The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-24
THE EVENING STORY
The Merry Christmas of Molly.


ooh, but you couldn't. really, Mol
ly cried, incredulously.
Yes, 1 cam Mrs. Phelps insisted.
She had a 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 Pat
terson's place. She has just telephon-
ed that her cold is worse and that
she can't be with us for Christmas
dinner
I'D love it." Molly's eyes were
like stars. Gut
There are no 'buts,'' Mrs. Phelps
said calmly. IF 1 choose to add an
other guest to my Christmas dinner
no one can possibly criticise.'
I've never dined in any of the big
hotels Molly confessed. Terry
couldn't-not in my old clothes"
81 don't see why you don't have
some nice new gowns" Mrs. Phelps
said.
She had taken a fancy to her little
seamstress; the girls youth and beauty
cut-and dried spinsters who work by
the day.
you could go around lot if you
had the things to wear"
Molly shook her head. "There are
mother and father and Billy and
Babe" she said. 81 have to help out
with the family expenses, and I
mustn't spend everything on myself -
so you just sit at home and stag
nate" Mrs. Phelps complained.
me out now and them
"Who is Terry?'
well, he's very nice boy who
likes me-" Molly confessed.
and be poor the rest of your 1ife,'
| was Mrs. Phelps comment. you're
very silly. Molly"
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 dinnner?" she asked, half tim
| idly.
.Of course" Mrs. Phelps said: land
I want you to try on the gown now
| 1t was a wonderful gown of white
chiffon with the hem heavy with sill
yer. There was q twist of white tulle
which banded Molly's red-gold hair
with a silver rose at the side. The
slippers were silver, and a little loose
on Molly's feet.
"They can be tied on with ribbons, -
| Mrs. Phelps decided, "and they won't
| show under that long skirt"
| In front of the long mirror Molly
| saw a wonderful vision.
! Mrs. Phelps brought from a box a
long wrap of lace and ermine and
rose colored velvet.
| "I was afraid that color wouldn't
go with your hair she said, "but il
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 Christmas
| dinner at the Belvidere,'' she said
'-and one of her guests has disap-
pointed her. She wants me to take
her place, and I'm going to do it
Terry"
| Terry's face fell. .Then you won'i
have dinner with u.s. he said. "We'
miss you, Molly
"oh, but it's my opportunity hei
| face was glowing. Think of the
people 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, methins
of the men who would be at thai
dinner.
Babe and Billy protested strongly
when they learned that Molly, the
light of the household, was to spend
her Christmas evening away from
them.
TT will spoil all our fun" the,
sTerry will be here" Molly told
them. Mother has planned late
dinner, because he has to work par
of the day.
| She felt little conscience stricken
/ however, as she left them, and no
until she had donned the beautiful
gown at Mrs. Phelps could she pu