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Show Dy OOPHY r. GOULD HE was a frail-looking llttlo il girl, who had boon solf-sup-portlng for over thrco years, slnco hor mother dlod, and, waa tired now, aa shoj walked through the otrcoti crowded with shopgirls Ilka herself. Listlessly, in order for nj minute to nvold tho onrush of hurrying humans, ehoj paused beforo a shop wln-i dow whero antiques of all kinds wero grouped attraoj tlvely. There was llttlo In tha window to interest a mltcJ of a girl' earning a paltry $& a week, yet of a suddon hor! eyes, a moment beforo so tired, lighted excitedly, and! a casual observer mlghtj havo noticed how exquisite ly beautiful they wero. Tha tired line of her mouth also) relaxed, and hopefully alio stepped closer to tho plato glass and peered for a longj concentrated moment at a sliver tea caddy of quaint design After a second's hesitation she openod tho door and walked bravely into thd llttlo shop. "Tho tea caddy7" sho asked of tho woman who greeted her Inquiringly. "How much Is It7" "Tho llttlo silver one?" Tho woma looked her surprise, as sho noted tho shabby black coat and much-worn, skirt. "You wanted to buy It?" and asked kindly, for something In thc( girl's eyes made her know sho was In earnest. "It Is $25." "Twenty-flvo dollars!" the girl gasped, and as suddenly as it had como the brightness left her eyes. "Twenty-five," sho repented. "I'm afraid I could never afford that." Sho gripped her pay cnvelopo firmly and, turning, walked out of the shop. In her tiny room, as sho cooked hor meager dinnor over tho gas plato, and later, when lying wide awake In hor narrow bed, sho thought of tho beautiful beau-tiful tea caddy. Sho thought until It became a cherished Ideal, vested with wonderful scenes nmong tho great people of tho world. The following day sho neglected hor lunch, and hurried to tho shop to onco more view tho wonderful caddy. When she entered tho woman greot-cd greot-cd her warmly, for tho expression In her eyes had proved haunting to tho voman all the past night. "Did you really want to buy tho caddy?" sho asked, as she handed It to tho girl, "for If you do" "I must buy It," sho Interrupted, aa aho took It reverently In her two hands, "but I can't pay tho money all at onco." Sho hesitated. "How much could you pay?" Tho woman suddenly understood tho girl's need, and a great kindness carao to her. "Perhaps wo could como to terms." "I havo $2 that I hnvo saved, and I think I can spare CO cents oach week. I only mako $G," sho added, apologetically. apologet-ically. "Six dollars!" tho woman gasped, as tho enormity of tho girl's project camo to her. "You may havo 1 nt your own terms," tho eald lmpuls'-'ely. "Oh!" For n moment tho girt held It to her breast, then sho handed tho money without regret to tho woman. In tho days that followed tho woman bocamo very fond of tho girl, for sho camo often to gazo with awo upon tho hllver enddy of quaint design, nnd lu tho Bhort visits the woman learned to know what a dlfferenco nn Ideal can mako In n life. In watching tho girl's lovo for tho thing that kept hor poorer than she need havo been tho woman found her own llfo broadonlng. On Christmas eve n young man persistently per-sistently tried to buy tho caddy, until the woman finally told him tho Htory of Its salo. Ho listened In wonder, nnd then niked for tho namo of tho girl, who seemed bo great a marvel that, ho wanted his mother to seo and help her. Tho samo evening, nfter tho young man had left, tho girl mado hor final payment, ami with n wild Joy throb-blng throb-blng in her heart carried tho ten caddy homo, nnd with It n boautlful bunch of holly, a festlvo touch from tho woman. f?ho had pinched hard to savo tho GO cents each weok, but hor reward wns groat, and worth tho hnpplnosa tho Ideal had always given hor. It wan again Chrlstmaa ovo.'and n dainty womnn, wrapped In a soft fur cont, opened tho door of tho llttlo shop, nnd with extended hand camo to tho woman. "Morry Chrletnas!" she exclaimed. "Don't you remember mo?" In tho deop, wlnhomo eyes thoro waa something familiar, and suddenly tho woman throw hor arms nhout tho girl nnd peering over hor head espied the "We havo Just been married," hQ ox-Plained. ox-Plained. "My mothor foum, h mo, and wo wanted to como to thank yon for what you havo dono." "I havo missed your example ao." Tho woman hold her very taw, laugh- lug softly through hor tow,, for thor -ri.iwrly all 0 hnpfy, , bolls were ringing. |