The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1912-06-13
l1ope-Ofthe
Lilies
BY Dorothy Dosaas

Cs,y-ssht. 1919. by Associated Literary
Prsss)
ffrrer watched his neat. def. lit
. au:se as she arranged bis break
g. da:utily on q tray. He had been
va-csirg her for some two or more
~eeks going through the identical
movements He felt, In q degree. sor-
~ that his broken leg was practically
in a condition to suggest bis dspar-
ture for a few weeks In the country.
Lorimer had made q surprisingly
quick recovery and he voiced his next
thought:
II hardly know whether II IN your
excellent care OF me or those delicious
fresh eggs that have thrown me out
OF this comfortable place % quickly.
He laughed up at her al she placed
the tray beside him and cut the top
OF an egg 30 creamy and white a. to
make his mouth water.
'Tt must be the eggs" returned
Miss Lane, "at least you would think
30 II you could get glimpse OF the
young woman who raises them
unique occupation" laughed Lor-
inner, 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 d.
80 the mystery IL 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
valid's days.
"Dorcas Farms" Informed the
nurse. 1.-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 1t 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 C!arice
Mcclure True, the advertisement of
having his leg run over by a seven
passenger automobile had, in a way,
taken his mind from the ravages Of a
broken heart.
Exactly that" chimed in the nurse
Hope Carter and her mother have
managed to exc out a living for a
year but 1t has been a hard struggle
Miss Lanes shoulders went up in a
half doubtful gesture, IT tell Miss Car.
| ter she casts too much bread upon
the water, but she continues to dis
tribute charity wherever she goes
Now, for instance, she Is coming In
| tomorrow with a basket of eggs col
ored for Easter so that the children
in the hospital can each have one"
Tomorrow" Lorimer half arose
from his pillows and was promptly
lowered by the nurses arm. IT want
to see this Miss Hope Carter" He
smiled whimsically, coaxingly at his
nurse. do you suppose she could be
induced to be charitable tome? Men
are but children-when they are Ill. >
he added.
Miss Lane doubted in her heart II
any girl could resist her big good
looking patient. She smiled her
thoughts appealing. Swallowed eyes
suggested a thought OF her.
II will see what we can do" she
told him, then said suddenly, doc
tor White thinks few weeks in the
country would do you lot Of good
perhaps Miss Carter and her moth
er-"
you are awfully anxious to get rio
Of me-" Lorimer spoke, half petu
lantly.
| Miss Lane only smiled HE will
be far more anxious himself wher
Hope Carter has come and gone," she
told herself.
So 1t was that during the next day
Lorimer saw slim, sweet Hope
standing beside his bed. In her hand.
a cluster Of Easter lilies and in hel
eyes the soul Of flower. That she
was one of the worlds wonders dawn
ed on Lorimer the moment she cam.
into his room. There radiated from
her a sense Of peace and strength
combined
The sick man stretched out a hant
for the lily she would have put In tn.
vase by his bed
i, Il want 20 hold it-and smell It." b,
told her with his whimsical smile.
|, "These-are the first lilies tina
, have come into bloom for me-" sh,
said with a little triumph In he
voice.
'You-made these lilies grown" Lor
, liners tone was almost one of awe.
, Hope Carter let fall a soft happ,
laugh. why yes-is 1t so strange.
found that eggs and poultry left no
only some spare time but also som,
room In our pocket books" Sh
laughed again with lack Of restrain
. In her manner that charmed Lorime,
Mother and / find that the lilies d,
, not rob our little farm of any fnau