The Washington herald., 1908-01-05
Nv EAIIEIE LOVETT-

All his life long DICK Hadley had
looked forward 10 tie time when. ali
alone and unmolested. in luxurious ease,
with calm Oblivion TO the world at large.
he could sit with undlsturbed sausfac-
tion and davour an entire lemon pie
And how, at the age of twenty-four,
athleticaIly broad shouldered and tail,
with face capable Of inspiring both
trust and respect; a face which men ad-
mired and women loved, he had boarded
the fast train at Washington. with its
few stops between there and his destina-
ton. Laurel Nd, with the long-wished-
for and much-thought-of treasure in
his hand.
Ever and always before had some
thing happened TO prevent the realization
Of the admirable anticipation. Sunny
faced reminIscence. with faint fragrance
of blossoms. stole over him as back in
the past he saw again the Old porch OF
the southern Maryland home and the
group Of little sisters and brothers
around him clamoriug for pieces Of the
pie which his mother had made for him.
And after each little ravenous mouth
had been filed, what remained OF the
lemon pie? Only the satisfying remem-
brance Of a generous heart
Fleet-f0oted recollection bounded swift
" before him, portraying the long
forgotten day when in an enviabie frame
Of mind he had seated himself on bench
in one Of the apparently deserted squares
Of the city, when a pale and unkempt
newsbOy, in passing paused. eyeing him
In hungry surprise. And that which re-
mained Of the lemon pie was the mark
IN the book of the recording angel of
the spirit with which the donor had
given to another in greater need than he.
There had been many other and SIM
liar interruptions, but the time which
stood out, beyond and above all others
in shadowy-eyed memory. was the morn
ing, several years previous, when in pass
ing through a Southern town in winter
he had purchased the last and only pie
in the one and only confectionery store
of the place and when he was about 10
depart. there had entered slowly, indeed,
almost feebly. d girl whose pale thin
face showed promise Of blossoming into
rare Iovelness with good health and
proper environment.
Attired in a long dark skirt, evidently
the property of some one else ere it fell
to her lot, and with a shawl OF green
and blue plaid thrown over her fluffy
hair. she had crossed to the counter, ad-
dressing a few words TO the clerk in a
low tone.
a gentleman just bought the last one, -
the clerk had replied. and Hadley. per-
ceiving the blank expression of speech
less disappointment, had silently handed
to her his treasure, receiving in return a
silver 10-cent piece.
Frequently since then, as commercial
traveller, he had passed through the same
little town in the South, always looking
and watching for the girl whom he in
tuitively knew to be now the one woman
in the world for him.
Fate had always been most unkind. and
now all of that dream must perforce fall
in line with the procession OF other i'm
possibilities and fade away among the
soft white clouds in the forget-me-blue
of the sky. for Cousin Sophia, on dying
had just left to Hadley, in her Will the
entire bulk Of her riches, on condition
and money meant much to young Rich
ard and his widowed mother and the
younger members of the family to be
educated for both the social and bust
ness duties of life-that he marry Miss
Angela Cathaway, OF Maine, a wealthy