Show I L THE EVE EVENING BEADY MONEY MOY 1 STORY I V CC Copyright 11 1912 by W. W Werner 1 From Froin early arlY morning till the last Jast ray of or daylight Elizabeth had bent hent over the long fold of ot linen that was to form fonn the front i breadth of Mrs Allens Allen's gown Now she passed her hand we wearily rUy over o her tired eyes V i iI I I am afraid I 1 have strained them them- working so 80 many days so 80 steadily if It only I could have had more time In which to todo todo todo do this embroidery It It i Is having to finish It it a at ata a certain time that makes It hard she said I 1 have never had any trouble with my eyes before They have al always ays been so strong V She told herself that tha t sho she would go to tobed bc bed beI l right after dinner and that a long rest In tho the dark overnight would take takeaway takeaway takeaway away the ache and the strange Jumpy feeling feel teel ing lag from them She hadn't time to do anything for tor them now though she wished that she could go 10 I and lie down with a 0 hot compress upon them for that always relieved the strain of or the tired muscles The boys would be home soon and sho she must mURt have their dinner ready and get the done dona When the tho boys camo came rushing In hungry and noisy sho she forgot all about her eyes ees In hurrying to get the dinner on Elizabeth Elizabeth Eliza Eliza- beth was a a saleswoman in the some great establishment where the twins acted as cash boys and tho the dreaded time Ume of year had I come when it was her turn to take tako a two weeks' weeks vacation without pa pay so It V She groped h her r W. W way 1 along the hall ball was as as ns a B gift gut from the gods that She he had received the tho commission to embroider the for Mrs Allens Allen's gown It was vas a rush order and If It the work stork ork should please Mrs Mra Allen there were sure to come other orders from the same shop where tho the likings of ot the patrons ran espe cape daily to fine ne hand embroideries of ot the kind she had been taught to do so exquisitely ex cx- at the convent She had been thinking all aU day of or the sisters alters at t the convent and of or the whereabouts where of or sweet Anne Whitford who wasa was wa a a. bit older ld r than then and had helped her many a time with the difficult stitches and had twice taken her her home with her herfor herfor for tor vacation when Elizabeths Elizabeth's father and stepmother were out of town And Annes Anne's bl big brother where was he heHe He lIe had been her ideal of or all a a. girls girl's dream could be He had taken her and Anne out a n great deal while they were there but buthe buthe buthe he had seemed very grown wn up Indeed and was soon to be graduated In medicine His chums churns were calling him doctor even then and she knew very well that he looked upon her as a a. little girl a n sort o of of ot Annes Anne's and n never ver dreamed that he was her hero V Then Anne Ann was graduated from V the school and wont went abroad Immediately af f after after ter that had come her liar fathers father's death am and after that her coming to the tho city with her stepmother and the boys and then her stepmothers stepmother's marriage and her own struggle struggle gle ale to keep up a home for the boys Now it was easier for tor th the tho boys were 1 14 and could go to work too but errand boys get very very little and sometimes tho the whole Income was woefully Inadequate Elizabeth woke the next morning with witha a light heart and the pain in her ey eyes quite gone one She had accomplished the work so 60 far tar In an Incredibly short time If It only her eyes ees did not blur again today she would be able as u they did yesterday to take tako the embroidery to the shop to tonight to night and ad get Iet her money After breakfast was as over she ebe worked steadily for tor two I hours then strange blurred spots began beganI to float noat between her and her work She Shet I stopped t working and bathed h her r eyes and washed the dishes and then lay for an hour with the shades down and a a. compress compress com corn press over her eyes V When she put up the shades and aDd tried to to work again aln her ber needle had two points and a a. terrible fear grew up In her heart But iut after that she alternately alternate alternate- ly h rested reste an an hour and arid worked half balt an hour until when whon the twins ca came e rollicking rollick ing In at ot night she sho had h d the glistening lengths folded in blue tissue paper ready to send thorn them with an explanatory note saying she would finish and send lIend the sleeves u as soon as na possible Next morning her eyes seemed as well as aa ever and her spirits roseI roseI rose I had Just tired them a a. a hit bIt V she he said Mid What a a. V goose I X was to worry so and to be so o frightened V V She tried to be careful but