The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1921-04-15
Euening Story
The Little Red Room.
BY CLARISSA MACKIE.-

BY CLARISSA MACKIE.~
Molly Blair came home from the
office that night and found her aunt
lying on the couch in the basement
dining room groaning with rheuma-
tism.
I'm sorry, dear" said Mrs. Hayes,
feebly, but you will have to get sup
per to-night-and there's the poor
blind boy up in the little red room
don't believe he's had bit to eat
today!"
"Oh, dear" sighed Molly: I'm so
sorry, auntie-there, you must not
worryH bit now. Close your eyes
and take forty winks-then you shall
have broth, and bread too. and a cup
of my own tea The girl put away
her outdoor garments and hid her
pretty dress under a great apron
that was vastly becoming. She went
into the kitchen, raked the fire, put
the kettle on to boil and pushed the
pot of soup over the Goals. Then
she SKINNED up the stairs of the
lighting the gas- in bathrooms. halls
and landings so that the roomers
might find their way in. Most of the
roomers took their meals at the
boarding house next door, but since
young Harvey had come home one
night half blinded by a chemical
experiment in the factory where he
was employed Mrs. Hays had served
his meals to him In his darkened
room and she never breathed to
soul that the young fellow was in
arrears for room and food. There
was something mysterious about
Ronald Harvey and the good woman
held her counsel and gave him moth
erly care until this day when stricken
by her old enemy rheumatism
When Molly had taken a bowl OF
steaming soup and tea and toast up
to the darkened red room on the third
floor and had placed the tray on the
table near the door and backed
silently out, she brought her own sup
per tray to her aunt's couch and they
ate supper together.
1.-The doctor says hesitated Mrs.
Hayes between sips of tea, that I'll
have to remain here on this couch in
this room for several weeks-my old
heart bothers me a bit, too
"Auntie!" cried the girl remorse-
fully: 81 ought never to have gone
into the office-you needed me here,
and yet"-youth's yearning for free
| dom and the companionship of other
young things clouded her eyes.
! Il know, dearie. I know" sighed
Mrs. Hayes, but I'm afraid you'll
have to stay home with me this
winter"
Molly choked down the rest of her
| tea and cleared the supper AWAY. AT
last she came back, looking very pale
and wistful, but smiling. TN tele-
! phone to the office in the morning.
she said cheerfully, land if they can't
spare me, why they will have to.
auntie. L cannot have you making
yourself sick-with overwork and hay
ing horrid rheumatism, 'nevery-
! th.n',"
My Molliegirl,-I knew you would
do it cheerfully," sighed Mrs. Hayes
/ of course it's horribly dull here for
young thing like you, making uu
| beds and sweeping and looking after
| things, but romance isn't always riding
down the street on a white horse, and
| who knows" she smiled droWsiIy
and slept, while Molly crept away to
the kitchen to pick up the neglected
work. Perhaps a few tears dropped
| INTO the dish water, perhaps there was
a sleepfess night for the girl who had
just found joy N the daily companion
| ship of her young fellow workers. but
Mrs. Hayes had always been like a
mother to little orphaned Molly, and
SO the girl presented Il cheerful face
the next morning when she began the
old dull routine
Il wouldn't mind SO much if it was
a pretty. new house with lovely things
no, even plain things-and there
she always blushed when she peopled
4
and husband. So Molly became a busv
dreamer once more
Herr brief office experience had
taught her the value of method, and
she applied this knowledge to her
work IN the house and never had the
rooms been so well cared for. Three
times a day she carried meals IN ~
the young man in the red room, until
ne asked If he might not be piloted
down to the lower floor.
Il want to eat with real folks once
more he said in his pleasant whfmsi-
| cal way.
You will save me miles of running
up and down" laughed Molly, who
wished he would remove his bandage
| so that she tcould see is his eyes were
| as good as his firm mouth and chin.
She liked his voice and his smile seen
| dimly in the darkened room, and
when he came into the upper hall and
she saw the brown of his skin and