The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1910-04-21
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3 CeleSte's Chance. 9
BY TEMPLE %
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BY TEMPLE BAILEY.
1t was the lambchops that began it

1t was the lambchops that began it.
Mother simply must have them"
Ccleste had said, with her crooked
little smile. that was half pathos.
She counted the money in the small
pocketoook and looked thoughtful.
1T means that you and l will have
soup again. 'Titia." she decided 'Ill
get bo"e with lot of meat on il.
and choice collection of vegetables,
aud if it is cold day it will be all
right. won't ito''
Letitia tried to respond with en-
thusiasm. but failed. "Wc have soup
so often," she murnlured.
Just then from the next room came
tired voice:
Girls, If you are planning my din
ncr, l don't want anything bur toast
ard tea
20 dear, she heard," and Celeste
slid down FROM the couch and limped
to the door.
Mother. 6eary.' she sad. Eve
shall be rich tomorrow, when Letitia
gets paid for her music lessons
The little white lady, propped uD
among her pillows, smiled at the
slender maiden with the crown of
red-gold puffs. Yes, and then you
will buy birds for me. But | shan't
let's you
Celeste smiled her crooked smile.
You are like bird yourself" she
eVaded. IF l were Mufles, l should
eat you," and she smoothed the great
yellow cat, which lay like a spot Of
gold on the white cover.
All, Muffies" - the little white
lady touched the soft head witt ner
thin fingers-''he is fat and lazy-but
he loves me"
Everybody loves you." said Ce-
leste, and it's too bad that you have
to be so much alone. But / IN so
slow about things
Eyes. my dcary," said her mother,
pitifully, for Celeste's crooked smile
was not the only crooked thing about
her There was the turned foot that
made the little limp.
Il wish l could Go something be-
sides Eousework, >" Celeste confided, as
sne and her sister ate Il frugal lun-
cbeon OF bread and jelly on the kitch-
en- table. IF only l had some of
your brilliancy, 'Titia, dear"
You have a dozen talents in one"
Letitia held her bread delicately in
the tips Of her long white fingers.
She was tdll and her hair was golden.
Even in her shabby suit CT gray she
was exceedingly good to look at. and
Celeste adored her. You have
dozen talents she repeated, ''if only
you had chance 10 develop them"
If she only had a chance. Celeste
thought about it as she made her
limping way through the frosty
streets TO the provision shop.
There did noC seem to be much
chance for n girl with a limp and a
crooked smile. If her father had
lived she might have learned to paint;
that was the dream of her life-to
paint as we'll as Letitia played. But
there had been a friend OF her moth
er's to teach I4etitia, and no one had
offered such an opportunity to Ce-
]este.
She sighed rs she neareG the little
shop with the shabby sign, which
read:
C. Smith.
Staple and Fancy Groceries and Meats.
Vegetables, Fish and Oysters in Season.
c. Smith was a chubby little man.
who did not seem to get along very
we'll in the world. People were apt
to pass the shop with the shabby sign
for the more pretentious stores up
the street. But Celeste liked him be-
cause OF his CHEEKY smile, and be-
cause his meats were very fresh and
very good
But he doesn't know how to dis
play his wares" she thought, as she
glanced toward the little window,
where everything was higgledy-pig-
gledy. Her artists soul revolted at
the fiy-specked cracker boxes, the left
over vegetables, the tipsy signs.
The lamb chops, however, were
kept in a white tiled refrigerator, and
the meat block and knives and c..
Smiths own apron were as clean as
possible.
II want another soup bone" Ce-
lcste stated, and smiled her crooked
smile. "gt probably seems to you
that We are living on SOUP"
C.. Smith smiled back. "I know Il
Is going TO be good SOUP" he re-
marked. THE very sound of the
va0at n MA ae yan any tha,,, ovo. A..