Daily Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1918-191?, 1918-04-05
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HIS LAST DIME
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by JACK LAYTON.
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the plate glass window was irrepronch
ably shining. the display Of dainty
stationary temptlngly displayed. an,
Ms usual Its young proprietor waitct
hopefully behind the glass doors foi
possible customer. Would his pa
ticncc never be exhaustedf Annabel',
violet eyes moistened In pity. ut IN,
wistful appeal OF the brown eyes oppo-
site.
Why In the world had this young
man come with his delicate wares to
a town where only the necessary was
salable. Even at Christmas time Lyn-
denville INDUCED but in seryiceablc
and plainly useful articles.
Left wealthy by her father" the
villagers would say. But Annnbels
wealth was only sufficient for her mod.
est needs and the keeping still OF the
home with old Mrs. White as house
keeper. Since Annabel had become n
customer Of the 'Shoppc,' Its owner
had greeted her with his frank smile,
meeting occasionally In the post office.
She funcied. with concern. that his face
was growing thinner; could II be posi-.
Bile that the denrth Of customers made
economy of food necessity
Wen, the girl wondered impatlently,
why didn't he go back where he could
find something better TO dot Then. be.
cause the shadows were growing long.
or aud she remembered that she had,
had no uut-Of-doOr exercise that day.
Annabcl got into her Jaunty coat aud
becoming hat, and went for walk.
Near the hotel. where the auto-bus
started upon its trips TO The station,
she saw her nelehbor-acroSs-the-
hesltating. TO examine some small
coin In his hand.
"Rlde down to the station with US,
Miss Annnbel." called the friendly
driver. aud with n second impulse she
stepped inside. Not that the ride was
a thing unusual. Many times her
walks had been interrupted by the jo-
vial invitation. The girl had known
Ben. the driver. from her childhood.
From her rear seat In the car, she
noted admirIngly the broad shoulders
OF the young man In front. Ben in
cludcd them both In his remarks. GO
ing to town." he inquired.
"wcll. not exactly" the shop-kecpcr
replied. woman down beyond the
station wants 20 see me about engrav-
ed invitations. thought I'd ride as fur
as you 20, with you"
"Must be Mrs. Jake Smith," Ben
daughters goln' 10 be
soon. How are you goin' the
rest of the way. it's quite n piecci"
Annahcl found him waiting Ia assist
her as she opened the auto door. Us
she bowed her head In thanks, the
mans hand slipped into his pocket
for Ben's fec. then something happen
ed. In Il moment the dime seemed 10
fly from his fingers 10 alight upon the
cur floor. Flushed and eager he bent
to look for II, while the driver waited.
Trims coming" Ben suggested i'm
patiently.
The young man raised an embarras-
sed face. "Just a moment" he muir
INJURED still searching.
Annabel stood looking intently nj the .
road, then she bent suddenly forward. I
"Why, here II is" she laughed, and
held out TO Ben shining dime.
The man looked straight and long
into her eyes. 81 thank you" he said
quietly, and Annabcl with strange
stirring Of the heart, went ON her
homcward way. OF course that had
been his only dime. he must walk
back!
II was late in the evening when the
Hight In the stationery shop Jared
across the street; she wondered un.
easily II he had been successful In his
quest for the wedding Invitations, and
next morning In the most natural way
be told her.
II have recovered from my long
walk" her nelghbor announced cheer.
ilY, though II was useless errand M.
ter all." lie sighed: "ln fact. I've about
decided that the whole business "a
useless, around here"
ut Is" the girl agreed quickly, IF
you'd try something else"
ut does not matter now" he said.
and held out his letter. "rye been
the colors."
"Whenr the girl asked. something
caught at her breath painfully.
AT once. AS soon as l can get
ready" again the radiance was upon
his face
MAY +" he asked abruptly. "come
10 see you before ] GOT"
She was In the window when he
anne, looking at the bare little shop
lcross the way.
II wanted you 20 know" he began,
how much ! appreciated your-lnter-
81. your helpfulness. Sometimes II
'hecred me on past sheer failure. You
bought | didn't realize that your big
purpose was charity pure and simple.
and last night when you gave that
lime 20 Ben"
"Gave-ltT" whispered Annabel.