The Snowflake herald., 1921-02-04
A NON-PARTIsAN NEWSPAPER
LILLY OF THE COURT
BY JACK LAYTON.
eo, 1920. western Newspaper UniOn.) }

20. 1920. Western Newspaper Onion.)
Lilly sat up In her window, and
looked down to the stone court below.
Fall leaves blew about the court ana
In the breeze was a hint OF winter 10
come. Lilly dreaded winter because
with fuel so 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
one had to be warm. Especially when
the doctor warned one against the
danger of drifting into a cold, ana
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-
BILE fingers welding the embroidery
needle, could not Of necessity be long
idle. Lilly considered 1t kind OF the
department store buyer, around the
corner. to allow her to embroider
initials to order, on fine linen handker-
CIliGlS. Lilly uUu 0NQuAAOA - SAAAA'
her own in drawing faneiful mono
grams, and her work was in such de-
mand that it 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 1t might be like, to live
10 a real home with 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
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 embroiderlng.
Lilly liked to sit quietly and watch
the country bus drive into the court
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 country
road. with late flowers blooming at the
side, and red and golden leafed trees
forming a canopy overhead. And as
Lilly pictured, she laid aside, pains
takingly, nickles and occasional dimes,
toward her fulfillment of the doctors
prescription. For one afternoon she
would breathe clean country air. In
this same cid bus she would ride tC
the village and back again, and the
memory might be something to cheer
winter hours. The bus-man smiled In
voluntarily when he saw her coming
the rusty black suit was quaint little
suit, made over from one Of Mrs
Crosby's, while the velvet tam tina
went with it, was such contradiction!
saucy tam-Lilly's own work-and O
flaming red velvet. The bus-man coulC
not know that this red velvet had com
posed a best parlor cushion, but h,
noted as Lilly came nearer the wa.
her hair curled in soft rings about it
brim, and he felt sorry In his kindl.
heart for the peahy pallor of the smal
girls face. The bus-man was young
and his customeRs had grown to count
in a whimsical way. on his helpful
interest in themselves. Big Bill Daw
son gave to each one at evening hi
personal greeting and welcome. "Yo
want to go out~ to Cloverdale?"
asked Lilly conversationally.
'Well, l guess you're my only pa'
senger at this hour-most of 'em com
In mornings, and go out nights You
better sit up here by me, you won
Jolt so. Whep do you want to com
back? Evening tripf Tdat's about 5 ~
You won't have any too long to stay
"I don't care about staying" LII
told him, II want the drive through th
country"air."
It was astonishing how much MOI
she told him, as the two went rattlin
along the road together. Big Bill, ha
a way Of winning confidence by h
sympathetic personality. Little LII
Of the Court, was unaware that 81
was giving her life history, with Il
doctors order thrown in, until b
Dawson by few apparently carele
questions. had learned her simp
story. 1t was very pleasant rld