The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1912-05-29
Hope-Ofth the
Lilies
By Dorothy Douglas

Lorimer watched his neat, deft. lit
lie nurse as she arranged his break
fast daintily on a tray. He had beer
watching her for some two or more
weeks going through the identica
movements. He felt. in a degree. sor
~ that his broken leg was practically
in condition to suggest his depar
ture for few weeks in the country.
LOrimer had made a surprisingly
quick recovery and he voiced his next
thought:
Il hardly know whether 1t is your
excellent care OF me or those delicious
fresh eggs that have thrown me Out
Of this comfortable place SO quickly.
He laughed up at her as she placed
the tray beside him and cut the tor
OF an egg so creamy and white as to
make his mouth water.
1T must he the eggs" returned
Miss Lane. lat least you would think
so II you could get glimpse Of the
young woman who raises them"
Unique occupation" laughed LOr'
liner. then turned his attention to the
small sign that had aroused his
curiosity since the arrival OF his first
breakfast in the hospital The stamp
on each egg was diamond in the
center Of which was a D.
so the mystery Is solved" Lor.
inner glanced again at his nurse
What does the D. stand for?" he
asked. quite excited by this bit Of In
terest in the dull monotony Of an In
valids days.
"Dorcas Farms" informed the
nurse. THE young woman. who lives
with her mother out on Long Island
sends her fresh eggs to US every
morning"
do you mean that she actually
makes her living raising eggs-chick
ens?" Lorimer's ideas of ways and
means for earning a livelihood were
rather vague when II came to the
gentler sex. In fact his interest In
the feminine element had been sadly
discouraged by the unconditional re-
fusal he had received from Clarice
Mcclure. True, the advertisement ol
having his leg run over by n seven
passenger automobile had, In a way
taken his mind from the rayages Of a
broken heart
Exactly that" chimed in the nurse
Hope Carter and her mother have
managed to exc out living for q
year hut II has been a hard struggle.
Miss Lanes shoulders went up in a
half doubtful gesture. II tell Miss Car.
ter she casts too much bread upon
the water. hut she continues to dis
tribute charity wherever she goes
Now. for instance. she Ia coming In
tomorrow with basket Of eggs col
ored for Easter so that the children
In the hospital can each have one
Tomorrow" Iorimer half arose
from his pillows and was promptly
lowered by the nurses arm. II want
to see this Miss Hope Carter" lie
smiled whimsically. coaxingly at his
nurse. DO you suppose she could be
induced TO be charitable tome? Men
are but children-when they are III,
he added.
Miss Lane doubted in her heart Il
any girl could resist her big good
looking patient She smiled hcl
thoughts appealing. Swallowed eyes
suggested thought OF her.
Il will see what we can do" she
told him. then said suddenly, doc
tor White thinks n few weeks in the
country would do you a lot Of good
perhaps Miss Carter and her moth
er-"
you are awfully anxious 10 get rid
Of me-" Lorimer spoke. half petu
lantly.
Miss Lane only smiled "He will
be far more anxious himself when
Hope Carter has come and gone" she
told herself.
So It was that during the next day
I<orimer saw slim. sweet Hope
standing beside his bed. In her hands
a cluster Of Easter lilies and IN her
eyes the soul Of flower. That she
was one OF the worlds wonders dawn.
ed on Lorimer the moment she came
into his room. There radiated from
her sense OF peace and strength
combined.
The sick man stretched out a hand
for the lily she would have put in lie
vase by his bed.
Il want TO hold it-and smell t." he
told her with his whimsical smile
"These-are the first lilies hat
have come into bloom for me-" SIZE
said with little triumph In Ter
voice.
| "You-made these lilies grow" Ior.
liners tone was almost one Of ave
Hope Carter let fall a soft happy
laugh. why yes-is 1t so strangc' !
found that eggs and poultry left not
only some spare time but also some
room In our pocket books" sic
laughed again with lack OF restraint
in her manner that charmed 1,orin.er
Mother and find that the lilies 10
not rob our little farm OF any 1ran-
cial or material aspect, they are so