Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-12-18

kerowded ABOUT the driver and urged
AN explanation.s When they Were
| told the story, they gazed at Lucy with
| curious admiration. Mr.. R
| proved to be an old-time friend of
| Lucy's uncle. They had stepped to
one side and were engaged in earnest
conversation during which Mr.. R
| learned all about Lucys sad prediea-,
ment in the world. When Lucy and
her uncle started home Mr.. R.
and his two companions babe them
goodbye, shook their hands, and wish,
ed them pleasant journey.
Three weary months had gone slow
| ly by since Lucy had left her old home
| during which, notwithstanding the
kindness of her uncle and his family,
| grief and loneliness had cankered
| the roses on her cheeks. Lucy and
| her mother had always spent Christ
mas together in way that lifted
them to the heights of holy pleasure.
| 1t was on these sacred heights that
love had woven their lives so sweet
ly together that the passing of MA
| ma, as Lucy always called her, left
the daughter in the cold shadow of a
great sorrow, dropping like tender
flower, deprived of sunshine.
1t was now Christmas eve and the
thoughts of Christmas without
Mama" made Lucy shudder. The rest
of the family had gone to the village
to do some trading and to get the
mail. Lucy was alone. She dropped
the wristlets, which she was crochet
ing for Christmas gift to her uncle,
into her lap, buried her face in her
arms upon the table and piteously
cried, Mama! Mama! Oh, Mamai"
Just then the folks drove into the
yard. Lucy had grown womanly ana
strong for her years. She instantly
rose, dried her tears and smothered
back her grief. When ner uncle came
in he handed her b large, strange
looking letter across the upper left
hand corner of which merry Christ
nas!" was written beneath green
holly leaf stamp. Lucy was in no
sense secretive. She opened the let
Ter and spread the contents upon the
able in the presence of all the family
First came certificate of deposit for
$1,000 in her favor In bank in the
town of NJ. Then came a letter
stating that the three gentlemen whose
money she had saved by her cool, re-
sourcefulness on the night the stage
was held up by old Dams gang, had
each made her a Christmas gift of
five hundred dollars On the third
paper was detailed proposition for
her to come to the town of NJ
and enter boarding school and make
her home with Mr.. and Mrs. R.
The proposition was viewed from
every angle by Lucy and her uncle.
Late into the night they fingered over
the paper and debated the pros and
cons. Lucy's uncle was well ac-
quainted In the town or Nj and
was familiar with the high social |
standing of Mr.. and Mrs. R..
who were childless. He Immediately |
looked upon the proposition as a
God-send to Lucy, who was homeless, |
motherless and penniless. Knowing |
that her uncle was financially unable
to do&anything for her, Lucy soon
saw the proposition IN the same light,
and it was then and there decided that
she accept this generosity. rhe many |
golden possibilities now lowering about
the portals of Lucy's future made
sleep for her impossible. When her
heart was trimming over with thank
fulness, she glided from her bed and
knelt by her window. She placed her
elbows upon the sill, clasped her
slender white hands, turned her sweet