Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1915-10-28
MISS MOLLIE'S MISTAKE
by GEORGE MUNsoN.

secretary to President Brown, OF the
Lighting Corporation, had left to
marry a millionaire. And little Mollie
Raymond had been selected. out OF
q hundred and nine stenographers, to
Ill 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 insignia
cant, yellow.haired. and loved Mollie
devotedly. He was earning twenty
Ave dollars a week and was waiting to
be raised to thirty before claiming the
fulfillment Of Mollie's promise.
II was the dashing Miss Wheeler
who had first raised doubts in Mollle's
mind as to the eligibility Of George.
Mollie loved George sincerely, but
she had been beginning to think hard
since Miss Wheeler's engagement was
announced. Were love and George
worth q possible Hodgkins without
love? And, once the presidents sec
rotary, and q 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!
It was this, and not her rise in the
world, that made her cold to George
when they next met.
II was q miserable evening. They
seemed TO drift further apart. Finally
George blurted out:
II know what's the matter, Mollie.
Your heads been turned by that Miss
Wheeler you told me about, and you
don't care for me any more"
Don't be foolish, George" answered
Mollie, tartly. Il hardly ever said a
word to Miss Wheeler. II 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 room-and stalked
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 Mollle.
On the evening before she planned
to emerge, like butterfly, out Of the
drah cocoon Of her personality, Mr..
Brown was not quite so gruff. Mollie
thought he was softening. Sbe was
quite happy when he actually bade her
goodnight,
He went into Mr.. Cyrus room ada
cent. The door stood open. Mollie,
putting on her hat, could not avoid
overhearing the conversation that en-
sued.
THAT'S q nice, sensible little girl
yeu picked cut for me, Cyrus" said
Mr.. Brown. you hit my taste to a
nicely.
I'm very glad to hear you say that,
sir" replied Mr.. Cyrus, modestly.
Cyrus, you are wonder" said Mr..
Brown. "A nice, quiet, sensible little
girl, not a gay butterfly like Miss
Wheeler. Lord, what lot Of trouble
that woman gave me with her dress
and airs, Unfortunately, she managed
to get an introduction to Mrs. Brown
through an acquaintance, so Of course
she had me on toast"
ITS q good thing she didn't last,
sir" said Cyrus.
quite so. Well, as / told you, !
meant to get quite different type
Of woman for my next adventure. A
quiet, modest little country girl, who
knew how to dress sensibly, instead
of turning my ONCE into q ballroom or
. box at the opera house, like that
that creature that got poor Hodgkins,"
7 think got her. sir" said Mr..
Cyrus.
You followed my instructions abb
Cyrus said to you, I want
q quiet, modest, plainly dressed little
girl next time. And get me q plain,
hemely one, who isn't likely to have
any admirers, and won't get married
and leave me in the lurch.' And by
the Lord, you found her!"
Poor Mollie, stung to the quick, sank
into her chair and burst into an
agony Of silent weeping. Fortunately
for her self-respect, neither Mr..
Brown nor Mr.. Cyrus came through
the room.
After a while very different Mollie
went home. She cried ali the way up
In' tho elevated. In her room lay o
package from the dressmaker. Mollie
opened It and flung the contents
ACROSS the room.
She would resign at once. She