The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-09
EDening Story
Molly's Bit of Real Life.
By H. LOUIS RAYBoLD.

BY H. LOUIS RAYBOLD.
Molly Lang had been usher at the
Empire Moving Picture Palace for go
ing on three years. and she was think
ing Of changing her occupation.
Believe me. Charlie" she confided
to the ticket taker in a slack moment
toward the close OF the evenings per-
formance, 'at first I thought it was
great. Geei I. thought I'd never get
tired of a chance to see all the movies
I wanted. But now I'm sick of it.
Lovely heroines and good-looking he
roes always matching up! Bah! Makes
me tired-so different from real life!
Think I'll get a job.at some notion
counter"
IF you're thinking Of changing
jobs" retorted Charlie. IT got dandy
making a home for twoi"
IF it's marrying you you're talking
about. nothing doing" cried Molly,
sitting aNyawn with a slim hand of
delicate pinkness and well kept
finger nails. Then she grabbed his
arm. Get on to that couple going
out. Isn't he q peach-and hasn't she
got the eyes! Say, Charlie, they come
here as regular as clockwork two
nights a week. Been doing 1t two
years now. and 1 expect any time to
see her with q plain gold band and
l.
Charlie followed her indicating
finger. "Sure-some couple" he COM
mented.
Molly watched for the pair on Mon
day and Thursday evenings and when
they did not appear on the Monday
night following the one when she had
pointed them out to Charlie, she was
worried. Then she decided that she
had not happened to see them come
in. But the following week they did
not appear, nor the next. Molly told
Charlie she was worried and was con-
siderablx comforted when he told her
they were probably married and off on
a honeymoon.
The the following week as Molly
leaned with folded arms against the
back, wall Of the little theater. she
nearly gasped. There was the girl,
looking as beautiful as ever, but &C
companied by a perfectly strange
young man!
sIt bothered me so I couldn't sleep
last night" she reported next day to
Charlie. and then regretted her con-
fidence when hat youth asked her
what she expected of such tickle crea-
lures as girls, anyhow.
By now Molly had become so-fn-
terested in the unknown couple that
she begrudged the supper hour she
took off, and extracted a promise
from her amused fellow ushers to
keep an eye out for either of them.
For sometimes the Girl came in
alone-sometimes the Man. Some
times she was accom- panied, sometimes
he brought another girl-and all this
after two years steady company to-
getheri Molly told herself it wasn't
right-it was all wrong. She even
thought she detected a>look of I'M
happiness in the Grips soft eyes, a
look of hardness about the Mans
car
it?
Then one evening, during the
screening of a widely advertised pic
ture portraying a well known film star
in an imprisoned love story dealing
with a sad misunderstanding and an
ultimate thrilling reconciliation, Molly
saw the Girl slip in at the very be-
ginning of the pictureA She wondered
if she had been drawn by the title,
'Tove'5 Reconciliation" AS she
ushered her down into seat exactly
the right distance from the front,
Molly was reflecting cynically on the
ease with which lovers and their love
can be brought together in screen
land.
A moment later, she started. There
at the door. handing his ticket to the
altogether unexcited Charlie, was the
Man. >Molly's brain acted with sur
prising quickness. She tiptoed swiftly
down the aisle. How unfortunate
there was no vacant seat beside the
Girl. She turned back, disappointed.
No doubt the Man was already seated
but no, he was standing against the
partition which separated the seats
from the hall, ~watching the picture.
Molly flew to Charlie. Look here.
Charlie, do something for me! There's
nobody coming in now. If they do, I'll
tend door. That girls in the eleventh
row. next to the end. You tell the
man on the end there's a better seat
down front-and see that you find one
ana show him to it. Don't wait to
talk about it,'' Before he Knew If
charlie was obeying Molly's COM
mands.
Molly herself sauntered over to the
man. Let me show you a seat, sir. y,
she said sedately. Got just one good
one left down 'front.'
He looked at her in surprise. Yes
she was sure. was Molly, that Judging
oy the looks of him, it was time some
pody took hand. Then she hest
tated, with an II am afraid it will he
gone sir, as she waited for him to
AN right, lead me to it." he re-
pied, half smiling. II wasn't sure 7
was going to stay"
ana presently Molly showed hin, 70
the seat beside the Girl and for her
reward she had the look of startled
surprise with which the Girl greeted
MN. M oil y would have liked to
nnger, but to her credit she did not,
teeling no doubt that there should be