Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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| ?fjristmaH 1 1 Euc RALPH HAMILTON If (Copyright. 1919, by Western Newspaper Union.; HE shades of the pretty j home were pulled down ' Ss and the gloom of dusk j was alleviated by one light only in the room j where the mourning denizens, Harold Bruce and his wife, Laura, sat. They were awaiting the arrival of a taxicab ordered in time to catch an evening train for the South. Both were somberfaced 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-stained eyes, the husband wore a set expression 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, poignant 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 "hnd rppplvpd fhp fprrlhle news 1 that the originals, their only dill- ' 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 1 the district where they had their winter home in Florida. ! All they knew was that the pretty trangalow and many others, with their occupants, had 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 Rhoda Marsh, who had them in charge. Rhoda Marsh had come into their thoughts almost as frequently as little Etta and her brother. Each recalled that it was a Christmas eve four years P, 2gf :?"__Ezj?> ' 9oth Were Somber-Faced and Wearied of Mien. back when Harold Bruce had come home from the funeral of his mother, bringing with him a wistful-eyed, sadfaced mite of a girl. "Laura," he said to his wife, "this is Rhoda Marsh, a poor orphan child whom my mother adopted, who has given her the tenderest care to the last hour of her life and was a blessing to her old age. She is left without a home. Should we give her one?" / "We should, and we shall," came the quick reply, as Mrs. Bruce gazed into \ the earnest, longing eyes of the girl of fourteen, and read there truth and innocence 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 along Rhoda proved to them a true and loving sister, nurse and friend. Then came a test of the fidelity and self-sacrifice of the girl Just merging Into young womanhood. Both of the children were taken down with a dangerous contagious malady. The house was quarantined. Rhoda braved the perils of infection. Day and night she was the constant attendant of Don ana tttta. sue iouna so sore a iovmg place in the hearts of those she had benefited, that her eyes beamed with joy and happiness whenever she was in their presence. - ? r The physician who attendeu the children was Albion Merrltt He had entered the profession the protege of a wealthy man, and had acquired a clientele of prominence and a large income. It was when the little ones were convalescent that he had come to Mr. Bruce, who was a close personal friend. "Bruce," he said, "I cannot find words to express my admiration and respect, yes, aud something deeper, for that sweet little heroine, Rhoda, whose studious care of the children, far more than my ministrations, is responsible for their recovery." "Yes," answered Mr. Bruce with genuine fervor in his tones, "she is a ISMp ftifitlrto? I HiBB I By J. E. SHERWIN | (Copyrlrht) fHERE never was such a doll. It was the very acme of toy invention, classic of features, graceful of form, appareled in materials duplications of the latest modes of fashion. Flexible of joints, some inner mechanism moved eyes and lips, and then it talked ?talked? Bless you! yes, in the clearest T childish accents. No wonder it did all these things, for, when Warren Brill asked the price, the salesman replied: "Seventy-five dollars, sir." "Whew I" aspirated Roy Burton, who had accompanied Brill on his Christmas shopping tour. *T11 take it," said the latter. "Why, you've gone clear daffy," remonstrated Burton. "You've got no little ones at home." "N-no, that's so," replied Warren in Ids diffident, hesitating way, "but, you see," and he grew flustered?"Miss Deere?" "Eh I Nellie Deere? Surely you're not thinking of giving that grown up beauty a doll?" "Oh, dear no!" answered Brill, and he fluttered like a frightened schoolboy. "I wouldn't dare to offer ber a gift I was thinking of presenting the doll to her little niece, Dorothy. I hope Miss Deere won't resent my taking such a liberty. Of course we're quite friendly?" "Friendly!" interrupted Burton. "That's putting it mildly, wny, everybody knows you're .? In love with Nellie, and the way Bhe favors your 4 company shows how she regards "Oh, do you J |/ think so, positive- ?0 V *' ly?" gasped Warren. His face was JrO 