The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, December 10, 1919, Image 19
(out
~ by
RALPH HAMILTON
r'
(Copyright, 1919. by WesLerd Newspaper Unlon.)
v TIN shades of the pretty
home were' pulled down
and the gloom of dusk
was alleviated by one
light only in the room
Where the mourning
denizens, Harold Bruce
land llls wife, Laura, sat. They were
awaiting the arrival of a taxicab or
dered in time to catch an evening train
for the Soultlh. Both were somber
faced and wearied of mien. They had
not slpoken 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 exi):es
slon upon his face as though exerting
the -itmost will power to repress the
poignant emotion which consumed himi.
Without, joyous shouts echoed, the
sound of merry sleigh bells tinctured
the air with Christmas eve fervor, and
tile 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 dIesolated beyond repair,
plou!!t memories ever present, they
scarce dared to rest their glance upon
the portiis of two smiling, hapll)py
faces lookling down from a heavily
framl ed ie ture, for, only that morning
they ind received the terrible news
thait ' thu origial ls, their only clil
dren, Don, aged sir, and (tN, two
years his jnimor, had been vici ms,
wtIhi illy othertlis, o f a disaster by
cyclone and flood that had devastated
the district whire thy had their win
terlhl inl Florida.
All thy knew was that the pretty
bungalow and ninny dthers, wi i their
oe''upanits, 11:n1 heenl swept, away, anid
hunadreris wore said to have pwrished,
and10 lio word lia 1beeni received as to
the ftte of thelr o lit ile ones, nor of
loda Marsh, wlo had thil iIn charge.
hodi Marsl had collie ilto their
thoughts almiost ai frequently as little
Elta mnd hir brother. Each recalled
that it was a Christmas eve four years
Allf
Both Were Somber-Faced and Wearied
of Mien.
back when Iharold Br-uce had come
home fr-om the funeral of his mother,
bringing with him a wistful-eyed, sad
faced mite of a gir-l.
"Laura,'' lie said to his wife, "this is
Rhoda Marsh, a poor orphan chiid
wvhomu my mother adioptedh, who has
given her the tenderest care to the last
hour of' her lfe and was ai lessing to
her- 01(1 age.. She is left without a
hioime. Should we give her one?"
"We should, nnd we shall," came the
quick reply, as Mrs. Bruce gazed into
the( -arnuest, longing eye-s ofC the girl of
fourteen, and readi there truth andtiut in
not-enie andit a soulfual appeal to nill
thnt wats 11 mternail andiui sympaltthilzing
in her nature.
It proved to be a wise andl fortuitous
choice. As t he cildreI n caine longlf
Rhoda proved to them11 a true iand lov
ing sIter, nurls5 andio Cfri end.
TPhen cnmo a1 test of' the titlelty and
setlf--uirlieo of thie girl just merging
intt) young womllanhaind. Both of the
chiilren were taikon downi wih a dIan
gerous contagious malady. Th'le house
was quarantined. Rhoda braivedi the
perils of infect ion. Daly anid night sheC
was the constant alttndant of Donl
andl Etta. She found so sure a hovinig
place in the hearts (If those she had
benefitedl, that her eyes heamed with
joy and happiness whenever she was
In their presence.
The physician who attended the
children was Albion Merritt. IIe had1(
enteredl the professio~n the p~rotede of a
wealthy man, and had acquired a
elientele of' pironminence and a large
liconme. It was when the little once
were convalescent that lie had conmc to
Mr. Bruce, who was a clo~se personal
friend.
"Bruce," he said, "I cannot find
words to express my admliiration and
resipect, yes, and something deeper, for
that sweet little heroine, Rhoda, whose
studious care of the children, far more
than my uiniistr-ations, is responsible
for their recovery."
"Yes," answecred Mr. Bruce with
genuine fervor in his tones. "she in a
owe to this yoor waif wvho IiFn eti
deared herself to us as though she
were our own daughter."
