The Meeker herald., 1913-04-12

30 they Aee what you call closed
eentians! questioned she half incri-
ulously. Are you sure?'
"I-i'm very sure. Miss Morton" Tbs
girls voice was sxquisitsly low and
musical
but they're 70 homely. 20 unfinished
looking. and thought-well. never
mind. Arrange them there In that vase.
II You will. My lawyer. 4 young fel-
low In whom I've taken great Inter
est. Is coming up to Wynchell today.
and they are his favorite nower.''
Miss Gray lost the last Of the SEN
tence. From the silver faucet In Miss
Morton's marble bathtub abe was
drawing water for the cut glass she
held. BeHides. Miss Morton had spo-
ken more than half to herself.
1t bad been only three days now that
Miss Gray had l,een with her IN the
capacity of companion, and already
Miss Morton found herself exchanging
thnt young lpers0n'a status from COM
panion to conhdante. She had always
had liking for her. this girl with the
tired. pale face aud the sweet. sudden
smile. ever since the day when she
had come personally to explain that
the ordered dinner cards and to make
her apologies. II appears she had CIV
en- the dinner ladies' powdered silver
hair Instead OF dazzling gold. That
had been Mt the beginning Of last sea-
son. During the present summer the
little sketches TINT she had been able
to sell hadn't proved sufficient for her
to exc out even q modest existence
with. Miss Morton was looking for
companion. and she had offered her
Hervicea. That Ia the way It had all
come about.
There was the rhythmic thud. thud.
Of hOrAes' hoofH on macndRm. and Miss
Morton'a brown cobs whlrled through
an Iron gate into modest drive and
came to an abrupt halt under her
porte cOchere. A gray drixxle had net
In. but what did that matter to How
ard Orchard: The nue drops of rain
driven against his face BY the pace Of
the cohs had l,een an exhiiarating de-
light to him. and as Miss Morton was
wheeled into the library to greet him
he was positively cordial.
Miss Morton had forgotten her lor-
gnon. Being very shortsIghted. she
was at loss to know exactly where
her companion had placed the gen.
tiana. Aud. above all things. should
the slight Of the COVERS bring an ap-
probable fraction Of pleasure Into Or
chari's immoblle face she didn't want
to lose the sight. she rang for maid.
ASK Miss Gray to fetch me my
lorgnOn." said she.
so you remembered." The exrlama-
ton came from Orchard. and Miss Nor
ton lost the sight she had wished for.
after all. He had crossed to an ebony
cabinet on top Of which stood the cut
glass vase. awkward things to ar
range In vases. though" he commented
laconicaIiy. az II regretting his burst of
emotion.
.'Yes. that's what my conpauioa aaid.
sbe went out willingly enough IN ali
this drixxls 10 pluck them. but she
shied at arranging them In vase. She
assures me they belong to the nelds.
and
But Orchard veered quickly around.
In the mirror back Of the ebony cabi-
net he'd caught the reflection Of girls
face. Before he had aeen her face.
though. he had recognized her. There
wus no other woman he knew who
held her head 80 proudly and At the
same time had that wavering little
walk 30 ut variance with the Queenly
carriage of her head.
Emily" he cried. you"
The girls hand which held the lor
snon clutched It tightly and went up to
her breast. The other half CROPPED to-
ward him. ns with little incredulous
cry she repeated the one word. Your
TOO had. too bad." murmured kind
hearted Miss Morton indulgently to
herself that evening. laying down her
Goethe unread. The day bud cleared
beautifully. The last scrap of estate
settling business had been attended to.
and now her lawyer and her compan-
ION were enjoying bit Of the mellow
harvest moon out on the back yeranda.
TOO bad: l was just beginning to
congratulate myself on what treasure
Miss Gray would be In my declining
years. and now-the end Of the begin
ming or the beginning Of the end. Mn
rie." she said. turning to the maid.
take those homely blue flowers away.
Take them up to Miss Gray's room"