News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1922-03-01
A Holiday for
Two
BY HAZEL. SMITH
ttS>~~S~S~~S~~~~~~~ ~SS,~~ScSS 4
%. 1921. Western Newspaper Union)

With cang great gate went shut
and a shrill whistle and the harsh
| boom of bell told that the giant fac
tory had begun The noisy grind Of the
business of the day. The infexibie
rule of the plant was applied on the
exact seCond-the worker who was
not inside the walled grounds on the
stroke of seven need not apply for ad-
mission until the next morning.
A pretty, neatly appareled girl
reached the gate to grasp its handle
just as the. lock shut; a young man.
hurrying too, halted with shrug of
his shoulders-one half dismayed one.
While Sidney Harper, stock clerk.
took the forced idleness of day rath-
er indifferently, in fact with rather
sense of enjoyable novelty, Muriel
Hope, employed in the Office of the big
works, paled and her lips quiyered.
Sidney Harper construed Alright the
girls deep concern, and his sympathy
was awakened.
"Heigh-ho!" he cOmmuned with
himself "In four years of steady, per.
sistent work at last day Off.
He had noticed off and on for a year
or more the fair young girl who an
swered to the name of Muriel Hope.
'Once he had adjusted gasaiet above
her desk when she had some extra
night work.
His thoughts came irresistably back
to the girl as he saw her shift the
lunch box, she carried and move her
handkerchief to her eyes, as if to wipe
the tears away. And then-just as
she was crossing street he saw her
step directly in the path of an on
rushing automobile. He made spring.
Just at the critical moment he seized
and drew her out of the way of
dreadful peril, and led her back to
the street curb half fainting with ter
ror.
"Oh-how can l thank you'll" she
painted.
He took her hand and drew II
through his arm in IA kindly brotheriy
way she could not resist.
I'VE will walk on slowly then" he
said quietly. Il will see you safely
as far as your home"
81 dare not-that is, | cannot go
home just now," she faltered.
81 do not understand" insinuated
Sidney gently.
1T is my dear mother" explained
Muriel pathetically. "She is an in
valid. nervous and apprehensive. My
father, when he died, left nothing but
a house on leased ground. The owner
has raised the rent and it is all we
can do to meet his eXactions. Every
days wages counts. must not go
home until night and l must keep the
truth from mother."
A plain story, but infinitely pathetic,
it made Sidney Harper think. Then in
a half-humorous, half-serious tone he
said:
Miss Hope, this is our day of CO.
We miss work together,
you have a house, own a lot. We
are like dull children given holiday |
and not knowing how TO enjoy it. !
Won't you help me find a way?'
She entered into the spirit of the |
smilingly.
81 am unused to holidays as your
self" she admitted.
Never would Mgrel forget the rare
wonder and novelty of the pleasure I
park. where her courteous escort made
her see everything worth seeing, |
where they had a delightful lunch in |
a water pagOda to the strains of sweet
music. and then long row on the
dreamy lagoon.
Muriel with a bright laugh emptied
out the tell-tale lunch she had brought
from home, her beautiful eyes suffused
as she spoke softly of "decelving poor
AThere was the lovely flush
Of excitement and joy inher cheeks as
they neared her home.
Miss Hope" said Sidney, "you have
given meythe most delightful day of
my life. You live here!' he exclaimed
abruptly.
why, yes" responded Muriel, Won
lering at his startled manner,
Sidney Harper smiled strangely.
"YOu own the house." he said, land
lext to it is the lot | told you about.
mother coincidence, is it not?" 4
Their eyes met and their souls
hfilled. and in the mutual glance was
no Sprpup pIomiSq of a closer friend
hip