"A WISH FULFILLED."

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 230, 28 September 1929, Page 3 (Supplement)

"A WISH FULFILLED."

(By Dolina M. Huey.) In the large upstairs bedroom that Miss Hall had occupied for the past six months, Lois, a maid in the boarding house managed by Mrs. Garuthcrs, \\i. busily sweeping. Lois was eighteen, small and dark, with merry grey eyes that were nowpensive, for I*K%r owner was thinking hard, almost in .soliloquy. "Oh, how I'd love a little gold brooch," she was saying in her mind, "with a sweet little sparkling ruby, just one in the centre; but Is'pose it's no use thinking of things that I can't possibly get, for I must save most of my wages in case ." lanthe Hall was home again after her six months' holiday at the seaside, whence she had gone to recover from an illness that had left her pale, thin and easily tired. It was her birthday, and little packages had been arriving all day for her, since she had many friends, and numerous aunts and uncles. The last | present to come was a. little gold brooch i set "with a single ruby, that sent out bright little rays of light, reminding lanthe of someone—someone —she could not think who, try as she might. In bed that night she lay awake, her eyes open to the darkness. Why would the little gold brooch, with its scintillating red stone, keep dancing through the blackness of her surroundings, haunting her, taunting her? She arose in the morning, much refreshed, and felt a happy thrill at the brightness of the early sun. Then came the remembrance of the brooch, and forthwith lanthe took it from its little ease, whispering, "I don't really need you, I have so many things; I—oh, Lois, Lois, it's the vision of that dark little Irisji Lois that has been haunting me. -I know she would love 'o have this dainty brooch, and I'm ccertain dear Aunt Gladys wouldn't mind my giving away her gift. Anyhow I'll ask her permission." "Parcel for you, Lois!" exclaimed Mrs. Caruthers, as she glanced over the morn's mail some days later. "For me!" Lois had never received a parcel before, nor even a letter, for she was an orphan, with not a relative in the world. She took the package to her own little room and, with trembling fingers, untied the strings. A white box was jvealed. She ivised the lid, took off the layer of cotton wool, and gazed at the wonderful little brooch with eyes wide with utter amazement, and a heart thumping wildly. ■ There was a card inside the box. Lhe read it in feverish haste: "To Lois, who was so kind me during my holiday —lanthe Hall." The- little Irish boarding house maid stared thoughtfully out the window, "Now," she said, half aloud, "fancy my one wish cor..ing true iiKe that. Sure I bless dear Miss Hall, an' 1 hope she comes here again so I can show her how truly grateful I am; because I can't say it all in one letter."