Smyrna times., 1892-05-04


just then, for Miss Dora and Ned, anC
someone else and my poor old self.
Its good of you to listen," she said
turning as they reached the door
and oh, so good of you to care"
She looked happier for having told
me, certainly she ran upstairs with hel
old light step, and all l did was to fee
sorry. Why didn't tell her to come
here whenever she wanted to, hat ]
would be glad to have her always
Why not? Because l belong to the
think-tOo-lates.
can't see now how it is | have
never thought, that possibly people
dlsliked talking out there, as much as
l hearing them, and that to Miss Dora
it was positive grief.
am glad, tonight, that her lovers
name is Ned, glad l can help to make
her life something besides hoping
something more than mine has been.
Again my pencil is sharpened. How
soft the lead is. How quickly it wears
away. What spreading, indecisive
lines it makes Just like me Here 7
have been deciding one minute to ask
Miss Dora to share my room with me
until Ned takes her away; the next
am sure it will do; the next again [
don't know how to solve the problem
at all. 1t seemed so easy last night.
Daylight alters the complexion of
pleasures, women and difficulties. Did
anyone else see that or did /?
Ot course | want my dainty maiden
TO keep her own bedroom. Don't
think am so foolish as to give her no
place in which to be alone. But how
shall l make her feel that she has a
right to my sitting room so that Ned
Will come here too as freely as if it
were Miss Dora own?
The best way keeps out Ofsight and
am too impatient to wait for it-that
Is, to wait doing nothing toward find
ing 1t. I'll begin by asking them both
In here this evening, and if way sug-
gests itself this clever old spider shall
spin her web accordingly.
l have thought of going away for a
little visit, but Easter will be here so
soon and my lilies are in bloom. NV
fragrant stately lilies | couldn't leave
them now. They meant so much to
me in the young days, mean so much
to me even now. You would laugh if
you knew how, even after all these
years, l never see one of the long,
white buds open that | do not hone
again.
Hope for what? Ah, | should not
like you to laugh over it, and YOU
would not understand.
If should go away there would be
such good beginning. Dick would
require attention. Listen to him chirD.
| believe he is hopping from perch to
perch and turning his absurd little
mead from side to side just to tell me
that he dlsapproves OF my seIfshness.
Even the books would need COM
pany. They must feel dismal enough
to be neglected, to know that thev are
filled from cover to cover with enter.
tainment and have no one te entertain.
I've felt so myself It's very exalted
experience, but triae forlorn.
Miss Dora would like to look after
them, and the flowers, my beautiful
llles. She loves them too. am glad
OF that; glad she likes my room glad
it is as she says, Just the cosiest
snuggest, nestliest little room in all the
world"
Be quiet, Dick l shall make that
visit. Yes, yes, you little scolder, it
shall be at once. will start to-mor-
rowI tonight, sir, ! have guests.
Ned and Miss Dora are here. Thew
are chatting away with Dick as if all |
three knew Volapuk. They are so
young, so happy, it does one good to |
watch them. Now they are looking
at the flowers. Ned is bending over
the lilies and is telling of an uncle of
his who has an odd fancy in connec.
tiOn with them. What is this he is
saying9
Its sort of madness with him. we
all think. Every year he fills his
rooms with Easter lilies. and will tell
no one why but my mother. To her
he always says that this year perhaps
he will find Lila and he must be ready.
She would be disappointed if there
were no lilies. Mother says he is
always looking for this Lila-everv.
where, every time, on the street, in
theatres, at lectures, every place. That
is all anyone knows of her. But it is
rather pathetic thing to see him
searching about the finest lilies and
saying, This time perhaps and the
next year, 1t may be now"
do not ask the uncle's name, there
is no need. l reach across for paper
and write, l am very particular and
very slow, and yet in such haste that
my hands are all atremble and the let
ters dance before my eyes. 1t is not
much that | write, but ! sign a name ]
have not written before for over thirty
years, and when / try to speak / can
not,
Miss Dora sees the word "Lila," and
do not know what she
IS saying to Ned, but they have nv
letter. Now Ned is gone. reach out
for the flower but Miss Dora has to
pluck 1t for me, am sO-oh, l do not
know what l am, happy or miserable
or numb. Can you think what it is to
have spent your life wishing for what
might have been yours any day-had
you but known? To have waited
.ong, long years and to know that at
Iast-oh God it is terrible to be so
glad.
l am going away, not for a few davs.
not for visit. Miss Dora is to have
my rooms altogether, and in my new
home there are Easter lilies blooming
everywhere. LOUISE PALMER. {
The Parting of the Ways.
Wilkins and Watkins were college
,hums and close friends. They had
been hard students and had taken little
outdoor exercise. When they shook
hands and said goodbye, at the end of
heir college career, they were 10 inn
paired health. Both had dyspepsia,
liver troubles and troublesome coughs.
Wilkins had plenty of money and
iecided to travel for his health. Wat. !
Iins was poor. II must go to work
or my living" said he, but I'll try
he remedy that DIR. Robinson talks so
much about-Dr. Pierce's Golden Med.
cal Discovery"