Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1921-01-20
LILLY OF THE COURT
BY JACK LAYTON.

Lilly sat up In her window, and
looked down to the stone court below
FaH leaves blew about the court and
In tie 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-bnt heat was different thing;
one bad to be warm. Especially when
the doctor warned one against the
danger Of drifting Into cold, aud
wslen the same unreasonable doctor
ordered fall days speut ID the open
with clean air 90 breathe and nothing
In particular ~ busy ones hands. The
air o. BrHndage court was not clean
with dust Of frRfiic all about. and MIN
bic fingers welding the embroidery
needle, could not Of necessity be long
Idle. Lilly considered Il kind Of the
apartment store buyer. around the
corner, to allow her 10 embrolder
initials 20 order, on fine linen handker
chiefs. Lilly had acquired skin Of
her own 10 drawing fanciful mono
grams. and her work was in such de
nland that IL kept her bending TO
eakcA the window light Of Rrundage
court afssr iights had popped out
everywhere 10 show that evening had
ceuas. and then, shs was obliged TO
nniah BY gas light Usually Lilly
crspt early into her hnrd bed to get
soEAe refreshing sleep, before the
nae4ning sun shining through the win.
dsw shsuYi make work again posi-
be. Locking Into the opposite lighted
apartments a svening LIliv wondered,
wtstfufly. what II might be like, 20 live
Nv a real hoFse with real family 10
love and care for one: the small pale
Kffl Rae never known. Mra. Crosby.
who had adopted her years ago from
the orphan asylum. hoped TO acquire
sfrena young housekeeping companion
for her old age. In this. Lilly growing
into frail Young w0uaniseod. disap.
pointed. She had given loving kind.
ness and had won love 10 return. bni
when old AIRS. Crosby died. the only
heritage left her adopted child, WIS the
accomplishment OF fine embroideslng.
Laiiy liked to SIT quietly and watch
the country bus drive into the court
~ evening. awaiting possible passen-
kers ~ not far distant village. From
lts Esad spastsrcd sides. she girl drew
imaginary pictures o. a rough country
roaa. with late flowers bloonalnR al the
stf&. and red and golden Ieafed trees
forming . canopy overhead. And as
Itiiy pictured. sile laid aside. pains
Eakingly. nickies and occasional dimes,
toward hsF guifslnlent Of the doctors
pfeerFsuslen. Dor enc afternoon size
wonls breathe clean country cir. III
fhtM sasss oid bus sha would ride to
tire village and back again. and chs
memsory might 10 something 70 cheer
winsaF hourR Tie hsis-Fnan smiled Ia.
seiuntarlIy wissn he saw her coming.
me rusay black suit was quaint little
ssfk made ovor from one 81 Mrs.
GrpHty's while The velvet tam thar
wxnt with u. was Euch contradictory
Asmcy tam Lhly's own work--and Of
aasStng red v4iyet The bus man could
MOI know that THIS red velvet had com
posed a best psklor cushion. bat be
Noted as LfIty rnsne nearer the wRy
her hair euriad ID soft rings about lis
brfS. and ne felt sorry IN hts kindly
heart for the peaFiy pallor OF the small
girls face. The busman was young.
and his customers had grown 70 count.
IN = whimsical way, on his helpful
Interest IN themselves. Big Bill Dnw-
son gave TO earl, one at evening his
personal greeting and welcome. "You
want 10 20 out 10 Closerdale7'' he
asised lilly conversniinnaliy.
sWegi, I guess you're my only pas.
senEsr at this hour--lnost OF EN- come
b mornings. and 80 out nights. You'd
better ST up here by me. you wonI
Ieit 50. When do yon want 10 come
baskf Evening tripf That's about 30,
Yea went have any too long to stay.
II don't care eboat staying Lilly
sela him. y want the drive through the
country air."
IN was astonishing how much more
she told hint. as the two went rattlIng
aisna the road together. Big ban, had
way Of winning confidence By his
sympathetic personality. Little Lilly
Of the Court w0s unaware THAT she
was giving her life history. With the
llostskss order thrown In. until glll
Dawson by few apparently careless
questions had learned her simple
story. II was very pleasant ride.
I.iTfy do not know when Rhe had en-
ieyed anything so much.
''rell you whntf snid Bill with
finely assumed impulsiveness, "aYhs
can't y0u spare time for this run every
fine slay7 AL this hour I seldom have
company. and IT'S mighty monoson0us
going ever the same old track alone.
Wouldn't need to cost you anything.
Honest, there's no reason why you
couldn't do H. and carry out your doc
tors prescription rs WELL
In fhe end Lilly yielded to the sug.
eesfien II really seemed foolish To
refuse, and tile embroidery. for some
strange magical reason, progressed
nwse rapidly afterward. II was when
almset the Iaas leaf had fallen. that
- Dawson appeared one afternoon
u he court with an automobile.
'A1A@ssRht I'd leave the old bus home"
hs told Lilly. 1and take a holiday. Just
ysa and me. When you are going TO
asA girl to marry YOU" said Bin,
'.yeu can't DO II 80 well In a bus"
1he new rose color OF Lilly's
cheeks deepened yislhly.
~Oh LiilyIT the young man cried,
Don't say you won't give ma my
xhaneelr
And Eisly stepped Into the car.