Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1917-11-29

W. =
Tdzabeth Ann was tired, lonely and
not. Little hall bedrooms under the'
caves OF old-fashioned houses. three
stories high are. as a rule, ffeezingI5I
cold 10 the winter, and unbearably hot
IN the summer. Her tiny room was no
exception. Besides, she wanted1 des
perately to 90 home. A letter from
Eher father that morning had made her
homesick Better come home. Tdza-
beth Ann" II read. 1.-THE clImbin&
roses are all pink and white ana
sweet: also, we are getting wonderful
vegetables from the garden. Too bad
lyou are so far away; we would send
you some If New York were a little
nearer to Ohio
@No." thought Elizabeth Ann dis
lmaliy. Nothing keeps here mot even
Imy usually sweet disposition" She
shook her. small fist at the image
browning at her from the mirror.
il'They all expect you to come flying
home, Lizzie-Ann. the first time any
little thing goes wrong, but you're 20
Ing 70 fool them. You are not going to-
30 1t. Not when that blessed daddy
Iqf yours has ralxed and scrnped every
cent together to give this year Of mu9
Isle IN New York.
Two salty tears ran down the sidN
OF her straight little nose. bat she
brushed them away impatlentIy. She
decided to take ride On the Fifth
avenue bus and forget her troubles.
! She dressed carefully. putting on q
ruled white dress and white shoes
and stockings. When all else was
ready, she took from its box and tissues
paper wrappings a broad-brinmedI
white hat, It was q lovely hat, with
Its wreath Of dull blue corn fiowefsd
and 'Lixabeth Ann adored II.
She went down stairs, tying. as she
went. three dimes In the corner Oh
her handkerchief. Two were for her
fare and one for q soda water after
ward. As she climbed the periiou5
stairs to the top # thescar, her at
tention was attracte, 70 Q ySnng nseh
sitting on one Of the tront seats. He
looked 50 white and III that Tizabeth
AIMS heart went out To him In pity.
As It happened, the only vacant
seat was the place next to him, and
as the girl sat down she heard q
sfnothered exclamation. Realizing
that her broad hat must have grazei1
his cheek, she flushed.
sTm SO sorry she said gently. Ell
must have hurt and am afraid you
have been III, too"
Typhoid" he said briefly, but 1sfxa-
beth, seeing him smile. knew he waa
not offended.
She found herself thinking OF him
as the bus rolled and lurched on its
way, and us for Richard Bennett, he
cursed the convention that made ii
impossible for him and this sweet
voiced, pretty girl to talk together
and then. in the midst Of these rebel
hcua thoughts. he saw her handker-
chief lying on the floor at his feet. As
he stopped to pick IL up. he felt the
coins In the corner and a wild idea
came to him. Why not7 He had heard
many times that everything was fnir
in love and war. Unobserved BY the
girl, he placed the little piece OF linen
IN his pocket.
When Elizabeth Ann saw the con-
nrting on his .Eounll. 10 col
Get the fares. she felt lDr Yer hand I
kerchief. II was notT .ssere she had
put II In her belt. an ahe frnnticai-
" looked under the $,at and around
the floor. She cast i desperate look
Of the young man beside her.
"Heve you lost anything7 Can be
Of any service 10 your" His voice was
the voice Of gentleman.
I've lost my handkerchief, with my
money 10 It. II you win be kind
enough TO pay the conductor, and win
give me your name and address, l win
send you the money IN the morning."
Richard smiled reaasurlngly into her
troubled face as he dropped the two
dimes In the box.
"It'a funny, Isn't Il, how accidents
win happen at the most inopportune
timesi remember one tIme--v and
before she realized Il, Lizabeth Ann
found herself listening to the inter
esting conversation Of this stranger. !.
When she got or the bus, he got
on, too. and II seemed perfectly mats
ural for him 10 walk 70 her door with
her. AS they reached the steps he
held out his hand. T.izabeth Ann
put hers into 1t. thinking he wanted
10 shake hands. When she drew IL
away. she saw that her handkerchief,
with the coins In the corner. lay IN I
her palm. She stared al It bewilder-
ed. ei5ut--I don't understands
Richard took her two hands tightly
IN his.
''Of course. ynp don't understand.
little Girl whose Nome l. Don't
Know. because you don'fSaeIieye any y
more than did in love at hrA sighs
But I'm going TO make You believe
in love at second or third sight IL
you'll give me the chance"
Her answer was very brief: May
be-" But as she rna upstairs on wing
ed feet. the little handkerchief. smell
Ing very much Of tobacco smoke now
was held tightly against her lips.
Copyright, 1877. by the Mcclure Newspa-
per Syndieate)