Doctor Merritt proved his expressed
sentinients by very often visiting the
Bruce home after that. The children
loved him and he would drop i for an
hour or t.wo and play with them and
talk with Rhoda and listen to her sing
ing at the piano, for music with Rhoda
was ter one great passion. There
never was a visit on his part that
thoda did not greet him with a beautl
fil, tender flush upon her fair, expres
sive face, and one night her kindly
benefactors indulged in playful badi
nage when she accompanied Doctor
Merritt to the door.
"Doctor Merritt has become quite a
beau-eh, Rhoda?" intimated Mr.
Bruce.
"Three times in a week," spoke Mrs.
Bruce. "Rhoda dear, he is a loyal
chevalier." ,
"Please don't," pleaded Rhoda, look
Ing serious, shy and embarrassed. "He
is only I great good friend to all of us,
and lie has so encouraged my singing
that it has made me more anxious than
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. There
were anticipated happy days in the
pretty bungalow when Mr. Bruce
should join them later on. It was just
two weeks before Christmas when AMrs.
Bruce decided to take a trip North and
remain with her husband . until the
hollhys, when he would be ready to
accompany her to Fair Villa. It was
a few days after her coming that her
husband said to her: "Latura, Doctor
Merritt is fairly haunted the house
evenings silte yout went away. I tii(.
hin today and told himti of our plans.
nnd he was espeeally pressing in hi is
inquiriesr about Rhoda. I presutmte lie
wiii o lbehre this evenling to ask you
ah1ut 1?hitda,"' but tLe young phyelefan
did not mat erialize as exitedttel, aInd
the next day the Bruces understood
that he had left the city.
It was two days before Christmas
whon the dreadful news camie of the
i isosteor in the South. Fair Villa had
been practically swept off the map;
their winter home had been carried
awiy by tite raging waters. Telegrais
contained vague and distracting de
tails. They had no reason to hope
that Iteir loved onos hind escaped the
general fate of those who were miss.
ing aniong the former residents of the
little intlatil town. They were now
ready to go South and seek a trace of
their two little children and of Rhoda.
in wloit they had so trustingly left
iten in charge.
"It must be the taxi," spoke Mr.
Bruee, arousing with a sigh from his
painful reverle as the doorbell rang,
but lie crossed the outer threshold to
come face to face with Doctor Merritt.
'llhe manner and words of -the latter
were Jarring to the bruised sensibill
ties of the bereaved father, for the
young physician was radiant of face.
Ills eyes sulggosted a fet'rent exhilara
tion as lie greeted Mr. Bruce with riot
ous embrace and waved hi hand -ay
ly to Mrs. Bruce, who had followed her
hausbaId into the hallway.
"A glad and merry Christaas to
Noth of you " halled Doctor Merritt
jiuhlianttly.
"You haven't heard?" spoke Mr.
Bruce in a low, reproachful tone.
"Why, what do you mean?" ques
tioned D octor Merritt.
"i'Te disastecr at Fair Villa-the chil.
dren."
"Why, bless youI" fairly shouted
the dloctor-"thtey are right here!1"
Iharold Bruce wavered against the
wail for supporit. Mrs. Bruce uttered
a wid scream.. Across the threshold
from the porch there rushed little
Etta and hter brother. Joy, delight,
ecstasy mtitigated the shock of what at
ihrst stunned thte frantic parents as an
appearance from the dleadh.
"And lr.st, bitt not least, shte whose
mission ini life seems ever to be to
bring healing and happiness, and love,
and pttace to all those whlo are (lear to
her!" in a gently reverent tone con
tinueid lDoct or Merrit t, and1( with su
preme saitisfacetioun the young physieian
viewed the fliye r-eunted onets in a
matze of emibraces, kisses aimi tears.
Ilioda, el inuginmg to Mars. I ltuce, id her
fac'e ina mtodest conf u~lst, as Doctor
Me'rritIt recited he r bravo battle
aiginstt the e'lements5 it ai groat tstorm
uponil i ai batteredl raZft uil i site had(
brought. te chillrent to sasfety.
"Butt you, D~oelor Merr'tit t?" pro
pounded M rs. iruuce wontderinrgly
"hlowv came you'3't to beo at Fatir Viilla?"'
