Morris tribune., 1889-12-25
Cant WE GET ALBERT BAcK?"

And so when Helen next paid the Merritt
homestead visit she found the fortress of the
old mans heart ready to yield. She had the
day before received a copy Of The Tekeewah
Bugle, in which she found the following
paragraph half way down crudely written
account of a fire in that enterprising town:
"We should utterly fail in our duty to our
readers if we omitted to take more than pass
ing note of the heroic conduct of one of our
young townsmen, a prominent and efficient
member of Avalanche Engine company No.
l. Of course we refer to Mr. Albert Merritt,
than whom a braver man never drew breath.
No sooner had it become known that child
was in the burning building than, at the risk
of his own life, Mr.. Merritt rushed into the
smoke and flames, dashed up the stairs almost
at bound, and, cropping about in the sitting
heat. found the infant, fought his way through
the fire to the window, for by this time the
stairway was burning, and jumped to the
ground with his precious burden safe on his
arms. He was greeted with such cheer as
only Tekeewah throats can give. We regret
to be obliged to add that Mr.. Merritt suffered
painful, though not necessarily dangerous,
injury in the breaking of an arm, which was
struck by falling timber. He was also
rather severely burned. 1t is hoped, how
This paper Helen brought with her but
carefully hidden. She had determined, If
need be, to show it to the stern father, but
she proposed to hold it for the last resort.
But her manner for, though ordinarily calm,
she was now much excited betrayed her,
and as soon as William Merritt looked into
her face he knew that she knew something of
Albert; and her unwonted agitation, as he
gazed fixedly at her, convinced him that
something was amiss with his son. Mrs.
Merritt was about to speak when her hus-
band interrupted her in strained, quivering
tones:
ssHelen Blake" he said, 'sis Albert dead!
Tell me the TRUTH"
There was world of paternal love in the
old mans voice now. But for moment
Helen said nothing. for she felt that were she
to speak she would instantly and completely
lose her self control. So with deprecatory
gesture and white face she walked to the
window to compose herself, while the father
and mother wafsGd in suspense After lit
tie she turned again to them, and, with a re-
assuring look toward Mrs. Blake, who sat
with clasped hands and parted lips, she took
the paper from her pocket.
II would like toread to you an article from
The Tekeewah kansas Bugle," she said, in
as steady voice as she could command. And
then she read the account of the fire, from
headlines to dash, without break, and with
out looking up. When she had done she
raised ner eyes Mrs. Blake was crying qui
etly and the old man was quite broken down.
"Helen," he said, reaching out both hands
to the girl, sits no use. can't be hard
ened old fool no longer. Can't we get Albert
back here with us? Hadn't better go out to
that gal baby" "I tell you," he said, ''it
takes the boys from old Indianny to do things
Now, mind me one time before came west
of how little Jimmy Jones fell into the river,
m jumped right in without stopping to
peel a Bit And then he reeled off a
wholly imaginary yarn of his own bravery,
while Albert smiled and the rest listened open
mouthed. When Albert had read his letter
he said, quietly:
''Sam, Pm going home for Christmas.
shall start as soon as can do it safely"
Sam was astounded, but he did not remon-
strate, and finally concluded to go, too, "just
to take care of AL" he explained to the boys.
But secretly he was glad of the excuse.