Flower of the Dusk

ry Go

stpone

immaculately clad in white linen, opened the little grey gate. It was a week later than she h

ered a smooth, well-kept hand. "I know I'm late," she said, "but I think you'll forgive m

coming upstairs?

ind

ownstairs to make sure that the blind man did not come in unexpect

se was saying. "And what

ty W

Eloise was watching her narrowly, and, with womanly intuition, s

know we are poor, nor that I make these things to sell. He thinks that they are for myself and that

led. It was a brave little smile without a hint of self

said Eloise. "I thi

She began, hurriedly, to price everything as she passed it to Eloise, giving the highest price e

Eloise, in a queer voice, "tha

roudly. "It is all hand work," she said, with quiet dignity, "and the ma

s not a thing here that is not worth at least a third more than

er P

er the old one. She advanced even the plainest garments at least a third, the more elaborate ones were doubled, and some of the embroidered things were even tripled in pric

obody will ever pay that

on, rapidly choosing, "and these, and these, and this. I'll take those four for a friend of mine who is going to b

of my friends to whom I have already written. And you're not to offer one of these exquisite things to those unappreciative people at the hotel, for I have

irl of

s were so confused that the room seemed to be whirl

would really buy these thing

le more than the cost of the material. One woman said we ought not to expect so much for things that were not made

outh which would have boded no good to anybody if she had. "When I see

en I see what good angels women can

your material?" as

unt Miriam bought linen, lawn, batiste, lace, pa

served Miss Wynne. "I can arrange for you to b

ything?" asked Ba

tica

ad some samples sent to you, we'll talk over half a dozen or more complete sets of lingerie f

and her eyes shone like stars. When she took the check, which Eloise wrote with a

f your work ready, I'll send up for them, and hurry them on to my friend who is to put them into the Woman's Exchange. And please don't sell anyt

e were poor and discouraged. You came in and waved your w

ays

ithout it Cr?sus himself would be poor. It's not t

her eyes filled with tears

d immediately felt the presence of a stra

r. She is stopping at the

g woman's hand. "We are glad to see you," he said,

eturned Eloise. Her big bro

the guests com

g to call people 'guests' when they are stopping at a h

t," said the old man, sm

That is all the vacation he allows himself. You are fortunate to live

d to L

hallowed by memories. We-you will stay

y at Barbara. "If you

e trimmed with lilacs-and smoothed the waves in her copper-coloured hair. Barbara to

dy arranged for me to sell at the Woman's Exchange in the city, and she is going to write to some of her friends about the things I have left. She's going to arrange for me to get all my materi

you?" queried

ed sh

t proba

joy, but the hard lines of her face softened p

's bought so much. She'll be coming up again before l

h a sigh. "He always suffered from hos

est W

at sort. We'll give her the best w

ainfully different, she gave no sign of it in look or speech. The humble fare might have been the finest banquet so far as she was concerned. She fitted herself to their ways without ap

y Conve

ift of conversation. She drew them all out and made them talk, too

d Eloise. "May I have some more

d not been entirely disinterested when she climbed up on a chair and took

o you find it difficult?" asked Eloise, instantly mistress o

put in Ambrose North. "She likes to

rom him was food to her hungry soul. She would gladly have laid down h

ur of

r. She chose folk-songs and tender melodies-little songs made of tears and laughter, and the simple ballads that never grow old. She ha

, when she paused and ran her

n your good-nature," she re

said North. "I think, Barba

improve wine and violins and friendship, so why not a piano?" Withou

ween long shad

uant waves of

dim with tender

thee, thinking

in the twilig

whisper, whispe

lips the eage

thee, thinking I

know. You can call and call, but nothing ever comes back to you." The

asked Eloise. "Oh,

ead for twenty-one years, but my father never fo

tell me before, so I could hav

m grieving-nothing can, so

licking, laughing melodies that set Barbara's one foot to

long," said Eloise, risi

rbara, with evident sincerit

in. I have lots of letters to write, and mail will be wai

ie

h her. "Good-bye, Fairy Godm

hing in the girl's face impelled her to put a strong arm around Bar

reathed Barbara, "more

ght; "the dear, brave little thing! A face like an angel, and that cross old woman, and that beautiful old man who sees with hi

rown eyes very bright. "But I'm

equ

est was to Doctor Conrad, begging him to come at the first possible moment and go

eyesight. She calls me her Fairy Godmother, and I rely upon you to keep

ing R

rt for the Klondike that night, had there been a train, and