The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1915-04-09
The Euenirlg Story
Five Doors to Molly.
(By Jane Osborn.)

and Lee Bateman passed that thresh-
old one day toward the middle of that
memorable senior year at college
OF course, he had to ask for Mrs.
Dare, not Molly, because the only ex-
cuse that he had been able to invent
for going to the Dare house at all
was to solicit Mrs. Dare's name as a
patroness for the senior ball at col
lege. Molly was the adorable little
girl with the golden hair who went
past the campus in her pony cart
every day for morning drive just
as Lee was dashing from the dormi-
tory to eight-thirty classes Only
after he had once seen Molly and the
+ pony cart he altered the dash to a
1eisurely stroll so that he could get
the full benefit of Molly's appearance.
And then one day Molly had smiled
ever SO slightly, and after that Lee
had raised his hat, and so things pro-
crossed.
But Molly was different from the
other girls in the college town. None
of the boys knew her. 1t was said
that DR.. Dare had refused to allow
lege boys, and wasn't this very fact,
added to the golden hair and the be-
W1tch1ng smile, enough to fire any
college seniors spirit of adventure?
But that first door-the front door
of the rambling old mansion was
the wrong way to find Molly. TO be
sure, Lee was received into the stately
old mahogany drawing room and Mrs.
Dare talked with him with unenthusi-
astic courtesy and had even made out
the check that patronesses were ex-
pected to contribute to the senior
dance. But Lees expectations of see
ing Molly were disappointed. lie had
thought that perhaps she might be
practicing on the drawing room piano
when he entered, or that she might
be serving tea for her mother. He
Iaod oa1 7, &c IL r too limo
pose. But his only glimpse of Molly
was a fleeing vision through the Win
dow as Molly went out for an after
noon drive.
front door closed on Lee at that after
noon Lee felt a damper cast on his
confidence, and the latch of the door
seemed to close forever on his hopes
of seeing Molly.
still there are other DOORS" he
thought. MOLLY doesn't come out of
that door when she goes driving: She
uses the side door" But the next day
in the disguise of book agent he
found that that door was guarded by
Molly'S pet bulldog, who treated Lee
with the usual canine cord1anty
his wolfish white teeth when Lee APP
preached and had successfully forced
his retreat.
Then there was the back door. All
perhaps if he made his entrance that
way he might find Molly making fudge
in the kitchen. Luck had been against
him so far and it was bound to turn
1t was not hard to induce the grocer
boy to let him deliver the rice and
tea and coffee; and a little change in
the way of a cap and coat trans
formed him to the part. But Molly
wasn't making fudge that afternoon.
To be sure the cook was kind. She
Stn tn a
fried cruller all covered with sugar,
just to show that the new boy was
welcome" But except for the thought
that Molly would probably also eat
an identical crullerl that day Lee had
no satisfaction in the encounter.
The fourth door seemed the most
difficult. 1t was the doctors office
door, and Lee had little reason to hope
quarter of the house. Still the door
was always open for patients to come
and go to the waiting room. He might
take his place with the rest and per-
somehow Lee went directly into the
doctors private office. and before he
realized what had happened he found
himself being questioned by the doc
tor as to the trouble which had
brought him there.
.'Sprained ank1e,'' said Lee on the
spot and the doctor Immediately got
% work with bandage and liniment.
Ten minutes later, when Lee paid
he doctor his fee, there was a twin
mentioned having see the doc
.or's daughter driving by the campus,
md apparently the statement had CIV
IN no offense.
Lee was emboldened. Would it be
possible for me to leave by way of the
house." he said. 1T is nearer the
and it is hard to walk The
doctor seemed to agree perfectly and
l.
nto the hall of the house and there
he fates had relented at last-he saw
Molly, the gold hair and the sweet
smile and the merry gray eyes, and
wen the pet dog who accepted Molly;s
of Lee as sufficient reason
% abandon hostilitieS.
Molly knew Mr.. Bateman, and she
vas sorry that he had sprained his
ankle and she opened the front door
md watched him with concern he
imped down the front steps. 1t was
,nly two minutes encounter but it was
enough to fire the ardor of Lees de-
lotion.
Lee limped-when he thought of it
around the campus for the day and
he next day he was one of the first
lfternoon. patients waiting for the
ioctor's professional services. There
we're more bandages and more lini-
nent, and then there was that wonder |
,ul passage through the house to the
ront door, where Molly again appear |
ID. The next day the ankle was no
better. The doctor agreed with Lee
hat it needed daily attention, and |
Lees limp was so affecting that Molly |
lrove him back to the campus IL her |
oony cart.
The ankle had to recover. Bandages
md liniment would, of course, have |
heir results. But there were other |
that senior might in |
rent There were sprained wrists and |
strained eyes and strange unaccount- |
lble pains, and always the kindly |
ioctor discovered symptoms that Lee |
lad not even dreamed of, and always |
lie accepted Lees. spot payments with |