The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1918-05-16
HIS LAST DIME
100000
BY JACK LAYTON.

AnnaDel StOOu Ut lHe "ihuoN VI
her corner home, and looked toward
the shop across the way. AS usual
the plate glass window was irreproach- |
ably shining, the display of dainty /
stationary temptingly displayed, ana
as usual its young proprietor waited
hopefully behind the glass doors for
q possible customer. Would his pa
tience never be exhausted? Annabers
violet eyes mOistened in pity, at the
wistful appeal of the brown eyes oppo-
site.
Why in the world had this young
man come with his delicate wares to
| town where only the necessary was
salable. Even at Christmas time Lyn-
denville INDUCED but in serviceable
and plainly useful articles.
Left wealthy by her father" the
villagers would say. But Annabefs
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
customer of the 'Shoppe,' its owner
had greeted her with his frank smile,
meeting occasionally in the post office.
She fancied, with concern, that his face
was growing thinner; could it be posi-
! BILE that the dearth of customers made
economy of food a necessity?
Well, the girl wondered impatiently.
why didn't he go back where he could
find something better to do? Then, be-
cause the shadows were growing long
er and she remembered that she had,
had no out-of-door exercise that day,
Annabel got into her jaunty coat and
becoming hat, and went for walk.
Near the hotel, where the autO-bus
started upon its trips to the station,
she saw her neighbOr-across-the-way,
hesitating, to examine some small
coin in his hand.
ride down to the station with US,
driver, and with a 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
Guided them both in his remarks. go
ing to town." he inquired.
"Well, not exactly" the shop-keeper
replied. woman down beyond the
station wants to see me about engrav.
ed invitations, thought I'd ride as far
as you 60, with you"
Must be Mrs. Jake Smith," Ben
soliloquized. Daughters goin' to be
married soon. How are you goin' the
rest Of the way, it's quite piece?"
!, Annabel found him waiting to assist
her as she opened the auto door, as
she bowed her head In thanks, the
mans hand slipped into his pocket
for Ben's fee, then something happen
ed. In a moment the dime seemed to
fly from his fingers to alight upon the
car floor. Flushed and eager he bent
to look for it, while the driver waited.
Trains 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 at the
road, then she bent suddenly forward
"Why, here it u.s." she laughed, and
, held out to Ben a shining dime.
The man looked straight and long
r into her eyes. 81 thank you," he said
4 quietly, and Annabel with a strange
stirring Of the heart, went on hel
? homeward way. OF course that ha6
| been his only dime, he must WALL
y backl
1t was late In the evening when the
2 light in the stationery shop flaret
!. across the street; she wondered I'm
easily If he had been successful in hi:
a quest for the wedding invitations, an(
next morning in the most natural wa!
i he told her.
: 81 have recovered from my Ion,
I walk" her neighbor announced cheer
= lily, though 1t was a useless errand af
ter ALL" He sighed: "In fact, I've abOu
/ decided that the whole business Il
= useless, around here"
"It is" the girl agreed quickly, al
e you'd try something else"
t at does not matter now," he said
and held out his letter. 'Tve beel
s called-to the colors."
d "When?" the girl asked, somethin
caught at her breath painfully.
r "At once. AS soon as I can &c
" ready" again the radiance was upo
e his face.
e MAY +" he asked abruptly, "com
to see you before I go"
r She was in the window when h
D came, looking at the bare little sho
y across the way.
8 II wanted you to know" he begar
show much 1 appreciated your-intel
est, your helpfulness. Sometimes
cheered me on past sheer failure. 70
thought didn't realize that your bi
e purpose was charity pure and simple
n And last night when you gave tina
D. dime to Ben"
"a -