Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1909-11-23

made him whistle as he went down
two flights three steps ai a time. Wben
he returned he carried her down e.
the rarriagp with umSterfulness thss
asked no permission. ana she did me-
drmur when be took The seat beside
her
IL was not hard to ind Der sky paF
lor." as franc called il mentally. "a
the Rue DIES Occurs Claires lie csllrt
there the next evening. and she NEE
him a; the mead OF the dusty landing
With shy dignity aud led The way
INTO her attic apartment AZ II it haG
been Louis Qunzp reception room sn
pink and gold. a young girl. younG~
even than herself. sat in an easy rhaH
by the window and smiled up at him.
This is Lucille. my sister Virginia
said simply Cranes quick eyes uO-
ticed the slim pair OF rrutches ieani0s
beside the chair lie knew why she
had posed at BihIut's and NivOBS
why she had not hidden her poverty
and starved in silent pride.
The next time he came he brought
flowers for Lucille. and a nev:gratefui
fripndliness flashed ID the others biuE
eyes.
1t became a regular thing. that walk
home from YivOn's to the Rue des
Soeurs Claires. She showed him SOnlE
Of her sketches. and Crane promptly
took bunch under his arm and hawk
ed them around the art stores With a
devout persistpncy his own had nev'r
known. Before a month had passed
she had picked up odd work cOlUriHS
pen and ink proofs for one of the
weeklles. and at last there came a day
when she left NivOn's FOR good. amt
the future was full of hope.
And we shall see. la-la Ia; we shan
see now." laughed Yvette. He is to
earnest le grOs Crane The wedding
bells will go ding-a-ing, and the little
white faced Virginia will have rOseS
| in her cheeks"
It's all your doing" Virginia tod
/ him that night when they parted az
her door ~ was worn out and heara-
sick that day when tainted, and sou
cheered me. and-and"-- She falteE-
ed and held out her hand to hiw.
There was a FIVE franc piece in w.
/ please take ii back" she said. "Vs
Won told me. and 1 think it was just
/ splendid Of you"
Crane flushed hotly. but he took il,
He knew her pride and that to heS L.
was u debt of honor.
J "And after today. what?" be asked
II shall miss the walk home, and yea
will forget NivOn's and me-"
She bent Der head low over the
bunch of pink roses he had given her
/ for Lucille. and something in hes st
4 lence gave him courage.
Virginia. if you would only give Ole
the right 20 sweep you and Lucille
away from this, the sky par!or and tbs
struggle that never ends. I'm strong
and have gained footing. and sou
could study then he rambIed on
with boyish helplessuess. 81 ve loved
you ever since that day at NiyOOs
when your head lay on my shoulder.
and I wanted to lift you mp ana carry
you away from it ll-laurier aud
Yvette and old Nivon and an Of them
You seemed so different and little anG
alone"
She was silent stin. and he waited
Out over the city some bells were ring
ing slow. sweet Chimes. and the spar
rows were 6uttering sleepily around
the caves of the sky parloF over their
heads.
one Of the roses fell at her feet, aDG
he raised it tendePly.
DO you think ! had better goT' Tbs
dark blue eyes looked up at him al
last and he bent toward her eagerly
virginia. sweetheart"
She hello the roses close to he's Hgs
and smiled at him over them.
Wont you come up and tell LII
cileY' she said softly. and be followed
her up the long. dusty stairs to the
sky parlOr.