The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-08-02
MISS MOLLlE'S MISTAKE
BY GEORGE MuNsoN.

The dashing Miss Wheeler, private
secretary to President Brown, Of the
Lighting Corporation, had left to
marry a millionaire. And little Mollie
Raymond had been selected, out OF
a hundred and nine stenographers, to
fill her place!
The dashing Miss Wheeler, with her
fine airs and Paris gowns, had long
been the envy of the stenographers
department.
However, Miss Wheeler must fade
into obscurity, for this concerns little
Mollie Raymond. of Hopeville. and her
fiance. George.
George was one Of those men who
are known solely by their Christian
names. That is sufficient characteri-
zation of George. He was insignifi-
cant, yellow-haired. and loved Mollie
devotedly. He was earning twenty
five dollars a week and was waiting to
be raised to thirty before claiming the
fulfillment Ct Mollie's promise.
It was the dashing Miss Wheeler
who had first raised doubts in Mollie..s
mind as to the eligibility Of George.
Mollie loved George sincerely, but
she had teen beginning to think hard
since Miss Wheeler's engagement was
announced. Were love and George
worth a possible Hodgkins without
love? And, once the presidents Sec
rotary, and a visitor at Cowleigh.
would not another Hodgkins loom up
before her as with Miss Wheeler? II
only she had clothes like the dashing
Miss Wheeler!
1t was this, and not her rise in the
world. that made her cold to George
wher they next met.
1t was a miserable evening They
seemed 70 drift further apart. Finally
George clurted out:
Il know what's the matter Mcllie.
Your heads heen turned by that Miss
Wheeler YOU told me about and you
don't care for RE any more"
Don't BE foolish, George, answered
Mollie, tartly. 81 hardly ever said a
word to Miss Wheeler. If you can't
! trust me, just because I'm getting
more money than you
Tears followed They led to anger
In the end Mollie flung Georges ring
On the table, and George put on his
hat-yes. inside the rooE1-and staJked
away
Days followed. George had neither
written nor called And Mollie, though
she still loved George, began to think
Of him as someone whom she had
known long ago-before she took the
place Of The dashing Miss Wheeler.
When my new dress comes Mr.
Brown will feel quite, quite differently
toward me-" thought Mollie.
On the evening before she planned
to emerge, like butterfly, out of the
drab cocoon of her personality, Mr.
Brown was not quite SO gruff. Mollie
thought he was softening. She was
quite happy when he actually babe hel
goodnight
He went into Mr. Cyrus room ada
cent The door stood open. Mollie
putting on her hat, could not avoi(
overhearing the conversation that en-
sued
That's a nice, sensible little cir
you picked out for me, Cyrus" sale
Mr. Brown. You hit my taste to I
nicely" 49,.
I'm very glad to hear you say that
sir" replied Mr.. Cyrus, modestly.
Cyrus, you are wonder" said MI
Brown. "A nice, quiet, sensible LITTLE
girl, not a gay butterfly like Mis-
Wheeler. Lord, what a let of trouble
that woman gave ne with her dresI
and airs. Unfortunately, she managed
to get an Introduction to Mrs. Brown
through an acquaintance, 50 Of cLurs,
she had me On toast"
IT'S a good thing she Didn't last
sir" said Cyrus.
Quite So. Well. as I told you,
meant to get quite a different typ,
Of woman for my next adventure. 4
quiet. modest little country girl, VIII
knew how to dress sensibly, iusteat
OF turning my Office into a ballroom O
box at the opera house, like that
that creature that got poor Hodgkins.
Il think l got her, SIR" said MI
Cyrus.
You followed my instructions alb
solutely. Cyrus said to you, I wan
quiet. modest. plainly dressed littl,
girl next tine. And get ne a plain
homely one, who isn't likely to hav,
any admirers, and won't get marie,
and leave me in the lurch' And b,
the Lord. you found her!"
Poor Mollie, stung to the quick. sanl
into her chair and burst into al
agony Of silent weeping. Fortunatel,
for her self.respect, neither MI
Brown Tor Mr.. Cyrus came throug.
the room.
After while very different Molli
went hccle. She cried all the way vi
liz The elevated. In her rccm lay
package fro,; the dressnaker. Molli
opened 1t ana flung the content
across the rom.
She would resign at once. Sh
would humble Brown into the dust
She wculd-stay! What was it h,
had said? "A plain, homely one, VIII
isn't likely to have any admirers, an,
went get married and leave Ine II
the lurcn''
Nellie crept to the mirror Tn
face that locked into her cwn was no
that of beauty. But it was that o
very simple, honest little woman
who had come to understand hersel
at last.
Revenge, Who won't get Marie,