Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1882-02-11

to her daily work with a
heart which felt like lead within her
bosom.
Mary Reid was talking, in her high,
soprano voice, about the valentine she
had received. Leila Payne and Sara
Howell were giggling over gilt-and-
tasseled epistles, directed in masculine
hands, but Lily went straight to the
forewoman.
&" Mrs. Dobbs," said she, "can you
lend me ten dollarsP"
"IP" said the forewoman, in sour
surprise.
81 need it very much!" said poor
Lily; "and if you will give it to me
to-day-this very afternoon, mean
| will pay you my next two weeks en-
tire wages as it comes inland that, you
know, will be twelve dollars"
Mrs. Dobbs did little mental arith-
metic in the recesses of her brain, as
she stood there staring with fishy eyes
on Lily Vennor.
Yes, the interest was not so bad. She
thought it might "pay;" and so she
lent the ten dollars for term of four
teen days, Sundays and holidays in
cluded.
And Lily, mastering up what courage
she could, stopped at Doctor Ingra-
hams Office on her way home from
work.
81 won't give him the trouble to
CALL" said she to herself; "for, of
course, it will be disappointment to
him to know that he can't get his whole
bill. But will tell him / will pay the
rest as soon as ever / can. And hope
he won't be very much vexed; for, oh,
he was so good to me when the little
ones were sick y .--rt
Poor Lily Vennor! None but the
children of poverty can ever realize the
agonies of distress and modification
which their wretched class have to en-
dure as part Of their inevitable fate.
Doctor Ingraham's pretty little gig
was at the door when Lily went into
his Office, and Doctor Ingraham him
self stood at the table in his fur-tlimmed
coat, pouring some mixture from one
vial into another-a tall, dark man,
with eyes as black as sloes, and beard
as long and soft as floss silk.
lie glanced up with smile, as Lily
entered, and something like flush Of
color crossed his dark cheek for the
moment.
est down, Miss Vennor," said he.
81 am just through with my visits for
the present. In five minutes | shall be
ready for office practice"
Lily had turned pink and white, by
turns, as she grasped the ten-dollar
gold piece tightly in the palm of the
hand within her worn little muff.
, Ill will not detain you long, said
she; aad she waited until he had pre-.
: pared the pharmaceutical compound,
and sent it off by his man. -
And now?' he said, standing OPP.
posite to her, with folded arms and q
{ height that seemed to her positively
: commanding.
f 81 received note from YOU" SHE
said, "this morning"
Yes; and why did you not wait fol
t me to callPn he asked, quietly.
81 was ashamed to put you to thu
t trouble" said Lily, in a low voice. g
knew, of course, the object of YOU
7 call"
: "Did you?n
= He elevated his brows slightly.
. "And l knew very well that | hat
: not the money for yOu," she added, il
( desperation. "But here are ten dollars
and if YOU will please let me know thu
e IN instruments, as best l can.
; "You are mistaken, Miss Vennor,
i said the doctor, quietly. "My motive
in calling had nothing whatever to d.
. with the collection of my bill"
: Lily looked at him with eyes of blue
e innocent surprise. She did not under
r stand him.
d 81 had a question to ask you," SAT-
b the doctor.
l. "About the childrenP"
:, "No; about yourself"
n ga question:" she repeated, vaguely
n eyes" he said, "and | will ask i
d now, Miss Vennor. In those week
n when | came daily to your house an,
: saw you stand like a ministering ange
l. at the bedside of those little ones, mad
up my mind that you, of all women
y came nearest to my ideal of sweet, WON
it anly perfection. And l vowed With
d myself to ask you to be my wife. s.
e now, Miss Vennor-Lily-you know
g WhV was coming!"
1t seemed like a dream of unreal bills
e to Lily Vennor-that homeward wal
n through the twilight, with Bruce Ingra
= hams arm to support her-his belove
&c presence so near to her. She had bee
o toier in life's shadow ever since sh
d could remember; but she was comm,
into her heritage of happiness at last.
d Little Nudge and Edith were lookin
!; out for her, over the stairway, as sh
,r came home.
p "It's Lily" cried Nudge, in an audi
: BILE stage whisper. "Our Lily! Blu
Vt she isn't alone. There's some one wit
e her. Oh, Edie, l guess it's her valer
tine! Old Mr.. Norris says that ever
y one has valentine"
o "You dear little prophet" erie
k Doctor Ingraham, catching up the chill
. in his arm. "You are right. 1t I
" Lily's valentine!"
doctor Ingraham!" said Edith
is slowly. "Well, if | was to choose
valentine out of all the world for lilly,
n should say Doctor Ingraham!"
i" And Lily, in a voice that was almos
is whisper, added: s.
d $50 should Il"-Saturday Night.
10 American HOrse-ShOes in England.
D The pOetical surroundings of " til