The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1897-06-26

any trouble; just give me cup of
cold coffee"
'It won't take two minutes to make
it quite hot, "Leora said, as she van
ished with the coffee-pot, and soon
returned with it steaming hot again.
She poured him out cup, put
plate and fork upon the table, placed
the fresh biscuit and butter in reach,
and said: There, it is ready. Now
eat your breakfast and welcome"
THANK you," he said, sitting down
at the table, and putting cream and
sugar in his coffee like an epicure.
"Coffee for one," he continued with
another attempt at playfulness,
whose pitiful pathos was not lost
upon Leora and her mother. Then
his tongue grew timber, and he vol
unteered the information that he
was neither tramp nor peddler, but
he was hard up, and just thought
he'd go out and see if he could sell
something. He was an old soldier
but never had applied for his pen
sion until recently, and it wasn't yet
granted, but he thought it would be,
back pay and all.
At last he arose to go, saying:
"Its awfully kind in you, it isn't
every girl would think of making
coffee for an old fellow like me. I
don't mind telling you now that I
have had nothing to eat before, since
yesterday morning. Its done me
lots of good. Well, good morning,
and good luck to you" Then he
looked at her earnestly for mo-
ment, stepped off the porch with a
bow, and went on whistling again.
The poor fellow was really hungry,
Mrs. Lorne said, and continued re-
fectively: "After all we're not the
worst-off of anybody. We have
never been hungry yet" No, they
had never been hungry. They had
often been pinched and scrimped, it
is true, and obliged to turn and re-
turn their dresses, and brush and re-
trim hats, but the daily bread had
never failed.
But several years, nearly five,
passed away and they were yearly
growing poorer, and the mortgage on
the farm heavier, and the land pro-
duce harder and harder to sell for
profit. At last came day when the
discouraged brothers said, cit has
come at last. Simmons will foreclose
in the spring, and then we shall have
no home" And so all those dreary
winter days Leora worked and waited,
wondering often if Harold Worth had
forgotten her, and married some one
else, or would he yet come to claim
her when her day of waiting was over.
And after all it seemed that she had
gained but little by sending him off
in the old days, with the idea of sac
rificing herself to home and family.
The Lornes were losing instead
of gaining, and Harold must still be
very poor, or else he had forgot
ten her. The former probably, for
no women likes to think herself for
gotten.
The winter drew near to spring,
March came in clustering and blow
ing. "March has come in like lion,
and will go out like lamb" Mrs.
Lorne said, repeating the homely old
adage as though she believed it. And
that day came letter from Harold
Worth. He had never made his for
tune; he never expected to now. He
had taken care of the family until,
they were all able to take care of
themselves. Mamie and Katie were
married, and Willie had a place in
railroad depot. They might never
be rich, but he was sure he could
take care of her, if she would let him
come.
And Leora upon this mad March
day sat bordering upon the letter
and wondering what she should write
to Harold when loud rap upon the
door announced visitor. She
opened the door herself to see man
standing upon the steps and shaking
the snow from his garments.
"Does Miss Leora Lorne live herep
he asked as he saluted Miss Lorne,
who replied.
"She does"
II would like to speak with her if
you please"
~ am Miss Lorne. Come in.
The stranger came in, took the
offered chair, and after a moment,
during which he stretched his hands
out toward the fire, he said; "Did
you ever make coffee for one, Miss
Lorne7" Coffee for one" she re-
peated, as if doubling his sanity, and
wondering if he had escaped from
some lunatic asylum. eyes. that is