The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-08-10
A HANDFUL OF VIDLETS.
By Annah N. True.
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There was no system of weights or
measures that could determine
Workings contempt for David Rid
ley. David had worked for the Penni-
man company for fifteen years and
had never risen beyond the task of
| emptying waste-baskets To be sure
there was an art in the way David
emptied them, but to Worthing, who
possessed the ability to amass a for
tune in decade, nothing was ap-
parent but the whole miserable fail
ure.
Worthing had been in control OF
the company but few weeks when
every clerk in the office was OF the
opinion that he couldn't be suited,
and had given up trying. That is,
all but David. He worked harder
than ever, looking wistfully forward
to the time when he would get the
coveted raise" should the boss"
notice his faithfulness. Had he
known that Worthing had already de-
was only waiting for e cbanca to pre-
sent itself before he discharged him
his heart would have been like lead.
Worthing had one strange hobby
which caused considerable comment
among the Office force. They laughed
about it more or less, but that wps be-
cause they did not know that once.
long ago, Worthing had loved a girl
and meant to make her his wife, but
before he could call her his own death
interviewed. 1t was because she loved
everything that bloomed that WORTH
Ing had sent him every morning from
the florists the choicest of the sea-
sons blossoms, in memory of her.
One evening Worthing was late in
leaving the office. David, whose duty
1t was to see that everything was Sc
cure for the night, came into the Of
flee for a final survey. He did not
see his chief in the corner, but Worth
ing saw him and marked him well.
He was about to speak and tell him
that he need not come in the morn
Ing, but hesitated moment. In that
moment he saw David's hand go to
the cut-glass vase on the desk and
come away with handful of vio-
lets.
Worthing said nothing after all.
He let David lock up and then fol-
lowed him quietly down the street.
He liked method in everything and
reason, and he was glad of the fact
that he had discovered his janitor in
the act of taking the flowers IIe
would go to his house and dismiss
him there. An employe of Penni-
mans must be above purloining even
pin.
David walked long way across
town to a section where the houses
were small and shabby. Into the very
shabbiest of them all he disappeared.
Worthing stepped up to the window
and looked in. He wanted to make
his entrance when it would be most
effective.
The room he saw was scantily fur
nished and unoccupied, he thought,
until he heard voice cry, "David!"
A girl with plain, white face started
out of the shadow, but she did not ad-
vance to meet the man who held out
his hands to her, and now Worthing
say why-she was blind.
The man who only knew enough to
empty waste-baskets for Penniman
hnI hAr aIA d. l.
for minute, and then she spoke.
HAS 1t been hard day? You are
very late. What kept your"
"Mr. Worthing was late in leaving
and / had to lock up. No, It hasn't
been hard day. Never had an
easier"
Worthing felt a guilty feeling at
his heart. He had annoyed David
continually and purposely all day
long. But before he could still the
consciousness of his littleness, David
went on:
Guess what the boss has sent you
tonight"
HAS he sent me something again
tonight" cried the blind girl. "How
lovely of him! With all his care to
think Of me! What is it--roses, or
lilies. or--oh. David, smell them.
He has sent me violets."
Worthing saw the flowers trans
ferred to the fragile hand held out
Tor them. and ray Of light struck
the girls face as she held them to
her lips. What was there in the
box that reminded him of that dear.
dead gin for whom the flowers we're