The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1908-02-29


peaceful In the sunlight. A long time
abe stood there entranced. Lyonette
never forgot her expression. The
weight Of years. sorrow and soul
struggle seemed lifted. She grew
young before them and Lyonette
turned away her face when she saw
an unconscious tear form and roll
slowly down.
With y long. auivering sigh she
took OF the spectacles. wiping them
and passed them back.
Thank ye, sir thank ye kindly"
Her voice was more softly keyed than
was its wont. ut rolled away the
years. I saw the old home ~ 1t looked
when Jabex brought me here. I'm
nearly blind. Amt 1t Gurus l didn't
know 1t before? 1t was nice-I thank
ye for the look. But won't take NO
more O. your time. ! can't buy-so
there's an end O. it,"
"Only five dollars! Surely you can.
grandma! Five dollars for the best
glasses in the country"
She shook her head. II can't!" re-
gretfully. I'm 10 old 1t don't matter.
One is almost done seein, At 80.
G'long, sir-I can't buy"
The optician buttoned his case. still
looking at her. Had he looked at Ly-
onette he would have found study
there.
Profound sympathy had stirred her
at first And then thought sprang
to life. full-grown. The money earned
by six weeks patient work lay snugly
tucked In the toe of an old stocking.
Four-fifty-she had not spent cent.
Something told her the spectacle man
would take that and let Patsy have
the glasses. As II in answer to the
thought he spoke, adjusting the strap.
I'm coming back in about two
weeks. have certain route. over
which go. l am responsible. II my
patrons are dissatisfied I'm to be
found. You need those glasses badly,
grandma, for health's sake-you have
headaches, don't you? thought SO.
And for the sake of your business and
your pleasure, I'd like to make terms
with you"
Still Patsy shook her head and still
the plying voice pleaded in the soul
of Lyonette. but she's selfish and
cross! She cares for no one but her.
self" urged other voices. "She would
not spend a cent on me to save my
life. And I've put up with SO much to
earn the money! 1t will buy me the
pretty shoes-shoes like other girls
wear-and a pink lawn. light and
bright as a cloud. And ribbons-oh.
l can't"
The man tipped his hat and walked
away. And Lyonette stood staring
blankly at the strip Of sunshine where
he had stood.
Its time to put on dinner!" snap
pish voice broke her trance. "All you
do is to stand and gawk. Why don't
you git to work? like to see young
folks move. do. It's all along of
your raisin'. though-how could any
one expect we to amount to anything?
Why, your names enough. Lyonette!"
Her contempt escaped in snort. Il
wanted 'em to call We for me, you
bein' the on'y girl In the family. But
1t must be Lyonette. Well, Lyonette,
peel the taters."
Lyonette peeled the taters. She did
1t very silently. In her heart self tri-
umphed. She was glad-yes. glad she
had kept her precious money. 1t made
her tremble thinking of that moments
weakness. Why should she waste any
thing ON the cross old thing who knew
nothing but to scold and nag? What
had she done to merit this TRADE?
What II they had called her Patsy"
to please her?
She was something more than ILL.,
humored the rest Of the day-she was
simply ferocious. Her face kept the
peculiar pallor that brooding, sullen
anger gives. Once or twice the
thought fitted through the mind Of
Lyonette that that moments clutch
on the joy Of renewed vision had
plunged her into deeper darkness. She
put the thought from her quickly.
Patsy was a vixen-what mattered the
immediate cause of the outbreak?
The next Saturday the old lady
arose, determination In her eye.
I'm goin' visitin'. Lyonette." she
announced. II shall be gone day or
two. You are to stay here and look
after things. You've got to mind the
little chickens"
But, aunt" Lyonette expostulated
in dismay, I'm afraid to stay here at
night alone!"
i've stayed alone. day and night,
for many year." grimiy. The owls
and whippoorwills won't hurt We. You
must mind the chickens and not let
'em stray too far for varments to
ketch 'em. You may scour the tins to-
day"
The girl said no more. What Patsy
willed must be done. But all at once
she felt the money for her coveted
outfit was being dearly earned. More
and more 1t seemed SO during the
v.yhiph fr11