The San Francisco call., 1910-01-15
THE SEQUEL OF A SACRIFICE

pointed" said Media, smiling.
Media looked up at the old mansion
which had braved the storms and
smiled in the sunshine almost a hun
dred years. The great wooden door
looked just as it did when auntie-
played hi ie and seek with Martha 20
years ago The wide vine covered
veranda was furnished with rugs
tables and easy chairs, hammock and
pillows scattered invitingly here and
there. How festful 1t all looked
lust then the door opened and
white hal cd old lady stepped out upon
the verapda, pausing a moment to look
about Seeing two people upon the
rustic seat she came feebly down the
granite steps. Media noticed how
dainty she looked in, her white lace
cap with lavender loops the soft gray
gown. the gold trimmed spectacles and
the downy white shawl thrown over
her shoulders How harmonious were
her surroundings. AS she came toward
them Media arose.
"You must pardon us for this in
t1usion We did not know any one
lived here and we came up to spend an
hour or more among the trees It's
auntie's favorite pace because of early
associations, and she just loves to
come"
Let me assure you of a welcome"
said the lady, extending her hand to
aunt. But won't you come in the
house?"
They declined, so she seated herself
beside them and smilingly said: May
ask what pleasant association you
refer to?"
why said auntie one of my dear
est friends lived here and ] was with
her a good part of my time.
The iady's eyes frightened. Would
you tell me her name?" she asked.
Martha Allhoff and she has been
dead many years" said aunt.
Can it be that you are Bertha
Bertha Davis?" the lady said softly.
Media sprang to her feet She was
astonished at what she saw. Her aunt
had her arms about the old lady and
was crying softly on her shoulder and
murmuring in. broken words of sur
prise and joy.t
How different was Medals day COM
pared with that of the girls who went
hazel nutting They never dreamed
Media was passing the time away in
the. beautiful Alhoff mansion. How
delightful to lounge in the leather
Morris chair and lose herself in the
tempting books about the room while
her aunt and her new found friend sat
in the sunny bay window across the
room and kept up an incessant chatter.
They had been separated over SO years
and, of course, both must renew their
lifes history. How strange to meet In
this fashion. Aunt had married and
moved away. After an absence of 40
years she returned to find the Allhoff
home closed and her girl friend gone
Then she heard she had died while
travelling abroad, and so they chatted
on for hours. They paused quite often
to brush tear from their faded eyes.
To Media it was fairyland and fairy
tale. A few days later auntie, Media
and the old dog came up the hill once
more, but they did not walk. Martha
had sent her phaeton to bring them in,
for they had come to stay. She decided
as they were both widows and girlhood
friends, that they must pass the re-
naming years of their life together
and Media and her young company could
cheer them on their way.
This was many years ago and Media
is now the LADY of the house" Two
green mounds in the cemetery side by
side tell of an early friendship and two
reunited hearts. Medals unselfish char
acter, strong sense of duty and kind
ness. brought happiness TO all three
and proves that little trifies change
the course of life