The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1904-12-30

pinching to make the paltry nicksla
pay for the coarse food, poor lodging
and the rags they wore. Sometimes
she had gotten some little sewing to
do. and then they were opulent for q
few days. but these times were few
and far between. for opportunities to
secure such work were scarce and
even then they taxed the girls strength
sorely. And she grew daily paler and
weaker and more ,listless and q great
fear possessed the boy.
Then came the relics Of the good
saint and the marvellous tales of tho
eficacy of touching them. To the boy
came great inspiration; Grace should
touch these relics and be well, and
then all life would be q toy-not that
he would have to work less, but the
haunting fear would be over and may
be some prince good enough for her
would see her and marry her, and then
perhaps the prince would set him up
in business on a corner with real
would be everlastingly made. And so
they had scrimped and saved more
than ever. to provide proper Offering
to the good saint. And Archie had
walked the ten miles out, while Grace
rode, because it cost ten cents.
The story, told with boyish ardor
not wholly subdued by the violent ef
forts Of the girl. Bentley found it nec-
essary to flick cinder or two from
his eyes with his handkerchief, and he
found also that his voice was husky
In fact, he had not been so stirred by
the greatest plays by the finest actors
for many years.
And you are going to walk back to
town this afternoon?" he asked the
boy.
"Oh, yes, sir" replied Archie; "but
l don't mind. I will whistle all the
way because Grace is going to be
WE'LL"
Bentley smiled, mare human and
ingenious smile tina, had visited his
face for years."
"Now. look here" he raid. II don't
want to butt in, but all out here all
alone and my carriage is bwilt for four.
Suppose we all 60 in together, and I'll
feel that I've some part in tkt pleasure
of the miracle"
"Bully!" shouted the boy. Dut Bent
ley was quick to see the fish on the
girls face.
Really" he FASTENED 20 add, II
would esteem it a great favor. The
seosJ has interested poor, forlorn old
bachelor, who hasn't been interested
for years-and he wants to pay for the
emotion"
And SO they rode in together and
Archie couldn't rest until he was per-
m1tted to ride with the driver and then
most glorious of all-was given. the
reins for whole mile, while the driver
looked on with apprehension and dis
approval.
On the ride Bentley learned some Of
the details of the girls misfortune,
and thought long and deeply on the
matter over his cigar at the club that
night.
why not?" he demanded vehement
ly, bringing his fist down on the table
with bang that Brought three
walters to him on the run. 1T will
be new sensation and Heaven knows
have done little enough for my
Kind"
And so it happened on tho following
day that a great surgeon climbed the
stsfrs to the attic occupied by the two
orphans and told the girl that he had
heard accidentally Of her case and he
understood that it was a very excep-
uonal case and begged for the oppor-
tunity to make an examination. And
after the examination he told her it
was an exceptional case and that an
operation might prove effective aud
there was fund provided in the great
hospital, with which he was connected,
for experiments with unusual cases.
and if she would consent it would all
cost her nothing and the chances were
she would be well woman after it
was over.
She could not decide until Archie
came home, because what would be-
come of him during all these weeks,
but when Archie burst in with the
news that newspaper had given him
! stand and one of the best corners in
the town-why, he could not dream
he brushed her objections aside and
shouted:
"1t's the miracle. It's tho relics.
Hurrah!"
Bentley" said DR.. Paquin that night
at the club. II wouldn't climb those
stairs and smell all those smells again
for twice the fee."
MAKE it double If you cure the girl"
replied Bentley, contentedly.
When Grace began to convalesce,
after successful operation, Bentley
dropped in at the hospital one day with
the surgeon.
'Hullo, you here ?" he exclaimed, in
apparent surprise, as he saw her. II
thought the relics were going to cure
you"
"And so they are" she replied, seri-