OCR Text |
Show I (Bbrtstttutf I & lCll RALPH HAMILTON W l !' rlfh I, 1!. bj WMUra Nnuptpw I.OI..Q I yjS' " v- "hades of tln pretty VHsRY '"'""' w,'r' pulled down :PrssmijiXL an'1 ""' K'm"" "f dusk Imp SBvJtSB) was alleviated by one 'BjffiJjjjlyi "ght "'y '" 'he room t'lifjKSWi where the mourning denlsens, Harold Bruce and his wife, I. mini. sat. They were awaiting the arrival of a toxlcab ordered or-dered In time to cntch an evening train t. the South. Both were somber-faced somber-faced and wearied of mien. They had not spoken for some time, for It was a situation where words meant nothing. The wife never lifted her tear-stulned eyes, the husband wore a set expression expres-sion upon his face as though exerting the utmost will power to repress the poignant emotion which consumed him. Without, Joyous shouts echoed, the sound of merry sleigh bells tinctured the air with Christmas eve fervor, and the contrast of this long-anticipated holiday presentation with what they had hoped and planned for, wrenched their souls to the point of anguish. Their lives desolated beyond repair, imlgnnnt memories ever present, they scarce dared to rest their glance upon the portraits of two smiling, happy faces looking down from a heavily framed picture, for only that morning they had received the terrible news thnt the originals, their only children. chil-dren. Don, aged six, and Etta, two years his Junior, had been victims, with many others, of a disaster by cyclone and flood that had devastated the district where they had their winter win-ter home in Florida. All they knew was that the pretty bungalow and many others, with their" occupants, hud been swept away, and hundreds were said to have perished, and no word had been received as to the fate of their two little ones, nor of Rhodu Marsh, who had them In charge. ithoda Marsh had come Into their thoughts almost as frequently as little Etta and her brother. Each recalled that 11 was a Christmas eve four years gf-Tte.- "jpCS. ifrcf Hi TwS Both Were Somber-Faced and Wearied of Mien. back when Harold Bruce had come 1 home from the funeral of his mother, ! bringing with him a wistful-eyed, sad-faced sad-faced mite of a girl. "Laura." he said to Ids wife, "this Is ltlmda Marsh, a poor orphan child whom my mother adopted, who has given her the tenderest care to the last hour of her life and wos a blessing to her old age. She Is left without a home. Should we give her one?" "We should, and we shnll," came the quick reply, ns Mrs. Bruce gazed Into the enrnest, longing eyes of the girl of fourteen, and read there truth and Innocence In-nocence and a soulful appeal to all that was maternal and sympathizing In her nature. It proved to be a wise and fortuitous choice. As the children came sJoQ Rhoda proved to them a true and lov Ing sister, nurse and friend. Then came a tetft of the fidelity and self sacrifice of the girl Just merging Into young womanhood. Both of thi children were taken down with a don gerous contagious malady. The house was quarantined. Ithoda brave.) th perils of Infection. Day and night sln was the constant attendant of Don and Etta. She found so sure a lovlnp place In the hearts of those she hai' benefited, that her eyes beamed with Joy and happiness whenever she wui In their presence. The physician who attended th children was Albion Merrltt. He hai entered the profession the protege of n wealthy man, and had acquired i clientele of prominence and u largi income. It was when the little om were convalescent that he had come t Mr Itruee, who was a close pcrsoua! friend. "Bruce," he said, "I cannot flm' WOrdl to express mj admiration line respect, rat, and something dw per, foi that sweet little heroine, Uhoda. wlios, studious care of !;, children, far inort: than my ministrations, Is resi slbln for their recovery." "Yes," answered Mr. Bruce witn genuine fervor In his touts, "she la fl Jewel of worth snd constancy. I'.oth my wife and myself realize whnt we owe to this p,M,r wolf who has en-den en-den red herself to us os though she were our own daughter." Doctor Merrltt proved his expressed sentiments by very often vl-lting the I Bruce home after that. The children i loved hli and he would drop In for an hour or two and play ;vlth them and tnlk with Ithoda and listen to her singing sing-ing at the plono, for music with Hhod.i was her one great passion. There never was n visit on his port thnt Uhoda did not greet him with a beautiful, beauti-ful, tender flush upon her fair, expressive expres-sive face, and one night her kindly benefactors Indulged