The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-12-19
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
. sANz OSBORN.
copyright, 1918, by the Mcclure
n. .NInrrnnannr Syndicate
80


woman whose hair she was waYlhg'
But It's Just like all other holidays
every one wants to be waved the DAY
before. She paused as she twirle1
the iron to cool IL. The woman wasn't
apparently interested III hearing any
! more, although Molly yearned for a
lttle sympathy. She wanted to let
some one know that when you wave
and SINCE and clip from 8 until q
straight ahead without a moments
pause, as you have 10 the day before
holidays, you haven't much spirit LEFT
for the holidays yourself. You just
want most Of all to 90 somewhere
where you can rest and try to be ready
for the next days work.
Then all at once Molly's attention
was distracted to conversation 60
Ing on in the outside reception room
II was Nine. Jeanne herself talking
and the other voice was that OF a
man,
II do not think that one of our
girls would be able to, give up her
Christmas. They put such store OH
holidays-these girls"
"Still, there might be one of the
girls who would. Mrs, Stratford is
: very anxious Holiday guests, you
know. and she will have to lend her
own maid. I've been to all the en-
ployment agencies, and there's no hope
i Of getting any one there until after
the holidays. Ten dollars just for the
day-and all expenses
Molly had heard every word. Then
she heard Nine. Jeanne's high-heeIea
footstep on the thick velvet carpet
outside of the little room where she
was screened with her patient" She
did need that day Of rest desperate.
", but $40 for one days work DID
seem too good to lose. Just then Nine
Jeanne entered the booth and called
her aside.
q know you have no family,
and you wouldn't so much mind
working tomorrow and perhaps the
$40 would come in handy"
81 was going to my sister's-to
have dinner 17th them and the chill
dren-but guess they wouldn't miss
me much" Molly said. Still, | do
need the money-all right, I'll 60"
So it was that Molly agreed to &C.
cept the position of lady's maid at
stratford's Just for Christmas day
and, moreover, she had agreed 10
meet the young man who had gone
to the hairdreSser's at that evening
Christmas eve - and he, being
about to return to the Stratford's at
that time, would escort her to Their
country place, where they were
spending the holidays with a gay
gathering OF friends that even taxed
the accommodations OF their large
abode.
But- Molly had misg!vings as she
hurried from Nine. Jeanne's to her
boardin house. Ten dollars wasn't
such a fortune these days. OF course
her sister and her husband and the
Youngsters would be sufficient unto
themselves. They wouldn't miss her
but she would so miss seeing them
1t was the brightest day in the whole
year-was Christmas out at their
country cottage.
Besides she had her bag all
packed with q present for each one,
down to new collar for the dog
and a bell for the cat. She had de-
cided to telegraph to them to tell
them that she could not come-that
she had chance to earn money. But
as she made her way home from
Nine, Jeannes and then at her din
ner in the dingy, close dining room
at her boarding house she made up
her mind definitely.
She was going to meet the young
man from Stratford's at the station.
She would meet him just the same,
tell him she had changed her mind
and then tSAe a train for Tompkins
But it was not easy to explain to
the man from Stratford's for he ap-
preached her with brisk stride,
seized her small bag and was pilot
ing her OF to the train for the STRAIT
Eordst country home before she had
chance to protest. Then she told
him she had changed her mind.
But how could you?" he asked
loolring at her steadily. You prom
lsed to come"
ayes, know" excused Molly, feel
lng now for the first time that she
had done something a little dishon
orable. Il promised hut heard that
my sISIer Was-ul' l nave W sV' AuS'
need me-"
very sorry. OF course you couldn't
come with us. I'll take you to the
train to Tompkins."
you are very good said Molly
Walking very fast to keep up to her
escort who was ushering ner through
the Christmas crowd that swarmed
through the Concourse Of the great
railroad terminal. Il hope 1t won't put
YOU In wrong with the Stratfords',' she
said. "You are one OF their house
nold?"
sob, they'll have to forgive me-" he
said. Eyes, I'm one oF the household
IA sort of secoud fcctmaA, guess
you'd call It, 2Ut teey might uavs
known that no girl would give up her
holiday Just for that paitry $40. They'll
8 have to curl taslr own hair."
Molly was beginning 10 regret that
she had declined TO go. She was rub
INK elbows-,u~ sre WINS actna.;5 be-
ing carried aioMg On the era Of 0ne
WHO occuSlel a very different world
from hers. These Stratiords With their
ladies' maids and their buueTS aad
First and second footmeR She lad
learned that that sort OF people exist
ed from occasional evenings ut the
movies. She was too much preoccu-
pied to notice that the man had stop
ned with her still on his arm while
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