The Meeker herald., 1913-09-13

80 thsy ass what syou call closed
esntiausf'' ausstioned she half incred-
ulously. "Are you sursy'
"I-Fm very sure. Miss Norton" Tho
girls voice was sxquisitsly low and
musical.
"But they're 20 homely. 10 unfinished
looking. and thouyht-weil. never
mind. Arrange them there In that vase.
II you will. Ny lawyer. . young fel-
low In whom I've taken great Inter
1T. 10 coming up to Wynchell today.
and they are his favosite flower"
Miss Gray lost the last Of the SEN
tence. From the silver faucet ln Miss
Norton's marble bathtub she was
drawing water for the cut glass abe
held. Besides. Miss Morton had spo-
ken more than half to herself.
It had been only three days now that
Miss Gray had been with her In the
capacity Of companion. and already
Miss Morton found herself exchanging
that young persons status from COM
panion to con6dante. She had always
had liking for her. this girl with the
tired, pale face and the sweet, sudden
smile. ever since the day when she
had come personally to explain that
there had been aome little mistake 10
the ordered dinner cards and to make
her apologies. II appears she had CIV
en- the dinner ladies' powdered silver
hair Instead Of dasxiing gold. That
had been at the beginning Of last sea
son. During the present summer the
little sketches that she had been able
to sell hadn't proved sunicient for her
to exc ont even 4 modest existence
with. Miss Morton was looking for
companion. and she had offered her
services. That II the way Il had all
come about.
There was the rhythmic thud. thud.
Of horses hcofa on macadam. and Miss
Morton'a brown cobs whirled through
an iron Eate Into modest drive and
came to an abrupt halt under her
porte cochere. A gray driszIe had net
In. but what did that matter to How
ard Orchard? The nns drops Of rain
driven against his face BY the pace Of
the cobs bad been an exhifarating de-
light to him. and a. Miss Morton was
wheeled Into the library to greet him
he was positively cordial.
Mlas Morton had forgotten her ior
gnon. Being very shortslghted. she
was ut . loss to know exactly where
her companion had placed the gen.
tians. And. above all things. should
the sight Of the flowers bring an ap-
probable fractioh Of pleasure Into Or
chard's immobiie face abe didn't want
to lose the sight. She rang for maid.
"Ask Miss Gray to fetch me my
lorRnOn." said she.
80 you remembered!'' The exciama-
tion came from Orchard. and Miss Nor
ton lost the sight she had wished for.
after all. He bad crosxed to an ebony
cabinet on top Of which stood the cut
glass vase. Awkward things to ar
range In vases. though" be commented
laconically. AZ n regretting his burst Of
emotion.
-Yea. that's what my companion aid.
She went out willingly enough In all
this drissls to pluck them. but she
SHE'D 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 seen her face.
though. be had recognized her. There
was no other woman be knew who
held her head 10 proudly and At the
same time had that waverinE little
walk 20 at variance With the queenly
carriage Of her head.
Emily" he cried. You"
The girls hand which held the lor-
gnon clutched 1t tightly and went up to
her breast. The other half CROPPED to-
ward him. M with little incredulous
cry she repeated the one word "You!"
..Too had. too bad" murmured kind
hearted Miss Morton indulgently to
herself that evening. laying down her
Goethe unread. The day had 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 verandn.
TOO bad. WAS Just beginning to
congratulate myself on what q treasure
Miss Gray would be in my declining
years. and now the end Of the begin
ming or the beginning Of the end. Ma
rie.'' she said. turning to the maid.
take those homely blue flowers away.
Take them up to Miss Gray's room"
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