worked on steadily At noon It suddenly began to grow dark In the room room room-at at first a fast gathering twilight then the blackness of or nl night ht Elizabeth put her hand over her eyes and sat BM quite still so still that seemed to on be listening She scarcely breathed so intent was she ahe upon waiting wait walt ing Ing waiting waiting for tor that pain In tn her eyes eye If It should come com she ahe ho would ouId know that she was WIlS blind r V V V V Then It came that came that darting sickening pain There wa o use to hope V any am long longer r. r And n so she was a and blind and tho the boys 2 No no she No I cant can't bo boo I mustn't be The boys nr are r too yo young ng t V She groped rop d her way along the wall to where here V she sho knew the matches match to be Her fingers were cold as ice See and fumbled tumbled with J I tn me match so so that she could scarcely strike out V She heard hear l it flare up yet up-yet yet she sho struck another and nd nd another in III an ana a agony ony of dread before coo lIoe felt for the gas burner and match to It t. t She Sho heard the flow now of or gas as ns It met th the n flamo of the match but butt she stood for tor moments Before she he could summon courage to hold her numb hand toward the flamo If she could feel teel It and and could not see It She held out trembling nn fingers etS Then ne turned off the gas hurriedly she ha mustn't waste It She Sho stumbled back to her chair by the window Sh She dimly realized that she ought to call help That he she ought to go goo gO gOto to o an oculist at once o. o That no time should be lot lost But hours passed and ond still she she- sat eat there stunned Into Inaction The Tho sound of or the bell Insistently ring ring- Ing ng finally penetrated her dulled consciousness con con- sc and she dragged her herself elt stumbling to the door and stood with wide open unseeing eyes looking blankly out upon the darkness The re realization that hat she could not see lee who was wu standing there thore struck her like a Q blow Who Wh Is It too Her voice olce was wae shaken Why foh my little sister Mary Elizabeth ElIzabet dont don't you OU know me Im I'm Anne Anne Anne-Anne Anne who ho used to call you OU Sister Mary tary Elizabath Eliza Eliza- beth bath at the tho convent school You haven't I know forgotten you ou never coul could At the same moment she sho was waa being hugged close to some orne one she could not see an and to t whom she ahe was wu clinging sobbing sobbing sob sob- bing wildly She had been lost In a a sea eo of C chaos ROS Now Anne hud had come to rescue her len Anne who must nave dropped from heaven leaven for her help In time of ot trouble trouble- V Anne who always knew exactly the r thing to do At lj And Anne lost not a a. moment of ot t t 14 but sent lent her chauffeur flying for an o 1st 1st and for her brother and nd put HI BJ ii beth to bed V f To think she said I have hava to fc you yOuat Quat at lost last We have tried in tn every i but could never get a a. trace Herbert kept a personal in the papers week a ft time hoping you would 6 see It i know that you have always always' been dream and because be he couldn't find he has nover never cared for tor any on ons F I V VV V V VV VV V I Anno Anne lost n not a a. moment at of time 1 sent her chauffeur flying flung r But oh she went ion 60 n. n I c can n nee fierer i 1 give phe myself that you have ruined y p 3 eyes working upon embroidery for or I i and and and- V Y You You u Mrs Allen AlIen AlIen- I t have been beene V e excited over your coming to me so 10 w when I needed you so JOI thai haven't thought to wonder bow how lt It that you found me m And to think i tI tIIt It was your gown and 1 I might never nays w i known It Tell TeU me me- me V I It When I saw the embroidery 1 I a said once It surely came from the con It Is m made mado o with 0 a peculiar stitch tl ti 1 the they teach And nd when they said 1 girl here in town did it I asked 1 for tori r 1 1 address and when they gave It tt to tn m well Elizabeth I 1 Just escaped being i rested for scorching vt v- v A W When en the thel twins come came tumbling t I t little Ittle fittie nat flat they found a strange the th a R. strange man in Bla UI beths beth's room bending anxiously over and another strange man was wU jut Just pJ a avery very severe case cue but not at all alIb b Ml I less les taken in time aa u It Is and n A Aheard As heard no more but threw her M 5 r around both boys hoys at once one and V thorn thom out Into the kitchen with VJ kh wh re disentangled themselves Y in W her with dignity and asked for tor Oh you dear dear boys she crt eri dont stop to ask any questions SOV steak Is piping hot and Just as 1100 you ou nave naye eaten It you and Elisabeth J going homo home with us to 0 o live always alWaY tomorrow you yon boys are going bac bc school and we shall all live In peace V after |