The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-24
THE EVENING STORY
What Molly Remembered
(By Jean DickerSon.

Yes, mother" said Molly gently, but
the color faded from her cheek.
The train Numbered into the station
and Molly kissed her mother again and
hurried across the platform. The bell
changed and Molly waved a last fare
well. She leaned her head against the
back of her chair and closed her blue
eyes. One word repeated itself over
and over again-"Rememberr
AS if Molly Manson could forget that
her poor little mother had pleaded with
her to accept John Finleigh's offer of
marriage if that devoted cavalier
| should bring himself to propose a Sec
ond time.
Marrying John Finleigh meant so
| much to Molly's mother. 1t meant au
end to sordid economy and that dread
full specter of keeping up an appear
ance" that had pursued the poor but
well-born Mansions ever since Molly
could remember.
| John Finleigh had been the greatest
| opportunity that had ever been pre-
| scented to Molly Manson, and when
| Mrs. Manson learned that Molly had
refused him because she did not love
| him, the worried little woman almost
| collapsed.
She had talked to Molly for three ex-
| hausting weeks, and now Molly, about
| to set forth on another weeks visit at
| the home of an old school friend, who
| also happened to be Mr.. Linleigh's Sis
| ter, had given the required promise to
her mother.
! If John F'inleigh proposed to her
again, she would accept him.
| You dearest Molly1insl" cried. Aga
| tina Blair as she folded plump arms
| about her guest. You are looking
wretchedly pale-have you been ill?"
mot bit," laughed Molly gayly.
| why didn't you come down to Fair
mead in June, as I begged? John said
he saw you in own-but-Molly,
! what-?' Mrs. Blair stopped short at
Molly's pleading look and changed the
subject. I've given you your old room
the pink rose chamber overlooking
the rose garden. Dick says I ought to
keep that room for pinky-white girls
She chartered vivacionsly as she per-
sonally attended her guest to the
| charming room.
| who do you suppose is here, Mol
Typ" asked Mrs. Blair as she stopped
| for Molly on her way down to dinner
! that evening.
| ct cannot possibly guess" answered
Molly. II have been asleep ever since
my arrival" -
Mrs. Darrah-you have never heard
| of her?'
Molly shook her head
THE rich Mrs. Darrah of ST. Louis
a lovely widow and an old sweetheart
of Johns. She was stopping in New
York and when I met her the other
day I invited her to run down for the
weekend. She arrived last night
Molly did not make any reply for
they had reached the drawing room
door, and Mrs. Blair was presenting
her to several strangers.
Mrs. Darrah, a handsome brunette |
with rich coloring of cheek and lips, |
flashed languishing glance from soft !
black eyes at the lovely girl and !
turned her head back to John Fin
leigh.
so charmed, Miss Manson" she !
murmured absently.
Molly gave her hand to John for a |
brief instant, and then dinner being |
announced, sch found herself walking |
into the dining room beside Bobby |
Stills.
1t was small gathering about the
round table-besides Mrs. Darrah and |
Molly there We're the Hendersons, hus-
band and wife, Miss Craven and Bobby |
Sills and Philip Weston.
MRS. Darrah quite absorbed John |
F1nleigh's attention and Molly found
herself strangely jealous. for, although
she had always liked the dark. quiet
man, who had wooed her so long and {
SO ardently, she had never loved him
unless profound respect and infinite
trust meant love.
On Johnny's all broken up over the
handsome wildly woman" murmured
Bobby Sills in Molly's ear.
Molly looked her disgust
You know you don't care Molly
went on Bobby mischievously, $50 why
look so cross ?''
Il was cross at you, Bobby" re-
torted Molly
r,i You y; needn't be; Molly. I don't
than ever when your eyes flash
there, they flashed again, AS / was
saving, I shouldn't wonder if our
Johnny succumbed this time-I saw
him driving the widow in town last
week-its a sure CASE
Molly smiled sweetly, but her heart
was turbulent with some new emo
ton She did not know it was jeal-
All that evening John Finleigh was
a devoted attendant upon Mrs. OAR
rah, and when Motley sang in her
rich soprano it was Bobby Stills who
turned the pages of her music. She
sang the old Scotch ballads in which
her voice was heard to perfection,
and if her tones tremb1ed in the sing
ing of Bonnie Doom they were firm
rams request Finleighs favorite ball
Lad Douglas, Tender and True
If the words held a meaning for
Mrs. Darrah in the winning back of
in the case of poor Molly Manson,
who had just discovered that she real
1y loved John Finleigh-
But the girls head was held the
higher for the knowledge, and the
goodnight smile she flashed Mr.. Fin
leigh was coldly brighter.
1t wasn't John Finleigh'S fault that
she had been too blind to recognize
love at first sight He had wooed her
long time and he had given her a
chance at happiness.
The first sight that met her eyes
the next morning as she glanced from I
her window was Mrs Darrah stand I
ing in the rose garden pinning a yell ,
red one for her jetty hair, and the two
low rose in John Finleigh's button ]
hole. Then Mrs. Darrah chose deep
walked away out of sight between the
tall hedges.