiful clothes.
DO you really want me to go to
your dinner " she asked, half tim
idly.
or course, Mrs. Phelps said; and
7 want you to try on the gown now
Il was ? wonderful gown OF white
chiffon with the hem heavy with sill
YER There was twist of white tulle
which banded Molly's red-gold hair
with a silver rose at the side. The
alippers were silver, and little loose
on Molly's tiny feet.
no foH
Mrs. Phelps decided, "and they won't
show under that long sklrt
1 In front of the long mirror Molly
saw a wonderful vision.
Mrs. Phelps brought from q box
long wrap of lace and erm1ne and
rose-colored velvet.
~ was afraid that color wouldn't
20 with your hair" she said, "but 1t
gives you distinction, after all. )"
On her way home. again clothed In
her shabby suit, Molly told Terry
about It.
"she is going to give a Christmas
dinner at the Belvidere," she said,
and one Of her guest has disap-
pointed her. She wants me to take
her place, and I'm going to do 1t,
Terry"
Terry's face fell Then you won't
have dinner with us," he said. Wen
miss you, Molly"
ooh, but it's my opportunity her
face was glowing. Think OF the peo-
pie I'll meet.
He did think Of the people she
would meet, as he tramped home
alone in the cold twilight. Terry knew
something Of the world, something
Of the men who would be a. that
dinner.
Babe and Billy protested strongly
when they learned That Molly, the
light Of the household, vas to spend
her Christmas evening away from
them.
1T will spoil all our fun they
said.
GERRY will he here Molly told
them. Mother has planned late
dinner, because he has to, work part
Of the day"
She felt little conscience-stricken
however. as she left them, and not
until she had donned the beautiful
gown at Mrs. Phelps's could she put
the thought of their fearful faces out
of her mind.
II was wonderful experience to
ride through the streets in the limou-
sine. wrapped in the rose-colored
cloak, with great bunch OF valley
lilies in her hand. She felt like a
princess. She had the air OF a prin-
cess. too. as she swept through the
wide corridor Of the hotel, following
Mrs. Phelps.
Her pleasure was ended, however,
when she met the other guests and
sat down at the big round table.
There was confusing display Of
knives and forks and spoons, but
her native wit prevented any awk-
wardness.
It was the men on each side Of her,
howeve.,. who alarmed: her. Molly
had never been at loss for word
or a gay retort until now. But; the.
people around her lived in a world
of their own They talked of operas,
of sports, of places OF which Molly
knew nothing She didn't know that
her pretty, blushing shyness charmed
the multi-millionaire at her left and
piaued the curiosity of the ambassa-