Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-12-24

OF our $50 that We brought with US
when We came 60 town there was
scarcely n dollar left.
when I got home that night there
was a letter FOR me, but before opened
It knew who u was from. Yc.. II
was from the one feared. yet hoped
on In Milivillc lived siias Watson.
slias was the most prosperous far
mcr In Miilvilic. and--i might as well
confess livery fond of me. sllas aud
had played togcther since We were
children. Ills letter was such sweet
one. l wonder how ! ran write Il hero.
Silas wrote that he was going 10
leave Mlliviiic Christmas eve. and
Christmas morning be- would be with
ua In the city. and would take Christ
mas dinner with Us. iic know that we
must he lonesome In town. and.
though | was probably working hard
as | seemed hoadstronE enough 20 per-
slst IN earning my own iiviug-i would
have n holiday and he would come
down to spend Il with ua. lie was ro-
ms to stay and take dinner with us
and We would have a guest whether
we wanted one or not
Omitting certain paragraphs, which
brought tho color 60 my checks. read
the letter aloud 60 mother
when I had finished one thought
flashed across US both. We looked tho
thought at each other. Mother voiced
II FIRST.
what shall We do for dlnnor7'
There's only one thing" I said
slowly rising. "and I see 1 have got 10
do H."
what II thntT' said mother.
l did not reply. but going to the
leather chest In which We had brought
down the best Of our Naluahlea from
Miilviile. l opened u and began to
pull out iia contents. AZ the very bot
tom lay an exquisite piece of lace. H..
too. had dcscendod from Trandmoth-
cr'a day. In fact. mother wore II at
her bridal. and 20 ala my grandmother.
II am Roing out for a few minutes. q"
said I TO moth'r and don't worry. l
will soon be back"
I folded the lace carefully In itH
tissue and rcfolded u In brown paper.
Then I folded Il In another packet un-
~ I had a square bundle. inside "
which was my precious lace.
a month Of tramping In the city
had taught mo many things. and had
noticed across the street. down the
block little way. brilliant sign with
three gold balls dangling above ~, and
n bright HIGHT shining from the door.
Every evening. when I went home. |
noticed women going back and forth
nom the place with bundles In their
arms. and uac night. thinking they
had been gilng there Tor work. l quca-
toned one OF them.
She laughed bitterly whom asked
her u there waA employment to be
found there. ana whispered something
In my ear which made the sign ~ the
three sold balls wear different as
pcct to me. IenH attractive surely.
they seemed. and far ivns brilliant. but
more torrihlcl
They were In my mind now.
And, full OF excitement. out into
the street / went. forgetting hat and
coat. II was only step down the
block. for the street wnH a modest one.
ana acrora went to the pawn brokers
door
IA I stepped inside was amazed
TO pee standing there "a long line Of pco-
pie. mon ana women; some were hat.
less. some shabby. all wore "A hard.
dependent look.
The pawn broker behind the coun-
ter was tearing open the parcels aud
putting the pricoa ON them. la a cold,
calm way that chilled me.
Az I stepped up To him with my
bundle he snatchcd u from my hands,
and I trcmblcd when 1 saw his dirty
fingers pulling the paper ruthlcasly
from around my lace ana handling II ~
roughly.
Lace" he rnld. contcmptuou.iy.
"whata that TO me; full OF holes,
warrant. You know you never viii
come back for II. viii give you q
for H."
by this time he had pulled II out
ana was drawing u through his hands.
Two dollars" 1 gnspcd. ''why. I was
told that II was worth so. at least"
TWO dollars" he said. bruHquciy
turning away. Two dollars. or moth
Ing"
started TO say, Il win take it,