The Idaho recorder. [volume] (Salmon City, Idaho) 1886-1927, 1920-12-10
LILLY OF THE COURT
BY JACK LAYTON.
&C. 1870. Western New~papsr IInian

IOOkcd uOWu 10 the stOue court mellow.
Fall leaves blew about the court and
In the breeze was a hint of winter TO
come. Lilly dreaded winter because
with fuel 80 high, she wondered how
she was ever going to keep warm. She
had become accustomed TO the feeling
of never having had quite enough to
eat-but heat was a different thing; I
one had to be warm. Especially when
the doctor warned one against the |
danger Of drifting into a cold. and |
when the same unreasonable doctor |
ordered fall days spent IN the open,
with clean air to breathe and nothing |
In particular to busy ones hands. The |
air of Brundage court was not clean
with dust of traffic all about, and nim-
bic fingers welding the embroidery
needle, could not of necessity be long
idle. Lilly considered II kind Of the
department store buyer, around the
corner, to allow her to embrOider
initials to order, on fine linen handker-
chiefs. Lilly had acquired skill Of
her own In drawing fanciful mono
grams. and her work was in such de-
mand that 1t kept her bending to
catch the window light of Brundage
court, after lights had popped out
everywhere to show that evening had
come, and then, she was obliged to
finish by gas light. Usually Lilly
crept early into her hard bed, to get
some refreshing sleep, before the
morning sun shining through the win
dow should make work again posi-
BILE. Looking into the opposite lighted
| apartments at evening Lilly wondered,
wistfully, what it might be like. to live
in real home with a real family TO
| love and care for one; the small pale
| girl had never known. Mrs. Crosby,
who had adopted her years ago from
the orphan asylum, hoped to acquire a
strong young housekeeping companion
for her old age. In this, Lilly growing
into frail young wOmanhood, disap-
| pointed. She had given loving kind
ness, and had won love in return, but
when old Mrs. Crosby died. the only
heritage left her adopted child, was the
accomplishment of fine embrOidering
Lilly liked to sit quietly and watch
at evening, awaiting possible passen
gers to not far distant village. From
It's mud spattered sides, the girl drew
imaginary pictures of a rough countr!
road, with late flowers blooming at TIN
side. and red and golden leafed tree
forming canopy overhead. And a
Lilly pictured, she laid aside, pains
takingly, nickles and occasional dimes
toward her fulfillment of the doctor
| prescription. For one afternoon sh
would breathe clean country air. l
this same old bus she would ride I
the village and back again, and tn
| memory might be something to chez
| winter hours. The bus-man smiled II
| voluntarily when he saw her coming
| the rusty black suit was quaint lift
1 suit, made over from one of MIR
| Crosby's, while the velvet tam thu
went with 1t. was such contradiction
j saucy tam-Lilly's own work-and
: flaming red velvet. The bus-man cou
not know that this red velvet had cor
a posed best parlor cushion, but
ID noted as Lilly came nearer the WI
ID her hair curled in soft rings about
brim. and he felt sorry in his kind
8 heart for the pearly pallor Of the sm'
n girls face The bus-man was your
g. and his customers had grown to cou
n. ina whimsical way. on his helpf
3. interest in themselves. Big Bill Da
1. son gave to each one at evening
10 personal greeting and welcome y
want to go out to Cloverdale?'
I'd asked Lilly conversationally.
he .Well, l guess you're my only p
s-nger at this hOur-most of 'em Co
II I'm mornings, and go out nights. fo'
better sit up here by me, you wo
Jolt so. When do you want to co
back? Evening trip? That's about 5:
You won't have any too long to sta
"I don't care about staying" Il
told him. II want the drive through
\ country air.
u II was astonishing how much M
she told him. as the two went ratti
along the road together. Big Bill, !
way of winning confidence by
sympathetic personality. Little Il
Of the Court, was unaware that
= was giving her life history. with
= doctors order thrown i'm, until
N Dawson by few apparently carer
. questions, had learned her sim
story. 1t was very pleasant al
Lilly did not know when she had
loved anything so much.
Tell You what" said Bill "
finely assumed impulsiyeness. "
can't you spare time for this run es
nne day? At this hour l seldom D
y company. and its mighty m"noton
ne going over the same old track ais
eS Wouldn't need to cost you ahsih
70 Honest. there's no reason why
couldn't do it. and carry out your
tors prescription, as we'll
In the end Lilly yielded to me
yestion. ii really seemed foolish
A. a,nbraidpry for =