The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-07-27
EUening Story
Every Day Jim.

BY JANE OSBORN.


Boarding Home there was the scurry
of feet and the sound of laughter,
raucous coarse, musical, some of it,
and some of it tirnid and afraid. The
usual excitement of in the evening
| prevailed. 1t was the time when, II
| you expected to remain home, you
| slipped into a cheap cotton kimono
and then scurried down the corridor
! to a friends room to spend the eve-
\ ming sewing, gossiping or nibblinS
candy or nuts if you could afford it.
If you wanted to sew on the machine,
you hurried into one of the sewing
| rooms to take possession of one of the
sewing machines before they were all
taken; If you were going out or ex-
pected caller, you hurried to your
room for the 1ast-minute finishing
touches before your cheap oak
bureau.
Some of the young women spent
the evening playing stringed instru-
ments of modern invention, tempting
their friends to sing. Hence the dis
cords that floated thru the corridor,
adding to the confusion of sounds.
Molly Ayres stood before her
pureau contemplating herself in a
mirror that sent back an image
rather green and somewhat distorted
But Molly was not shocked at what
she saw She had grown used to the
Judiciously dabbed a very little pow
der on her nose and then rubbed it
| in lest a trace of it might be seen.
Ihen she began pinning her net more
securely over the soft brown curls.
The door opened, and before she
had time to leave her bureau or hide
the powder Sally Hayden, her un-
ceremonious neighbor, Topped in
upon her.
Where you going, girlie?" she
| asked.
I'm not going anywhere" said
| Molly, covering the powder box and
putting it in the top drawer.
"Suitor coming?"
"of course not" and Molly blushed
a little. You know I never have
| callers"
We'll, you're queer kid" yawned
Sally. Prinking when you're goinG
to stay home. Come on in my room.
I'm going to do my nails-bring your
Pm sorry" faltered Molly. But
I'm going to chapel. It's Wednesday
| night, you know
.Lordy," was the word that escaped
Sally's lips. Excuse me. but that's
not in my line" Then Sally scrutin-
lied Molly closely. and burst out
laughing. Its funny enough to want
to go to that prayer meeting party
downstairs, but to prink for it-say,
you are a queer kid
well as long as we live here, we
ought to go, it seems" faltered Molly.
It's only once week.
We'll, I'm not going to be here
much more Sally answered. "Of
course, it's nice being with the girls
and all, but the truth is I'm not quite
eligible any more. You know they
won't keep girls that get more than
twenty-five dollars a week-and I've
had a. raise So as soon as I can get
some place else I'm quitting
The rapid-fire clang of a gong on
the first floor sounded the call for the
chapel service and interrupted Sally.
Molly hurried off without apologies
and cast back happy smile to Sally's
$50 long, kid, have a good time if you
CAM"
Sally found one of the other board
ers to join her in her manicuring ses-
sion.
TITS funny about Molly" she said.
I knew she was an awful good kid
and likes to go to chapel. but the fun
ny thing is that she was prinking for
it. Maybe she's vamping the par
That's just what she is doing" re-
piled her companion, ''only a country
girl like Molly doesn't know how to
vamp. Haven't you heard? It's a
scream"
Sally said she hadn't heard and her
companion continued:
wen, there's a young fellow from
the theological seminary-Jin Gram
gers his name-that has been preach
in here Wednesday nights. OF course
Molly went. The girls say he was real
swell looking, but gosh, what's the
use of making eyes at him! Those
high brow fellows put US in a class
with the girls at the penitentiary or
the dips at the feeble minded home
Well, anyway, Molly went and sat right
up front and this fellow he looked at
her all the time and couldn't keep his
eyes off her. And after it was over,
when Molly was getting out of the
room, she knocked hymn book off
one of the chairs-of course Molly
wouldn't do that on purpose the way
you or I might have. But the chap
sees it and rushes across the room
and picks it up and then they starts
in talking. OF course Molly goes every
Wednesday, but she sits in the back
now That's just the sort of thing
that girl like Molly would do. But
the fellow seems to keep his eye on
her just the same"
say" interrupted Sally. "you don't
suppose it'll lead to anything?"
"Pooh,'' scoffed the other. "Of
course a high-brow like that wouldn't
want to marry a poor homeless kid
like Molly. But those students are
human same's any other fellows. He
might want to have a good time with
her. MolIy's kind O. pretty
Yes guess she is said Sally.
Gee. I'd give a lot to have her hair
and complexion, tho I can't say she's
got any style"
AS the weeks pdSSSu' 4AOIAS CS 60
became brighter and the smile on her
face was more and more we'll estab-
lished. Then, on the eve of her de-
parture. Sally dropped the. bomb that
changed all this
Say, le'me tell you. Molly. before
I co. she said. You're awful inter-
ested in this young preacher. I know
the world, kid, and I know that a
high-brow fellow like that, good look
ing and all, ISM going to want to
marry a little girl like you, even if she
is sweet and good and pretty. 1 know
men. and divinity students aren't
much different AN the rest. I'm tell
ing you now SOS maybe you won't
break your heart over him later on"
These words of wisdom apparently