The Democratic advocate., 1909-09-17
wilkins flushed deeply.

NithinS lhuNueu ueepiy.
Exactly week later Miss Louisa
painted up the stairs with the letter
for Miss Lila. aud Miss Luella fol
lowed after Miss Lila received IL
almost nonehalantly. but little shrek
escaped her as Il blue slip fell out.
TITS for sl5." she announced. at
was short one. you know" Then she
read the letter aloud In tone that
tried TO be businesslike.
''Your story. The Love of Life is
accepted with thanks"
As she finished reading &C. Burton,
treasurer" she suddenly turned pale.
gasped aud thrust the letter under her
pillow,
Eighty dollars in less than a
month";! Miss Lnella was saying.
why, Lila will be rich pretty soon"
But Miss Louisa had been watching
Miss Lila. and she threw up the win
dow and famed her vigorously.
"No wonder you're faint" she said.
ITS enough to take any ones breath
away" and she acquIeseed when Miss
Lila suggested that entire quiet would
be good for her.
II was only two hours before MIR.
wilkins came. but Miss LILA had
grown old and 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 happened2' he asked
anxiously
YES" she answered hopeIessIy. Il
got the letter.
"What letter." Mr.. wilkins asked.
For answer Miss Lila drew the
crumbled letter from under her pillow,
unfolded It and pointed to the top OF
the paper. Mr. wilkins looked at the
familiar words. Horace o. wilkins,
Grain and Feed"
"Oh, that greenhornF' be groaned.
Then he looked at Miss LILA.
well, what are you going TO do
about It now that you've found 1t
outT'
II don't know" Miss Lila said des.
perately. 1--WE haven't s85 In the
world. We used 1t ali for rent and
things
"oh, / don't mean thatr' exclaimed
Mr.. wilkins. "But don't be hard on
me. l couldn't help doing It, II made
You 80 happy. And you never would
have known It II Edward hadn't used
that paper-and I'd got plain paper all
ready for him"
'T'm glad he did," Miss LILA said
bitterly, because now can pay you
back some time. I'll have 10 get well
now"
A sudden light glowed In Mir. VIII
kins' faded eyes. "say, what do you
suppose / did IL forf" he asked almost
angrily. Course see now 1t was the
wrong way to go at a. But wanted
to give yos what you wanted, and J
contrived every way to do II. see
now that ought 10 have come right
out with II, 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 n girl
before" lie 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
moron all of Shakespeare and and
John G. saxe." he declared They
show you know all about love. and
you ought 90 understand"
Miss Lila interrupted him. "Do you
know that I'm thirty
Il know you're my girl don't care
about anything else" and Mr.. wilkins
put the arm OF possession around her.
When Miss Louisa aud Miss LueIla
appeared n little later Miss Lila clasp
ed MFR. wilkins hand for safety and
explained happily TO the transaxed
pair. We're going 10 take the whole
OF this floor for ours"
After the situation bad been fully
gresped and considered 10 all It's de-
lightful aspects Miss Luella asked re-,
spectfully, Are you going 20 keep on
writing, Lillaf"
Miss Lilla's face clouded. mo" she
stammered.
Then Mr.. wilkins came 10 the front
with new found sense Of humor.
NO" be said hIlariously, shes
been accepted with thanks"