Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-09-03

THAT NIGHT Tidy WAS ACTUALLY HAPPY.
ing wildly. But Lottie understood.
1--WE will have the decorated cake
and-the rest" she answered gently.
Then Lottie went over to where Jack
stood and laid her hand upon his arm.
"She shall have q royal welcome.
dear" she said. smiling, though her
eyes were fearful.
Through the rest Of the day every
thing connected with the Wilton house
was tending toward the royal well
come"
1t surprised the girls to find how
cheerless Tildy's room appeared when
they entered 1t. They had never
seemed TO see before that 1t was bare
of ornament. They carried In pretty
things from their own rooms and
laughed among themselves as they
made the plain apartment bright and
comfortable. II was Rose who thought
of the patchwork quilt that was made
Of thousand bits of gay silk and
cherished In the Wilton household as
q treasure Of peculiar value. Only on
state occasions as mark Of peculiar
honor was 1t brought forth. and when
Lottie and Rose together spread II
upon Tildy's bed each felt its pres
ence to be delicate attention that
could not fail to meet Its true inter-
probation.
Amanda's Offering was q cluster Of
spring flowers which wore so assured
~ the stamp Of her clumsy little fin-
gers that Lottie gave 1t post Of hon.
or, where II told its own story.
Tildys train stopped at the station
late in the evening. A light rain beat
against the windows. The scene was
dreary enough as she peered out un-
smilingly. but she gave start Of sur
prise at the glimpse afforded her Of
Dobbin's white figure standing out
clearly through the mist. She had not
expected Dobbin. She had hoped to
reach the house In some manner. but
to be assisted by horse SO old and
highly respected as he was. ut such
an inconvenient hour, was an unwont-
ed honor. And Jack. too-he must
have come to meet her. She limited
her amazement to the young man as
they were jogging along and expressed
reluctance at making him so much
trouble. But greater surprise await
ed Tidy Mt the old stone wall Lot.
tie and Rose and Amanda were there
to help her alight from the carriage.
She could hardly believe her senses
when the girls surrounded her and
flung their arms about her neck.
"Oh. Tildyw one or the other kept
repeating. "Oh. Tildyr'
The tired woman chung 10 them ST.
lently. her heart beating wildly with
bewilderment and strange Joy. Why
her young brother had drifted into
her life only to be swept away again
was mystery that Tidy could not
understand, but there was one sweet
certainty taat her mind laid hold Of
and kept always. 1t was suggested
first at the station by Dobbin's famil-
lar visage. with Jack beside him wait
ing In the damp. II seemed to shine
out from the lantern that swung be-
fore them like huge freely as Rose.
dancing merrily along. lighted the lit
tie group up the driveway to the
house. Lo.tie and Amanda. Nesting
so close on either side OF her. made
the same thought an undisputed truth.
This was not the return that she haf
fancied: this meant more than going
back to servitude. II was home
coming.
Nothing could matter now. she told
herself. trembling nervously. These
young orphans loved her inter NIL She
had loved them for years and years.
They belonged to one another. Thss
night when she foil asleep under the
silk patchvork Tidy was actually
happy.