The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-10-27
Dorothy's Gold-Piece

IT have IT, cried Dorothy, burst
ing into the living room Of the tiny
apartment that she and her sisters
occupied and bestowing a demonstra-
tive hug ON the girl who sat sewing
in the cheerful glow of the lamp be-
side the center table.
I'm SO glad. Dorothy. It's such a
chance for you. 1t was lovely Of Miss
Drew to think of you and send them
to you," responded her elder sister,
patting Dorothy's cheek affectionate-
ly.
Eyes, I never hoped for such a
chance as to sing in st. Stephens. 1t
was awfully good of Miss Drew to
recommend me. o Cora, / hope ]
shall sing all night" She paused,
trifle anxious.
"Of course you will. dear. You will
sing your very best; and when all
those people hear you, who knows
what will come of It? I'm sure you'll
| get an engagement to sing somewhere.
and then the pupils will follow. l
/ told you not to be discouraged" add
Led Cora. rising and going Into the
| small kitchen, from which sundry
] savory odors betrayed the secrets of
the evening meal.
The door opened to admit another
tgiri. clad in business garb. whose
lstrong resemblance to the two already
there proclaimed her their sister.
Guess what good luck. Esther
cried Dorothy. 1.-THE soprano at st.
Stephens has cold"
Fine" Esther broke in, teasingiy.
'tYou know I don't mean that" re-
preached Dorothy. ''Of course I'm
sorry she's sick--but it's an Ill wind,
you know. They needed someone at
1.-THE last moment to take her place and
Miss Drew recommended me. I've
Just been to see the chorister and he
tried my voice and got me to sing
the anthems for tomorrow, and I'm
tengaged. I'm really going to sing in
st. Stephens church. Think OF It."
dorothy danced about the room in
giee.
well. am glad for you, sis" re-
jsponded Esther. "It seems to be our
lucky day all around she added.
1 catching up letter from the mantei,
a thin letter in a blue envelope d.
rected to Miss Esther Downing,
Hastily she tore it open.
| "A check 2" asked the other girls.
crowding about their sister with In
terest
| Eyes. really a check! For ten dol
!, lars, NV story accepted with pleas
ure."
There were more congratulations
and In the midst of them Cora man
aged to finish the preparations TOT
supper.
"Has Aunt Rebecca said anything
about going homer" whispered Esther
to her elder sister.
.Not word" signed Cora. DC.
lieve she's going to stay all winter
We'll, should think she couia sec
how hard 1t was for us to get along'
that we had all we could do to take
care of ourselves" declared Esther
| warmly
II don't believe she has anywhere
| else TO go. poor thing" volunteered
| Dorothy, and I'm sure she eats
| hardly anything. She doesn't put
| us TO any extra expense On that ae-
count"
Il know she doesn't eat much. but
| + do think it's rather presuming Tor
an aunt whom we scarcely have heard
Of 10 come and lie down ON three giriE
| who are having hard enough work
to earn their own living and Keep
1 a roof over their heads, do in
1 deed. l am sure work hard
enough" said Esther, in an aggrieved
tone. -
eI'd be only too glad to work II
| got q CHdihcS, Pee ~ +T~A".-st
nestly. :,
| "Of course you would. We're all
| doing the very best We can and brtgn-
ter days will surely come. when Dor
othy gets q place to sing regularly
| and some pupils; and Esther. now
you have begun to sell your stories
1 YOU can give UP this hard position
and just stay home and write IN time,
| Az for me. I am getting more orders
1 Hav eTnDfOidefX. L
know Il will come out all right, ana
| YOU know Aunt Rebecca Is fathers
! aunt. You know how father and
| mother always were," Cora's voice
broke a little. Everyone was well
| come, no matter how few things we
| had You know how father and
mother would treat Aunt Rebecca,
| even Il she did come to stay all win
! ter. They would give her the best
they had
Eyes, and when she Ia poor and old
| and friendiess. Why, she hasn't even
a coat. 1t makes ME feel dreadful
to see her wrap that worn old shawl
about her when she goes out. know
she is cold" championed Dorothy
"She ought to have some money !
after keeping boarders all these |
years" put in Esther What has
She done with lit Whenever father
spoke Of her he said she kept very |
successful boarding house.
! 'sShe lost Tot through Infortu~t
nate Investments, she told me. an
nounced Dorothy anyhow. she
certainly wouldn't 20 shiverly around
in that old shawl II she could anord I
to buy coat. would she Z"
A step sounded In the corridor.
The door of the tiny apartment !
opened and tall. Eatint old woman,
with brown wrink1ed apple Of
face, entered the Kitchen.