Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1921-01-07
LILLY OF THE COURT
BY JACK LAYTON.
t(S. 1870. western Newspaper Union)

looked down to the stone court peioW.
Fall leaves blew about the court aud
In the breeze was hint of winter to
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 q different thing;
one had to be warm. Especially when
the doctor warned one against the
danger of drifting into 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 MIN
BILE fingers welding the embroidery
needle, could not OF necessity be long |
idle. Lilly considered It kind of the
department store buyer, around the
corner, 10 allow her TO embroider
initials to order, on fine linen handker-
chiefs. Lilly had acquired a skill of
her own In drawing fanclful 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 n 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 II might be like. to live
In q 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 embroidering.
Lilly liked to sit quietly and watch
the country bus drive into the court
, at evening, awaiting possible passen-
gers to a not far distant village. From
it's mud spattered sides, the girl drew
imaginary pictures Of rough country
road, with late flowers blooming at the
= side, and red and golden leafed trees
i forming a canopy overhead. And as
;, Lilly pictured. she laid aside, pains
: takingly, nickles and occasional dimes,
4 toward her fulfllment of the doctors
prescriptlon. For one afternoon she
would breathe clean country air. In
this same old bus she would ride 70
the village and back again. and the
y memory might be something to cheer
l. winter hours. The bus-man smiled In
r. voluntarily when he saw her coming
# the rusty black suit was a quaint little
~ suit, made over from one OF Mrs
. CroSby's. while the velvet tam tina
- went with 1t, was such contradictor!
&c saucy tam -Lilly's own work-and o.
" flaming red velvet. The bus-man coul'
al not know that this red velvet had com
a. nosed best parlor cushion, but N
id noted as Lilly came nearer the wa,
:. brlm, and he felt sorry In his kind
heart for the pearly pallor of the sma
VI girls face. The bus-man was youni
y, and his customers had grown TO coun
he I'm n whimsical way, on his helpfr
S. interest In themselves Big Bill Dav
son gave to each one AZ evening n
personal greeting and welcome. "Yo
n
~ asked Lilly cOnversationally.
|; "Well, | guess you're my only pa
Is senger at this hOur--most of em con
Il in mornings, and go out nights. You
II better sit up here by me, you wor
Il Jolt so. When do You want to con
Il back? Evening trip? That's about .
II You won't have any too long to stay
II 81 don't care about staying" LII
i told him. ~ want the drive through {
II country air"
Is II was astonishing how much mo
II she told him, as the two went rattli
IL along the road together Big Bill, b
II way of winning confidence by
i sympathetic personality. Little ii
Il of the Court, was unaware that
Il was giving her life history, with
y doctors order thrown In, until l
L Dawson by few apparently carel
X questions, had learned her sim
X story. 1t was a very pleasant ri
K Lilly did not know when she had
II joyed anything so much.
Is Tell you whatw said Bin "
fiuely assumed impulsiveness. ~
II can't you spare time for this run ev
Il fne day? At this hour l seldom h
company, and it's mighty monotcn
Il going over the same old track al
IL wouldn't need TO cost you anyth
IL Honest, there's no reason why
u couldn't DO It, and carry cuttyeur
Il tors prescription, as yell"
Il In the end Lilly yielded Ito uIy
IL gestiOn; Il really seemed foelhsf
* refuse, and the embroidery for &
IL strange magical reason, .progre
IL more rapidly afterward. Itwds "
almost the last leaf had fallen,
K | mn TN~Ar-oon amman f,.ssl nna affair