1 { a vast map of 1 longing hope.'Ton don't know how I 4 ?how happy you $F make me. Just put pugrtf/Jy the doll aside," to the salesman. *T shall want some special records made and Til see you later." "It's a bold scheme," soliloquized Warren, and proceeded straight back to the toy store. He sought out the salesman. "Now, as I understand it," he said, "a regular baby phonograph device Inside the doll makes it say all those cute things, when you operate a button?" "That's It," acceded the clerk. "And I can have a special record made?" "Surely. We can attend to that for you." Warren met Nellie on the street the day before Christmas, and she mentioned the fact that she had been very much disappointed as to the Christmas tree they had received, it being straggly and undersized. "Why," spoke Warren eagerly, "I saw the finest layout of .trees down at Chester only yesterday, Miss Deere. I haven't a thing to do the rest of the day. Won't yon deputize me to help give the little ones a good time?" Warren arrived at the Deere home with the tree and various packages. He helped Nellie trim the tree. He operated the tafiking doll to even the wonderment of Mr. and Mrs. Deere, who at ten o'clock indulgently retired. Warren began to act nervous. He had placed a new record specially ^ ^ by his side, hie L_?; fiQger on the butf ton. Nellie was jVV; f? looping a string LZ PP^-\I D , made to order inside the doll. He set it on a chair of holly near the ?' folding doors. She \ looked at him * \ strangely as he "Miss Deere? Nellie, I have something to say to you?that is? Ha yes?something to tell you, and can't say it Won't you please listen to what my little friend here, the doll, will say for me, and then maybe?maybe you'll say something, too." %f -111 ^ V 0 T ? - "uear neiue, x love you. x Know that you are a star high above me, and the best man In the world unworthy of you; but I can give you every luxury and add the greatest one of all?love. Say It's not altogether hopeless." Nelly blushed peony red. Then she smiled slightly, almost quizzically. She moved four steps. They brought her directly under the mistletoe. Warren arose to his feet "Oh, Nellie I" he cried, "you?you didn't get under that mistletoe on purpose?" She hung her head embarrassed, yet Inviting. He stole to her, brave as a Hon. He circled her waist with his arm. She snuggled closer; he pressed his lips to hers. "Oh, a merry Christmas to all the world," he Jubilated expansively, and in the accents there wa? the cheer of a happy, happy man. Women are to have an important j Women are now admitted to mempart in enforcing the anti-profiteer-! bership in the Hamburg Stock Exing act in England. change. Three out of every four Germans Female laundry workers in Winnimore than ninety years of age are peg, Canada, receive a minimum women still in good health. weekly wage of $9.50. j TestedandFit I BY A GRADUATE OPTICIAN Reid's Jewelry Store BAMBERG, S. C. 11Special Feature! I nVi/ttniVA TIIAOIVA I i Lcmuuuc mcaiic % Y v Y BAMBERG, S. C. f | Tuesday, Dec. 17th | | Madam Nazimova I Y V IN A I 'THE RED LANTERN" | Y Y Y DON'T MISS IT Y f ====== f Y T j? . COMING DECEMBER 30th 1 BROKEN BLOSSOMS I Y BY D. W. GRIFFITH v ; ^T^*" TAT TAT TAT "*^r ^r ^r ? A rrnnJ Iftftlf at miir nl fl Qni 1 I active a fevvu iuu? j _ ed straw "Bonnet" and then come I take a peep at our good looking new I fall "lids." You will find just the hat you want at a price you can afford to pay. Our new fall furnishings are here also?Shirts, Ties, Hose, Underwear, and everything you need to make you a well dressed man on good terms with himself. Prices? Just as low as can be put on good quality. H. C. Folk Co. I BAMBERG, S. C. J ???????? I n ????????????????? 4 Figaro Liauid Smoke ^ * Get Your Supply From PHONE 15 1 om Ducker BAMBERG, S. G. S * ' i We Can Make Your Shaving Easier | i Shaving in tha modem way?with modem utensils?is a real Dleasure rather than a nuisance. However, even some of the latest shaving devices are not a big improvement over the old. But we are in position to Know which are the most worthy, as we have had an opportunity to investigate them alL We tender you a most hearty invitation to inspect our worthy assortment of razorsstrops?hones?blades?brushes?soaps in all forms?soothing ointments?etc. . < | Mack's Drug Store BAMBERG, S. C. I " r ''' I ^ 5c a package ' before the war 1 5c a package during the war 5c a package NOW , THE FLAVOR LASTS SO DOES THE PRICE! H ' 1 ' 157 ? <* 4^.