Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1896-10-22
LIZA: A SKETCH,

>palc Sallow cheeks and a figure as
Ofragilc as the flowers she carried
in her basket.
II was her eyes and her hands which
marked her off from the common herd.
Had these been of regulation pattern.
there were nothing to distinguish her
from any dozen of her companions. But
her eyes, which were brown in color.
were large and lustrOuS and had Il pro-
voking habit of dropping the lashcS
when she looked at one. Whether cal
culatcd coquetry or native-born man.
ner were chiefly concerned would have
puzzled an expert to decide. That it
was ~"fetcling" few men would have
Ventnrrd TO deny. Her hand. small and
well-Shaped, boosted the taper fingers
ana hlbcrt nails generally associated
with birth and breeding.
She sold flowers in Cheapsidc. Her
station WAS the steps of the Peel statue:
and every morning. week in and week
ont. as the clocks of the city were
striking 10 she would deposit her has
ket NJ The foot of the column and pre-
pare for the business of the day.
From 10 to 6 she piled her wares dill.
gently. pushing the sale with all the
tact which Il life's experience had
taught her and all the wiles which a
wOman'S wit could suggest. But each
evening. when the weary city was fast
emptNing and the bell of the great cu-
thedral was still cchoing overhead, her
eye would sweep the long length of
crowded asphalt with searchin.:
Chances; and as she scanned the tenn
ing multitude pouring westward Il spot
of crimson would suddenly show in the
wan, white cheeks and the dark brown
orbS would flash and kindle with a curl
Gus mystic light.
Tie always contrived TO he in Cheap
side between & and half-paSt. 1t was
their custom to walk together down
Queen Victoria street to BlnckfriarS
bridge, Al this point they separated
she crossing IL the Surrey side. he tax
ing n turn through Fleet street and
the Strand before following in the same
direction. They had commenced th,
prhctIr" in mldwintcr. had continued II
throughout the spring, and now they
had reached midsummer.
From afnr She could distinguish his
barrow among the throng of vehicles
which lilled the t~horoughfarc. When
he had ''dOubled' the corner and gor
INTO the comparative slack water of
the churchyartl she crossed over ana
Joined him. \ nod that was almost
imprrrcptiblc. answered by n smil,
that was bright and sunny. was all the
recognition that passed between them
The girls glance wandered ~involuu-
tnrily 10 the barrow. 1t was the sol
son for cherries. and she noticed the
long array of empty baskets.
Been 'avin' II good day, Joe. amt
yrr:"
"Middlin' like"
IVY y'ain't on'y one molly left"
"p'rapS | been givin' 'cm away" The
tone was Enthusiastically surly.
For the next thirty yards they walk.
ed on in silence, the girl watching the
man furtively, the man pushing the
barrow %languidly and staring streuu-
ouSly at nothing.
"ha' yer thort on wot | tolc ycr?' he
said presently, as the girl stepped of
the pavement to avoid collision with a
parcel of boys. The light that had
llShtened them died out of her ewes The
color which had come into her cheeks
f"r~ook them, her mouth grew hard.
ana her face lost NJ oncc its youth and
animation.
The man continued tc stare into y,.
cancy and walk mechanically after his
barrow.
Il can't do ut, Joe. | can't do M. |
amt got no rest these two nlghts-hut
] can't do ut"
The words came with difficulty and
the voice palpitatcd with emotion.
The man shrugged his shoulders i'm.
patiently,
"Wot's the good NV i'm, ell? \ dod'rir
ole lunctic. Wot'S the Use NV i'm 70,
anybody? He ortcr been dead year,
ago"
Hes me father, Joe" she murmur
ed, reproachfully.
Father be bowed! He's dun a 10