Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1912-11-26

derful shade or yellow ana whose
gown was Of shade the old ladies
termed magenta exclaimed petu-
lantly to her companion, Il shall DO
verr uncomfortable without my hand
kerchief. Is 1t not provoking to have
lost it?"
Forgetful of self in her anxiety to
relieve the grand lady's discomfort,
Mindy. with an alertness born OF ex-
element, jumped from her seat and
held out her embroidered handker-
chief to the lady. with a polite, Il
would thank you II you would let me
give you mine"
Il thank you" she said gently, but
will you not need 1t yourself?'
ooh. no." Mindy pleaded. please
do take it, for after today / shall
never need it again"
Then a sweet, wonderful thing hap
pened. The woman impulsively put
her arms around the weakened form
and implanted a kiss upon the wrin-
killed. cheek.
But Mrs. Vandemere was not going
to let her benefactress escape so
easily, and as she followed the quaint
little figure.
Now we must get acquainted" she
said cordially, "and you must intro
duce me to your friend.
Nov my dear friends" the lady
cried gayly, II have set my heart
upon your company for this after
noon, you are too kind to disappoint
me, / know" and tucking the old frail
arms within her plump ones, they en-
tered the theater and were ushered to
box, where we're seated a smartly-
dressed gentleman and a sadfaced
lady, whom Mrs. Vandemere intro
duced as her husband and mother.
After removing their bonnets and
smoothing out the ties with their Gus
tomary care and precision the two sis
! ters sat with hands primly folded,
waiting for-they knew not what.
AS they looked upon the stage with
it's gorgeous settings and superb
scenery, Mindy, blissfully unconscious
of her surroundings, caused ripple OF
amusement to spread through the
house by murmuring ecstatically: oh,
Jane, 1t seems just like heaven, doesn't
it?"
Never did players on the stage por-
tray the comedy or tragedy Of the lives
of those whom they impersonate so
truly as did the faces of these two sim
pie country folk portray the pathos of
their lonely existence. To the other
occupants Of the box the DRAMA at
their side became more interesting
than that on the stage.
During an intermission they were
adroitly led to talk of themselves, and
finally Jane poured into interested
ears the story of their setting out, u
going back to the cold night of last
winter, when they saw a CHASTITY face
peering in at them through the win.
dow.
I'VE didn't have the heart to leave
the poor unhappy creature out in the
cold" Mindy chimed in as Jane
stopped to take breath, so 1 openet
surprised like at me, as if to run away
2 so I went out and, taking him by hi
ragged sleeve, led him in"
: Yes, sister led him in" continued
Jane, land settled him comfortably
upon the lounge before the fire. One
look into the young dissipated fac'
!, told us that he needed our love as wei
} as our care. set about making som'
; ginger tea and Cruel, while Mindy
: who loves to coddle folks, talked t
him comforting like, and smoothet
back his hair from his temples.
He was very i'll and Mindy stol,
down many times during the night t,
battle his hot face and try to ease hi
hacking cough. We kept him with u
only a month. He got better, and a
times seemed cheerful and light-heart
: ed and tried so hard to amuse us b,
( telling about big cities and great mel
, and lovely women and concerts ant
theaters.
HE did not once mention his folks
and we asked him no questions, ant
when the hemorrhage took him so sud
den he placed his ring in my hands,
and taking off a welldarned glow
Jane displayed a magnificent solitaire
in unique setting, upon the inside o
> which was inscribed date.
cit is all | have to give you,' h
said. My mother and sister gave m
|, this ring on my twenty-frst birthday
They were so proud of me, but
5 proved myself unworthy of their love
Throughout all these years / hav
treasured It,"
When Jane ceased speaking Tn
mother and daughter, strangely tens
and pale, stared at each other. but tn
! lowering of the lights concealed thei
agitation.
:, my dears," said the stately woman
; smiling softly, Il must not let you g
: until / have told you Of the hapines
you have brought me today, for 20
0 have eased a mothers heart of the III
I certainty regarding the fate of he