The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-26
Eoening Story
Springtime and Molly.
BY H. LOUIS RAYBoLD.

snowy clothes upon the line and. with
a deep breath, drew in the beauty of
the day. Overhead. scudding white
clouds chased each other across tur-
quoise sky, sped by the tonic March
winds. Molly, her blue eyes heaven
ward, was thinking of william-and of
Jim.
william was the man to whom she
was engaged-had been for three
years, far-sighted, practical chap,
the sort of mau to whom one turns
over ones daughter and says, well.
she'll never have to worry about
money"
TT will be years before we can even
think of marrying" he had said to
career and marriage would be a ham
dicap. AS soon as / think 1t would be
WISE Wen marry. Are you satisfied?"
CT course" Molly had answered
simply, her thoughts full of the hap
pinesS of getting ready.
Three years had passed since then.
and the contents of Molly's chest had
kept pace with Williams bank &C
count. She had several times been
bridesmaid at weddings of her friends
who begged to know when her own
wedding day was going to be. Molly
always told them bravely that she and
William were being very prudent and
weatherwise. The high cost of liv-
That was why, this blowy March
day, with spring in the air Molly drew
n ceep breath and thought of jim
Tim who had wanted to marry her
years ago and who had just come back
from France still wanting to marry
her, not some time in the future. but
tho very instant she'd say "Y es."
Size finished hanging up the clothes,
picked up the basket and went into
the house.
~. l.
mirfor coiling her curly brown hair
with deft fingers, slipping dainty
pumps on silk stockinged feet and fas-
tening a flowery wolfe frock. All the
while she meditated ''It isn't as If we
couldn't afford it. VIII is making
ried man I know and he's been saving
it since he was sixteen. He knows dad
has only me, and that some day this
house will be mine and-oh, 1 don't
we can have two maids and an auto
mobile and a house near the park.
And I'm going to make Will realize it"
Primed with arguments, Molly wait
ed his coming. 81 guess, considering
it's leap year, 1 can at least suggest the
date of my wedding" she had just told
herself when the doorbeH rang and in
came William.
Congratulate me. Molly" he said
THE firm are sending me to Homo
lulu for a six months "trip to investi-
gate opportunities for developing one
of our branch houses"
Good enough, Will" cried Molly.
THE only thing" and the mans
face cIouded ever so slightly, cit will
postpone our marriage for at least
year. 1 SHOULD probably be given the
management of the store if they de-
eide to put one there" Sinking into
the chair opposite Mol1y's, he launched
forth into a glowing account of his
new prospects.
"Win." Molly interrupted him quite
suddenly, 'it would make a wonderful
honeymoon-a- trip to Honolulu
-'What?' said the man quickly
HOh, L see. Yes, dear, yes, If course.
But really out of the question. MY
mind would be distracted from bust
ness. More sensible and prudent to
go slow. If the plan goes thru sue
cessfully, We might be married a year
from this fall and go there to live"
Il guess you're right" agreed Moi
ly. Two startling things had just
things. will. 1 hate to tell you, but
1 am very sure / don't love you as
I thought 1 did, and I'm sure you
don't love me as much as you could
somebody else, and II think I love
somebody else!" Molly got 1t all out
as quickly as possible.
The man rose, mechanically taking
the ring She had slipped from her
finger. Are you crazy?" he de-
manded.
Mono" said Molly shakily. But
I'm very, very sure. And I'm sorry"
Its darned lucky you discovered
In time. 1t pays not to marry in
haste and repent at leisure. Are you
are you quite sure?" he asked again,
still unbelieving.
"Quitei" said Molly, and there was
no doubling the firmness of her tone.
- - Il ~ tfx-
and. with hat damned over his eyes,
went out of the door.
For a moment Molly felt terribly
guilty. Then, as she recalled how lit
tie protest William had made after
all, she felt a bit chagrined and de-
lulu would be an excellent .panacea
for the loss of his fiancee.
With a shake of her young Shout
ders. like a frisky colt let loose in a
pasture, she flew upstairs, knelt at
bureau drawer and from beneath a
her chest. drew a rumpled photo
graph. Up into her eyes looked the
quizzical eyes of Jim. To the girl
they seemed to reproaeh her for the
lost and wasted years. for her yielding
to the influence of those who spoke
fellow, and of Jim as nice enough
boy, but harum-scarum, given to day
dreams. She remembered the very
first week he had gone to worl. after
having high school. He had brought
her a good share of his weeks pay
in hot-house vioIets. It wasn't thrifty.
l. wasn't sensible-but it was youth in
its springtime of love.
My blessed JIM" she said. ''If
Cnly 1t isn't too late!"
That it wasn't too late was evident
by the alacrity with which Jim an
swered the summons to call on Molly.
In exactly three minutes the inter
vening three years were buried beyond
recall and the two stood exactly where
they had when Jim had first told
Molly he loved her.
-It won't be seal coats and win
skies now, darling" he said, much as
he had said before. what with my
time out in the army But can Keep
Us out of debt and
What we do have wen have to-