"'I ari~vedt thiere afteor thet disaster,''
wvas thte reply. "I htad gonts t here on a
spe'cihle mission,. latter executed, to ask
our peerless Rhoda, queen of' all worn
ankind, to beocomic tmy wife," ands as
Rhoda extendedl her hand1( he covered
it with kisses and pressed it to his
happy, hapijpy heart.
"If there was a mistletoe lhere I
wutild mtarch you two promptly under
it 1" thtrentedt Mrs. Bruce, immersed
in thrilling joy and gratitude.
"There shall be one before Christ
inus nmornitng arrives I" cried Doctdr
Merritt in tones that rang out like a
cheer. "Come, Brutce, you and I on a
hunt for Santa Clauts antd thte choicest
gifts lie can bestow, Oht! nowhere 'in
the worild, ed~ never to any others,
has there comte a happier, merrier
Christmas titan the one wve shall cele
brate I" ________
Peace Maneuver.
"You always play thte phtonograph
during mneats."
"Yep," replied Fitrmer Corntossel.
"'Ta in't that we care for the music,
hiut we waunt to do everythIng possible
to keep -thte summer boarders frnva
talkin' about the League of Natlo'ns?
*. * * * * * * S S * S S * e e * S S
Cross 11111, Dec. 8.-The Baptist 75
close hCreSatuiday when the last res
Ilsherlon Cauparda was laosght to a
1dent mimber had sigiied up for his
a)Lrt of the fun d. With an apportion
mIenf. of $15,000 as the mininiun for
the church at this place this luota
was passed early in the week and
whlen the 'linal count caie'the sub
scriptions1 had gone a little over $17,
000.
McKen'zle & Douglas of Greenville
were here again Saturdqy n ith anoth
er lot of mules which %%cre offered for
sale at auction. A good crowd was
present and a number were bid off at
fairly good prices, though the bidding
was not generally enthusiastic.
Air. II. L. AlCSwain is having erected
a cotton warehouse oin the lot; recent
ly purchased at the Laci epa (d real es
tale sale. The building will have a
capacity of 600 bales an( Is expected
to be ready for use In a week or two.
A.r lnoch Pinson has the contract
and Is pushing the work as fast as
Circumstances will permit.
Miss Annie Rudd ,wa; at Greenwood
several days last week becauce of ithe
sickness of her nIece, Muss Ploride
Rudd at Lander College.
Mr. Wi. G. Boazman,, who recently
suffered the painful accident of hav
faliglo, ~o~gWe "'and ho~P'e s t o
be up again fi a short while.
The Cross 11111 lodge,.No. 159 A. F.
M., held their annual December
1neeting last F'ri(a1y eveling. Ac
cording to the varilois official reports
this lodge has closed the Imost. suc
cessfu l and prosperous ycai in its
hitory of fivo years exi stence. IlI the
point'.. of mIembership, wolI, and gen
eial progress the year 1919 has been
its bCt, Five years ago the lodge was
or",anized by a few membrs of this
fratervnit under Ithe i(1atw4!Siers ip '01
All. J. .". Guhiwhose unt11iin ef-1
forts I-: ve larg'ely contributed to its
sUeCC!*!. I'nid ! preseit s aI
:on n :mieo; it Iliuture pros
perily very iight. There is :-oI(!
talk cf :'v: hlul for the organiza
tionl w!'.' it is hoped will soonl ma1
Zezia t':o a more sttabhle and con I -
venint n felg place. At thev miee
IIIn F' iday iiglt Ilie followiig o iers
wte i el ted for the eisuin g. year':
Joe .. Carter, W. M., Cha.. S. Pin
SoS. 8. W.: I lenry G. Cilbertson, J.
Wi Chlud .1. llipp, Treas.: W. PaIl
A.\ -:. 8ce.: G. )ewey Nelson, S. D.;
W ;'lic T". Itoycev, .1. D.: .1a . , . Vuh IP
and Il-"v. W. 1). IRatchford, Stewards;
.Joh1n I. Wells, Tyler.
.\Mr. T. Miller Pinson was also elect
ed ;eltgate to tihe State rand
I~land and left lere Sunday aft0rlooln
for C(hrl cstoa to attend tihe meeting
of that body Which be;;ins tomorrow.
