The Baltimore County union, the Towson news., 1909-12-25

fortunes, their deaths and her own
subsequent struggles. 1t was all over
with the instantaneous quickness of a
dream and Lucy's soul came back to
her body-the body of poor, dis
charged clerk in a second-class de-
partment store. She felt that herface
must haverevealed emotion, for Henry
Russell was observing her intently.
Have you ever been at Fairfield"
he asked.
Eyes, years ago, /" said honest Lucy,
although her pride made her determ
ined not to reveal her identity and
her fallen fortunes.
Used to live there, didn't you ?"
YES" very family.
Eyes, l know you did, and yourname
is Miss Taylor, isn't it ?'' said Henry
Russell, eagerly. THAT is, it was
Miss Taylor when you lived there ?
1t is still Miss Taylor, replied Lucy
with wan little smile
And yourparents, arethey living?"
mo, father died ten years ago and
mother only lived about a year after
that"
With quick discernment Henry
Russell knew the whole story, and he
forbore to ask further questions. His
parcel and change had come back,
there was no excuse for further delay
and other customers were waiting, so
he made room for a fat woman who
demanded some of that ten-cent in
sertion advertised today for seven and
a-half."
Two days later as Lucy stood at
her counterthe uniformed boy Topped
down another letter in front OF her.
1t was the only one she had ever re-
ceived at the store except her letter OF
dismissal. It bore the Fairfield post
mark, and as Lucy opened the en-
velope railroad ticket dropped out.
And wonderingly she read:
My dear Lucy:
Henry tells me he met you in the city
| and am so glad, for we had lost track OF
| YOU entirely. Your mother was one OF
my best friends when we were both young.
| Now l want you to get furlough and
| come and spend Christmas week with me
| and as much longer as you can. The
| house is big and Henry and will be very
| lonely all by ourselves. Take the 4.l5
| train Christmas Eve, and Henry will meet
| you at the station.
Yours affectionately,
EvALINA RUSSELL.
Lucy smiled ruefully when she
| thought of the furlough. but she re-
membered that the store would not
| close until 10 o'clock Christmas Eve
and she would still have to crave the
boon of permit to leave early. The
fat manager, perhaps salving his con-
science on account of the letter OF dis
missal, was oilily, effusively gracious
| and granted the request with a part
| ing wave of the hand and, Merry
Christmas.
And so it came about that Lucy
was whirled away to Fairfield. where
the moon shone brilliantly over clean
fields of snow edged by dark and
solemn woods, where handsome and
tender middle-aged man met her with
a pair of splendid horses and sleigh
filed with warm furs and whisked
her over crisp roads to the accom-
paniment of silvery chimes and land
ed her at a fine old-fashioned house,
where beautiful old lady gave her a
kindly welcome and delicious coun-
trv supper, and where mother, son and
guest sat afterward before a blazing
open fire talking of days OF old, and
where Lucy enjoyed blissful SLEEP
in a soft, billowy featherbed.
When the discharged shop girl con
fronted her mirror Christmas morning
she started with surprise at the pic
ture that looked back at her from be-
hind the polished surface. Ten years
seemed to have fallen from her in 6
night; country air, good food anc
human kindness were doing wonders
And there was singing angel in The
distance and now and then fain
echo of the song thrilled in unisor
with chord of Lucy's. own being, ant
her mouth showed smile as inde
scribable and faint as the echo of thu
song, but altogether sweet and klssa
BILE. And when she met Henry a
the breakfast table and felt his ap
proving look the song became so clea
that Henry heard it, too.
What a happy week that was
Sleigh rides with Henry, pleasan
chatswith his mother, revisiting child
hood scenes, abundant and whole
some food, pure air and dreamles
sleeps made Lucy feel SO young tina
she had to lift her hair at the temple
to see if the gray strands were stl
there. At the time she had pause
before the big mirror in the hall an
Henry came upon her unexpected
and filled her with confusion.
'Silverthreads among the gold?
he oueried smilingly. Well, neve
mind, you still have a big advantag
! over me, and / thought it a deal
sweet head when it all looked like
sunbeam and l think so still.
And before bewildered, blushin
Lucy could frame a reply he wa
standing close in front of her holdin
wide his arms.
Lucy, will you come ?"
!, On the day after New Years Henr
!, Russell called Lucy into the librar!
Mother and l own some propert
; ! in the city, he said, and it SO hal
pens that part of it is the Bon To
Store building. The lease will e1
3 pire next June and the firm has bee
t very anxious to renew it, as the
claim there is not another availabl
building in that section and they WI
have to go out of business if they al
/, forood tn vacafe. You have told m