Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1899-06-15

Esmayne, tossing her head. Gust as
you please, Lucy Lee, but it's the last
lace-mending you'n ever get from me.
Give me the lace, please. 1 can't stand
here chattering all day.
And she flung a ragged one-dollar
bill upon the table as her own servant
might have flung bone to a starving
dog.
AS Lucy Lee stood with her back to
her employer, taking the finished work
out of drawer, a sudden sparkle
came into the heiress' shallow gray
eyes. Leaning forward, with scarce
ly perceptible movement she suddenly
snapped the regal flower from it's stem
and slipped it into her muff
Here is the lace, Miss Esmayne,"
said Lucy. Il took great deal Of
pains with it and hope you will be
| suited.''
Miss Esmayne muttered some scarce
ly audible reply and swept out of the
room. And Lucy, all unconscious of
her loss, sat down to ragged piece Of
| Mechlin lace which some milliner had
bought at an auction sale for a merely
|
its weight in bank bills when it was
mended, washed in weak coffee and
scientifically Numbered.
Helena Esmayne drew the flower out
| from it's hiding place and surveyed it
with pride as she went down the
stairs.
Il was determined to have it-and
| I've got it," said she to herself. ''The
airs and graces these poor people take
upon themselves, to be sure! Oh, DR..
Edelin,, is it you? Who would have
thought of meeting you in such an out
of-the-way place as this?'
Miss Esmayne blushed, half with
embarrassment, half with genuine
pleasure, as the handsome young doc
tor with the Greek features and large,
dark eyes confronted her on the narrow
stairway.
Il need not ask what brings you
here he said. Doubtless a mission
of charity. But your carriage waits;
[ will not detain you. | will see you
at Miss Buckingham's tonight"
So they exchanged adieux and
parted.
Lucy Lee looked up with an appre-
hensive air as the doctor entered.
'Is it about little Benny, sir?" she
cried. "Is he worse?"
"My poor child" the doctor an
swered, pityingly, "you know he could
not get better. [ would advise you to
go to him at o1ce."
''He is dying?" she gasped.
SsNnf n11ifn hot OF homo. hJ1f in
any event, he cannot be long with
| you"
Lucy had risen and was tying on her
bonnet with trembling fingers.
'Poor Benny" she murmured. "And
tomorrow was his birthday"
Mechanically she turned to the
| japonica- bush in the window.
Gomez she cried, with gasp.
my beautiful flower is gone-the
flower raised and tended for Benny!
GOne-and that woman has stolen it!'
''Was it a white japonica?' asked
DR.. Edelin,, unconsciously sympathiz-
ing with her agony of distress. II met
Miss Esmayne on the stairs just now
carrying one. Did you not give it to
| her?'
"She wanted to buy it Of me-" falter-
ed Lucy, ''but 1 told her 1 was keep
ing it for the door, dying child. She
was angry with me, and when my
back was turned she must have mean
ly stolen it, Oh! how could she?-how
could she? She had money enough to
buy a roomful of flowers, if she wish
ed had only this one"
Lucy" said the doctor, gently;
''never mind the flower. It has gone
now. Remember Benny"
''True, SIR said the poor lace-mend-
err, with tears in her eyes. Il must
hasten to Benny. 1t is long walk
and he may be calling for me-"
my carriage is at the door," said
DR.. Edelin,. Il will take you there
before l go ON to my other patients.
Don't sob and cry SO pitifully, Lucy;
it was a mean and cruel thing for that
rich girl to do, but she will reap her
reward in Heavens good time. Do
not fear
rs it Aunt Lucy? Has she brought
the pretty white flowers she promised
me?"
Lucy Lees lips quivered as the dim
eyes of the dying child turned toward
her.
mo. Benny, have not brought it,
but
'It has not opened yet? Never
mind, aunty; am going where there
are many, many flowers. Only would
have liked to see that one. l dreamed
of it last night. Mother, kiss me, and
you, too, Aunt Lucy, for I think I'm
going to sleep"
And $50 He gave His beloved Sleep"
Miss Esmayne wore the white japon-
lea in her hair at Miss Buckingham's
ball, but Dr. Edelin, was not there to
mark it's effects. He was at the bed
side of Lucy Lee, who had broken
down at last.
'Tts very strange" soliloquized DR..