We can furnish you with a first-class Wood Saw irnmo
complete with 30-inch Cut Off Saw for $43.50. To any
one sending ti this adv. with check for $-15.00, we will
lirepay freight on na1e and delivc to youtr freight of
llee. We also have large s tock of Iloilier TubeF, Pi poe,
lumns, Cylinders and Well Point,.
COLUMBIA SUPPLY COMPANY
823 WEST GERVAIS S TRE ET, COLUMBIA, S. C.
45-tt
Automobile Liability Insurance
DOES NOT COST MUCH
IT PROT'E'CTS YOl' A43"AINS'I' 0t'IT OtIllC\.NI)S
*MA)E' ON Y.Ol' I'tl? l'IliS(NAl( INJltES
(UA I'SEI) MY YO1l1 CAlR, AS WE11i
. \S 111 1
I'h w us for I)arti irv .s1. "
BARKSDALE & ROPER
A--&on A.-100
Shop Early---Shop Mornings Shop Early---Shop Mornings
V.V
APPROPR]ATE PRESNTS
Do Your Christmas Shopping
IAT -- -
Minter Co.'s Cash Departrment Store
Christmas is just 1 5 days off--You should begin NOW to do your Christmas
trading Uafore the big Rush is On---You find it a pleasure to shop in this
Big Store xO h its large and varied stocks. We are anticipating the largest
Christmas business in our history and are well prepared to meet the
demands of the de.__
Furs as Christmas Presents Silk Shirt Waists for Christmas
Whadit iiluhl b oie irtha bi g hRsh i- fO nir a plo ier.'ee ts
iSte ieore Iv,,n'hits! lrg e an d arly .stockib s . Weae niip tng te-ag s
thrims $12. . $. ..$25.00 t$5000 are. well p a000
Christmas Sale of Coat Suits
Wha t c losbe I levery11: 11oa0l. l u I'l ] i ,11n I4 1 Phrehesetb
-an r. 1s anl have rdi i i s to) we theii. (W'tt. i )I'- 0i '0$
i et t~ttIhis big saivin<. ~c'tbi s.$ 0 50
$s5.(J() ("'out Siiit . .. .... . ........ ..............$65.00
$75t.(tt ('itnt. Sits .... ... . .... .... .... .........$54.75 L d e 'B t o e
..00k P.i(t ( uits .... ........ .... ... . .... . ...$44.98
$51i ('o.i Siit. .... .... .... . ... ...... .... ....$38.98 it) $50.0i $1.25, $ (0 , $9.0
c3.ji*(( ('tict 8itits .... .... .... .... .... ..........$28.98 ttlti' Iii Itti.$2$.7
Christmas Sale of Dresses Sil Underwear
" l . ir*1 s .... .... .... .... .... ..$1500
.." Cnd 1) .0 - e /I .... .... .... .. .... ....$3 .98
$ 0).00 ; Si . .. .... .... .... .... .... ..(27.. 98
. $10.00 '4a '4 1S .. . . . .. . . . .. . . . .. .$ 89 A id-i" ka l 6 1sc .. . . . . .c. 2.5 37
5- 0 ), -tS uts .... .... .... .. ..... .... .... ...$159 8
Ladies' and Children's Bedroom
Slippers P ~~t~~~~', to.25
C nhr ftheast aleth of Dess sAflvI*Nl 0
L.tlies' elt lip i rs . ... . .. .. . $1.75, $2.00 ;..1 $2 50
'ihiren's o.1t Slip er ... . .. ... . . ...$1.25 ;.i $1.50B
Dolls! Dolls!! ibsci$20.$50
W h (1* .ille ic - New. York r...n. w.. .... .he $'27n y for~se o u ailln r
iAibeai iful lin o iGecr- I'-iiWaIflie 'hriti-' :t;P
44 7. Dresse i .... .... .... u.... .... .... i $4.0.9 .8 $10.00
MinterCo.'sCashSDlartmntrwear
madis' anderChifsesBah iRO
., r nM_, ) .*- -I I I l ohe s .. . . . ... .. . . .$ 0i 9 5