But Lynn was shaking her head decidedly: "I couldn't possibly spare a minute, thank you. I'm only out on an

errand now. I'm needed every instant at the Home!"

"For mercy sake! Hire someone to take your place then. I want you.

You'll be quite a sensation I assure you. Don't worry about clothes, if

you haven't anything along. You can wear one of my evening dresses.

We're almost of a size."

"No," said Lynn smiling, "It simply isn't possible. And anyway, don't

you remember Sabbath Valley? I don't go out to play Sunday nights you

know."

"Oh, but this is New York! You can't bring Sabbath Valley notions into

New York."

Lynn smiled again: "You can if they are a part of you," she said, "Come in and see how

nicely I'm fixed."

Opal looked up at the beautiful building before which they were

stopping.

"Why, where is this?" she asked astonished, "I thought you were down in

the slums somewhere."

"This is a Home for little orphan children kept up by the Salvation

Army. Come in a minute and see it."

Following a whim of curiosity Opal came in, and was led down a long

hall to a great room where were a hundred tiny children sitting on

little chairs in a big circle playing kindergarten games. The children

were dressed in neat pretty frocks such as any beloved children would

wear, with bright hair ribbons and neckties, and each with an

individuality of its own. The room was sunny and bright, with a great

playhouse at one end, with real windows and furniture in it and all

sorts of toboggan slides and swings and kiddy cars and everything to

delight the soul of a child. On a wide space between two windows

painted on the plaster in soft wonderful coloring blended into the gray

tint of the wall, there glowed a life size painting of the Christ

surrounded by little children, climbing upon His knees and listening to

Him as He smiled and talked to them.

Opal paused in the doorway and looked at the picture first, shyly,

shamedly, as though it were no place for her to enter, then curiously

at the little children, with a kind of wistful yearning, as if here

were something she had missed of her own fault. Lynn called out a

charming baby and made her shake hands and bow and say a few listing

smiling words. Opal turned to Lynn with a strangely subdued look and

spoke in a moved tone: "I guess you're right," she said, "You wouldn't fit at my company.

You're different! But some day I'm coming after you and bring you home

all by yourself for a little while. I want to find out what it is you

have that I need."




readonlinefreebook.com Copyright 2016 - 2024