Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-09-25

tlutIeI vi ~ NUiut ttu uHlF
later. accompanied by check for $35
and Miss Lila showed gain In poise
| II does not take long To become accus.
toned To success.
I'm getting only accepted with
thanks now" she said happily to Mr..
wilkins. and he realized that she
had got started. There was manu-
script all ready TO be mailed which
she consigned 10 MIR. Wilkins.
II wouldn't let any one else mail It
| for the world" she said. aud Mr..
wilkins blushcd deeply.
Exactly week later Miss Louisa
painted up the stairs with the letter
for Miss Lila. and Miss Lucia fol-
lowed after Miss Lila received I
almost nonchalantly. but little shrek
escaped her as n blue slip fell out.
Its for So" she announced. ut
was short one. you know" Then she
read the letter aloud In tone that
tried to be businesslike.
"Your story The Love o. Life Is
accepted with thnnks.'
As she finished reading &C. Burton.
| treasurer" she suddenly turned pale.
gasped and thrust the letter under her
pillow
Eighty dollars In less than a
month" Miss Luella was saying.
"Why. Lila will be rich pretty sooD."
But Miss Louisa had been watching
Miss Lila. and she threw up the win
dow and famed her vigorously.
mo wonder you're faint" she said.
Its enough to take any ones breath
away" and she acquiesced when Miss
Lila suggested that entire quiet would
be good for her.
IL was only two hours before MIR.
wilkins came. but Miss Lila had
grown old und haggard since she had
dismissed her sisters. Mr.. wilkins was
startled as he stood In the doorway In
response TO her faint call.
HAS anything happened?" he asked
anxiously.
Yes" she answered hopelessly. II
got the letter"
what letterY Mr.. wilkins asked.
For answer Miss Lila drew the
crumblcd letter from under her pillow.
unfolded II and pointed to the top OF
the paper. Mr.. wilkins looked at the
familiar words. Horace U. wilkins.
Grain and Feed"
"Oh. that greeuhorn.' he groaned.
Then he looked Mt Miss Lila.
well. what are you going to do
about 1t now that you've found 1t
OUT?
II don't know" Miss Lila said des-
perately. I'VE haven't $65 In the
world. We used 1t all for rent and
things"
"Oh, l don't mean that" exclaimed
Mr.. wilkins. But don't be hard on
me. l couldn't help doing it. 1t made
you so happy. And you never would
have known 1t II Edward hadn't used
that paper-and I'd got plain paper all
ready for him."
"Pm glad he did" Miss Lila said
bitterly, because now l can pay you
back some time. I'll have to get well
now"
A sudden light glowed In Mr.. Will
kins' faded eyes. Say, what do you
suppose l did 1t FORE" he asked almost
angrily. Course ] see now 1t was the
wrong way to go at 1t. But l wanted
to give you what you wanted, and J
contrived every way to do 1t. see
now that ought to have come right
out with It. same as any other man
would, but you're a teacher. and was
afraid you wouldn't look at me.
didn't know howl never had girl
before" He added the last word
boldly.
The color had returned to Miss Lii
las face. and tears rolled down her
cheeks.
And those stories are worth every
cent paid for them. ! prize them
more'n all Of Shakespeare and-and
John G. SAKE" he declared. "They
show you know ali about love, and
you ought to underestimate
Miss Lila interrupted him. do you
know that I'm thirty
II know you're my girl. / don't care
about anything else," and Mr.. wilkins
put the arm of possession around her.
When Miss Louisa and Miss Luella
appeared little later Miss Lila clasp
ed Mr.. wilkins hand for safety and
explained happily to the transfixed
pair. We're going to take the whole
OF this floor for ours" -
After the situation had been fully
grasped and considered In all its de-
lightful aspects Miss Luella asked re
specially. Are you going to keep on
writing. Lilla?"
Miss Lilla's face clouded. NO" she
stammered.
Then Mr.. wilkins came to the front
with a new found sense OF humor.
NO" he said hilariously, "shes
been accepted with thanks"