Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1915-08-26
MISS MolL|E'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-
cation of George. He was insignif-
cant, yellow-haired, and loved Mollie
devotedly. He was earning twenty
five dollars q week and was waiting to
be raised to thirty before claiming the
fulfillment Of Mollie's promise.
1t 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 been 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
retary, and a visitor at Cowleigh,
would not another Hodgkins loom up
before her as with Miss Wheeler? II
only she had clothes like the dashins
Miss Wheeler!
1t was this, and not her rise in the
world. that made her cold to George
when they next met.
1t was miserable evening. They
seemed to drift further apart. Finally
George blurted out:
Il 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
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 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 MI
Brown will feel quite, quite differently
toward me-" thought Mollie.
On the evening before she planned
to emerge, like a butterfly, out of the
drab cocoon Of her personality, MI
Brown was not quite so gruff. Mollie
thought he was softening. She 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 a nice, sensible little girl
you picked out for me, Cyrus said
Mr.. Brown. you hit my taste to
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 a good thing she didn't last,
sir" said Cyrus.
Quite so. Well, as l told you. l
meant to get quite a different type
of woman for my next adventure. A
quiet, modest little country girl, who
knew how to dress sensibly, instead
of turning my office into ballroom or
a box at the opera house, like that
that creature that got poor Hodgkins.'
81 think l got her, sir" said Mr..
Cyrus.
you followed my instructions alb
solutely. Cyrus said to you, 1 want
a quiet, modest, plainly dressed little
girl next time. And get me plain,
homely 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 while very different Mollie
went home She cried all the way up
in the elevated. In her room lay
package from the dressmaker. Mollie
opened it and flung the contents
across the room.
She would resign at once. She
would humble Brown into the dust.
She would--stay! What was 1t he
had said? "A plain, homely one, who
isn't likely to have any admirers, and
won't get married and leave me In
the lurch."
Mollie crept to the mirror. The
face that locked into her own was not
that of a. beauty. But it was that OF
very simple, honest little woman
who had come to understand herself
at last.
Revenge! "Who won't get married
and leave me in the lurch!" Mollie
went to her desk and began writing