Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-11-16
THROUGH THE TWILIGHT.

Lily Vennor was late home from her
work on this particular night.
A dismal February night 1T was, with
grey fog above, through which the
lamps shone like yellow dots of sickly
flame.
But Lily was used to all sorts of
weather.
Lily Vennor was mliliner.
All day long she sat, with seven and
twenty other girls, IN long low-ceiled
room on the upper floor of q monster
building in one of the narrow streets of
the West End, working until she vaguely
wondered within herself If there were
women enough in all the world to wear
out the dresses she and her companions
made.
1t was hard work, and it was poorly
paid but Lily Vennor had known what
1t was to be without employment for
weeks at time, and she was thankful
even for Mr.. Murex,s four shlllings
day, with the stipulation that, in case
of extra haste, an hour or SO oYertime
should not be objected to.
The poor are generally worsted in
their bargains, nor was our little hero
inc an exception to the rule.
But the work was over at last, and
Lily was in the outer room, tying her
curls under the brown felt hat, whose
tasteful loops of ribbon had been
sponged and turned 90 often, and fold
ing her worn shawl across her shoulders.
And as she took up her d1nner-bas-
ket, she heard the gay voice of Mary
Reid, one of her fellow-workers, saying
merriy-
''St. Valentines Evel
"You don't mean that you have for
gotten it, Ida2"
"Why expect dozen valentines at
least tomorrow"
Lily Vennor glanced UP at Mary
Reid as she spoke.
A dozen valentines
Yes, there was every probability that
she would receive as many as that,
She was q dark. eyed brilliant COM
plexioned young beauty, with a pretty
Greek nose, dimple on the left cheek,
and teeth CID white as sliced cocoanut.
She would be one to marry early, and
escape from this bondage of toll and
poverty; and for moment Lily wished
that she too were beautiful.
And then came second thought.
st. Valentines Eye-and she had
promised Nudge and Edith, the two
little twin sisters at home, valentine
for this year, when Nudge had submit
tel to the ordeal of vaccination, and
Edith had been so dociIe at the task of
learning to make stockings.
For Lilly Vennor, girl though she
was, had already been burdened with
the cares OF life.
Her father had married a second
time, and lost his wife, leaving Lily at
his own death with the charge of these
two little ones, Edith and Margaret,
commonly known as "Midge."
It was hard, hard task, but Lily
never quailed.
She had accepted it simply as she
would have accepted any other decree
of Providence, and the two little or
phans had learned to love her with all
their innocent hearts.
And now she paused in front of the
brilliant show windows, with her worn
purse in her hand, trying to decide up
on some particular style of valentine
which would be pretty enough to suit
the children, and which would uot be
| too dear.
So she went into the shop, humbly
awaiting her turn, and bought two six
penny valentines, Which the clerk super
ciliol1sly tossed toward her.
ST should like two postage stamps, :"
said she meekly.
''Stamps p echoed the clerk. "This
amt post-ofice r.
Lily pointed to printed placard IN
the window Stamps for Sale Here
and the clerk. grumbllng under his
breath, gave her the two stamps.
The next morning however little
Midge and Edith danced up and down
with Joy when the postman left the two
valentines at their door.
'tAnd here's valentine for you, Lily, "
said Midge.
"Only the envelope hasn't got such