The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-02

her some little token to-day. and Mily
thought IL might spare them some en-
barrassment If there were no cards dis
played. All. we find out. some day.
that the spirit OF love Is everythingl"
With the swim Of music and the chat
ter around. she had not noticed Lucia's
silence The girl rad been furtively eye
ing an omen box at the end Of the table,
but now, lifting her clear eyes to Lucia
Mildreds grandmother followed their
gaze.
''rt-tt,-that IS too bad" said she.
stepping nearer. How could IT have
been broken? So many moving around
must have jostlcd II. someway. NOW
there. my dear. rs another point OF the
case. that bit OF Dresden must nave cost
q good deal, enough TO have bought sew
eral pretty souvenirs. and yet "a touch,
some little accident. and II is wasted.
How will the giver feel, / wonder, TO see
IL i'm this condition.
TO Lucia's relief. her companion here
saw something that Interested her across
the table, and went around 10 II, just as
Mildred came In. In high spirits, with
some friends. and began pointing out her
gifts 10 them, now and then smiling
brightly OVER at Lucia.
Another Of my granddaughters my
dear whispered the miniature empress
To Lucia, under cover Of the music, and
motioning towards slim. high-bred look
ing girl by Mildred-"and n charming,
+ intelligent creature-that is her brother
just back of her: he's
She stopped, the music becoming soft
and the voices distinct.
And just look at this. Artic." Mildred
was saying, regretfully zone OF my very
prettiest, from your firm, too; and all
shattered, coming by express" She took
up the box that Lucia had sent.
WHAT exclaimed the young man TO
whom she handed "This-broken-by
express (What was It that Lucia recog-
nized as famiiiar-tne voice the fgure2
As though in a dream she heard the
words fail, half-mufiled with the strains
OF Violins: something seemed to catch at
her heart: she held her breath). do you
mean to say'-he lowered his voice, but
Lucia heard; and then he laughed ire
sistibly. Excuse me. but this IS a joke:
who's been guying you. Midget? Why, II
came to us exactly as it
She heard no more; the table seemed
to reel before her. TO the time Of music;
for an instant she was conscious only Of
this same voice. saying once In her hear
ing: "Oh, she is quite welcome TO II. Mr..
Stevenson, if she thinks she can mend
it, She forced herself TO speak TO the
little lady beside her
Excuse me a moment. please; / am not
Well" And without raising her eyes. look
ing neither TO right nor left, she slipped
past the group in front OF her, ana out
OF the rooms.
>
reached in spite of a wild desire 10 ny
out init che night-anywhere that no one
could find her. she sunk down by Mildred
bed and buried her face upon II; all her
pretty nnery I'm "A sad little heap. The
clock on the mantel licked as usual hur-
rving none of the moments in which she
was left alone with her deceit. II seemed
a dreary while before the door opened
softly and she felt Mildred $ arms around
II have brought YOU an ice. Lucia dear,
I'm so sorry you are i'll, but this VIII
make you feel better
"Oh. Mildred" cried Lucia. raising
miserable. piteous ace. II can never feel
any better until ] tell you all about that
dreadful. dreadful tray ] can't thlnk
what led me TO do so wicked. so disgrace
full thing. but ! was so worried that ]
did II almost without thinking. ana
haven't had happy minute since.
And she TREMENDOUSLY related me Wnole
matter of her present and why she had
chosen a Dresden tray. She could never
have thought. for herself. OF half tho
comforting things that Mildred found 10
say. 49,. o.,
Forget it. Lucia, It is all between us
she said. kissing her. Arthur mas 10
idea whose gift II was. and mamma had
already promised me not 10 ineh'ion "iiV
sent anything-and-why Lucia. Two OF
nv best friends are the poorest girls
know. and do embroidery for living
AS Lucia was driven home 10 Aunt Mar
caret's an hour later the lesson that had
been so sorrowfully impressed on her SET
carriage-window out into the star-hEht,
the words OF Mildreds grandmother
came back to her: A.,
..'rhe spirit of love is everything, Ana
she remembered that somewhere, she had
read that Love is Truth.