Jasper County Democrat, Volume 22, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 December 1919 — One Christmas Eue [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

One Christmas Eue

by RALPH HAMILTON

(Copyright. ISIS. by Wwt.ra Nawiptper Ualoa.) shades of the pretty — ■Fvw home were pulled down w va and the gloom of dusk was alleviated by one light onl y in th® room IS®ayßsi®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 they had received the terrible news that the originals, their only children, 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 home in Florida. All they knew was that the pretty bungalow 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 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 Doni Rhn fnnnd «nrA a loving I

place in the hearts of those she had benefited, that her eyes beamed with joy and happiness whenever she was in thdlr presence. The physician who attended the chllty'en was Albion Merritt. He had entered the profession the protege of a wealthy man, and had acquired a clientele of prominence and a large incqme. 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, and 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

Jewel of worth and constancy. Both my wife and myself realize what we owe to this poor waif who has endeared herself to us as though she were our own daughter.” Doctor Merritt proved his expressed sentiments by very often visiting the Bruce home after that. The children loved him and he would drop in for an hour or two and play with them and talk with Rhoda and listen to her singing at the piano, for music with Rhoda was her one great passion. There never was a visit on his part that Rhoda did not greet him with a beautiful, tender flush upon her fair, expressive face, and one night her kindly benefactors indulged In playful badl 4 nage when she accompanied Doctor Merritt to the door. “Doctor Merritt has become quite a beau—eh, Rhoda?” intimated Mr. Bruce. I “Three times in a week,” spoke Mrs. Bruce. “Rhoda dear, he is a loyal chevalier." “Please don’t,” pleaded Rhoda, looking serious, shy and embarrassed. “He is only a great good friend to all of us, and he 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 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 husband said to her: “Laura, Doctor Merritt has fairly haunted the house evenings since you went away. I met him today and told him of our plans, and he was especially pressing in his inquiries about Rhoda. I presume he will be here this evening to ask you about Rhoda,” but the young physician did not materialize as expected, and the next day the Bruces understood that he had left the city. It was two days before Christmas when the dreadful news came of the disaster in the South. Fair Villa had been practically swept off the map; their winter home had been carried away by the raging waters. Telegrams contained vague and distracting details. They had no reason to hope that their loved ones had escaped the general fate of those who were missing among the former residents of the little Inland town. They were now ready to go Sduth and seek a trace of their two little children and of Rhoda, hi whom they had so trustingly left them in charge. “It must be the taxi,” spoke Mr. Bruce, arousing with a sigh from his painful reverie as the doorbell rang, but he crossed the outer threshold to come face to face with Doctor Merritt. The manner and words of the latter were jarring to the bruised sensibilities of the bereaved father, for the young physician was radiant of face. His eyes suggested a fervent exhilaration as he greeted Mr. Bruce with riotous embrace and waved his hand gayly to Mrs. Bruce, who had followed tier husband into the hallway. “A glad and merry CHMstmas to both of you!” hailed Doctor Merritt jubilantly. “You haven’t heard?” spoke Mr. Bruce in a low, reproachful tone. “Why, what do you mean?” questioned Doctor Merritt. “The disaster at Fair Villa —the children.” “Why, bless you!” fairly shouted the doctor —“they are right here!” Harold Bruce wavered against the wall for support. Mrs. Bruce uttered a wild scream. Across the threshold from the porch there rushed little Etta and her brother. Joy, delight, ecstasy mitigated the shock qf what at first stunned the frantic parents as an appearance from the dead.

-Ana iast, out not least, sne wnose mission in life seems ever to be to bring healing and haDDlness. and love, and peace to all those who are dear to her!” in a gently reverent tone continued Doctor Merritt, and with supreme satisfaction the young physician viewed the five reunited ones in a maze of embraces, kisses and tears. Rhoda, clinging to Mrs. Bruce, hid her face in modest confusion, as Doctor Merritt recited her brave battle against the elements In a great storm upon a battered raft until she had brought the children to safety. "But you, Doctor Merritt?” propounded Mrs. Bruce wonderingly—“how came you to be at Fair Villa?" “I arrived there after the disaster," was the reply. “I had gone there on a specific mission, later executed, to ask our peerless Rhoda, queen of all womankind, to become my wife,” and as Rhoda extended her hand he covered it with kisses and pressed it to his happy, happy heart. "If there was a mistletoe here I would march you two promptly under lit!” threatened Mrs. Bruce, Immersed in thrilling joy and gratitude. "There shall be one before Christmas morning arrives!" cried Doctor Merritt in tones that rang out like a cheer. “Come, Bruce, you and lon a hunt for Santa Claus and the choicest gifts he can bestow. Oh I nowhere in the world, and never to any others, has there come a happier, merrier Christmas than the one we shall celebrate !”

Sleigh bells peal with merry jingle, church bells set the air a-tingle, while with these the door bells mingle in a syncopated score, There’s the sound of happy greeting as acquaintances are meeting; there’s the knell of Christmas fleeting as the docks strike o’er and o’er; Johnnie's trumpet’s J shrieking shrilly, Philip's drum and fife’s not still; he makes attempt to drown but illy sounds of guns that outside roar. There's the squeak of Mollie's dolly, and the squawk of Dollie'apolly, and die screams of laughter jolly from this happy little four. But above all Christmas noises made by little girls and boys is one that better than all toys is; more good cheer it holds in store. •Tis the sound of mother pitchin’ things •bout out in the kitchen as she calls (she knows we’re itchin') “Come to dinner!" through the door-

Both Were Somber-Faced and Wearied of Mien.

He Covered It With Kisses.