In playful badinage badi-nage when she accompanied Doctor Merrltt to the door. "Doctor Merrltt has become quite a beau eh. Rhoda?" Intimated Mr. Bruce. "Three times in a week," spoke Mrs. Bruce. "Ithoda dear, he Is a loyal chevalier." "Pleose don't," pleaded Rhoda. looking look-ing serious, shy and embarrassed. "He Is only a great good friend to all of us, and he has so encouraged my singing that It hns made me more anxious thun ever to please him." Early In November Mrs. Bruce, the children and Rhoda went to the Florida winter home where the family spent four months of the year. Therp were anticipated happy days In the prettv bungalow when Mr. Bruce should join them later on. It was Just two weeks before Christmas when Mrs. Bruce decided to take a trip North and remain with her husband until the holidays, when he would be ready to accompany her to Fair Villa. It was a few days after her coming that her hushand said to her: "Laura, Doctor Merrltt has fairly haunted the house evenings since you went away. I met him today nnd told him of our plans, and he was especially pressing In his Inquiries uhotit Rhoda. I presume he Will be here this evening to ask you ' nnl Rhode," but the young physician lid not materialize as expected, and the next day the Unices understood that DC had left the city. It wus two day before Christmas when the dreadful news came of the 1 mister In the South. Fair Villa had been practically swept off the map; 'heir winter home had been carried av hj the raging waters. Telegrams contained vogue nnd distracting de- li Us, 1 'hey had no reason 10 hope i Ihell loved ones had t scaped the (.'iieral fate of those who were tnlss. . among the former residents of the ''e Itiliirid town. They were now ready to go South snd seek a truce of thou two little children ntul of Uhoda. ii whom they had so trustingly left III i n charge. "It must he the taxi." spoke Mr. Brtiee, arousing with a sigh from his iiiilntnl reverie as the doorbell rgug nut he crossed the outer threshold to come face to face with Doctor Merrltt. The manner and words of the latter were Jarring to the bruised sensibilities sensibili-ties of the bereaved fother, for the voung physician wus radiant of face. His eyes suggested a fervent exhilaration exhilara-tion us he greeted Mr. Bruce with rlot-uis rlot-uis embrace and waved his hand gay-ly gay-ly to Mrs. Bruce, who had followed her husband into the hallway. "A glad and merry Christmas to both of you!" hailed Doctor Merrltt jubilantly. "You haven't heard?" spoke Mr. Bruce In a low, reproachful tone. "Why, what do you mean?" questioned ques-tioned Doctor Merrltt. "The disaster at Fair Villa the children." chil-dren." "Why, bless you!" fairly shouted the doctor "they are right here!" Harold Bruce wavered against the wall for support. Mrs. Bruce uttered n wild scream. Across the threshold from the porch there rushed little Etta and her brother. Joy, delight ecstasy mitigated the shock of what at first stunned the frantic parents as an appearance from the dead. "And last, but not least, she whosf mission in life seems ever to be to bring healing and happiness, nnd love. ' tnd peace to all those who are dear to I her!" In a gently reverent tone con- I tlnued Doctor Merrltt, and with su- j preme satisfaction the young physician I Mewed the five reunited ones In u I Jiaze of embraces, kisses and tears. ; Uhoda. clinging to Mrs. Bruce, hid her fsce In modest confusion, as Doctor Merrltt recited her brave battle jfj jigalnst the elements In a great storm upon I buttered raft until she had Brought the children to safety. "But you, Doctor Merrltt?" propounded pro-pounded Mrs. Bruce wonderingly 'how came you to be at Fair Villa?'' "1 arrived there after the disoster," was the reply. "I had gone there on a ipeclflc mission, later executed, to nsk ur peerless Rhoda, queen of all wotn- t'-rfgi --, tr n(':1?i ftp 'SSI V He Covered It With Kisses. inklnd, to become my wife," and as ithoda extended her hnnd he covered t with kisses and pressed it to his lappy, happy heart. "If there was a mistletoe here I Aoubl march you two promptly under t!" threotened Mrs. Bruce, immersed n thrilling Joy and gratitude. "There shull be one before Christ-mis Christ-mis morning arrives !" cried Doctor Merrltt in tones thnt rang out like a I 'heer. "t'onie. Bruce, you and I on a. I "iunt for Snnta Onus and the choicest I Jtlfts he can bestow, ON ! nowhere in I 'he world, and never to auy others. I hits there come a happier, merrier Christmas than the one we shall cele-tirute!" cele-tirute!" I I |