The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1916-03-27
SHELTER PORT
BY izoLA FORESTER.

V+~tT-tTiE+++.t+t.t.t.t.t.t.t.Ef.t++45
Ben laughed, lounging in the door
way with the Gordon setter nosing at
his hand
You'd tuck any one under your
wing. wouldn't you, Aunt Polly. if he
needed it? Old Brookside Farm is a |
regular. Port of Shelter in time of trou-
ble."
The next day he drove down to meet |
Aunt Polly's latest waif of chance |
Loving and motherly by nature, with |
no child of her own to pet and tend,
she always seemed to be giving out |
help to some one.
Her sister Esther had written to her
about Myrtis hampton. She had been
brought up in one of the church homes
at Wakefield, the orphaned daughter
of a schoolmate of Esther's
When she was eighteen, Esther
found her position at the town Ii
brary and kept an eye on her. until
the girl had come down in the winter
with typhoid fever. She needs loving
and chirking up, that's ALL"
Ben agreed heartily when he saw
the lone figure get off the Providence
train and come toward him. White
faced she was. with big blue eyes, and
he knew by the way she got into the
carriage she was still weak and shaky.
Through the long summer days she
lay out under the naples in the ham,
mock getting stronger slowly. Miss
| Calder would sit near in one of the
rustic rockers. reading or sewing. sing
ing softly to herself and ready with a
smile when Myrtis wakened.
| I'm so useless. Aunt Polly" she
| said one day. I'm no more good to
you than weed"
Some weeds have turned out heal
/ ing herbs. dearie," answered Aunt Pol
ly happily. Il Just dread to think of
going away" she said to Miss Calder
one day in early August. The latter
looked at her over the tops Of her
glasses
well. I shouldn't If was you, Myr
It's she responded. pleasantly. why
don't you take the school examination
over here at the crossroads and teach
there. It's twelve a week, and you
could board here II you liked
do you think I'd pass?" she asked
eagerly.
"Of course you would, child
taught there myself years ago when
out here to teach I'll write to the
school board tomorrow, and you bet
ter let me drive you over there and
face it. I'll coach you up on It,"
Ben said nothing when he heard OF
the plan, but he smiled across the
table at Myrtis, and she colored deli
cately
when the weather's rough this win
ter Ben can drive over with you" said
Aunt Polly happily, so busy serving
dinner she never noticed what wat
happening right under her nose. Like
enough you won't be bit lonesome
3 out here Would you rather go back to
Esther and do library work."
3 "Oh. I'd much rather be here will
3 you," Myrtis exclaimed. Its home
8 now"
We'll, Just stay. then, child. We love
Q to have you. Don't we. Ben"
Y Certainly do said Ben. Seems a!
|. II you belonged here now. Aunt Poll!
< took me when was a little shaver
Q after my folks died and brought me-
up, and I know how love the place.
q The letter came the following weel
+ notifying the new teacher of her ap
= pointment, and Aunt Polly was. 4
|, anything. more enthusiastic thar
I Myrtis herself. She went about thu
house singing. and Myrtis stole dowI
g to the walk by the brook in the pint
/, glen Just to think how wonderful life
4 had turned out for her. 1t was so goot
: Just to be wanted and loved after one
had been a waif on the waves o
chance and circumstance.
The hemlock branches cracked OF
the slope above where she sat. Ber
called hello to her.
Have you seen the black calf any
where?"
Not down here
I've been hunting 1t for an hour,
he declared without qualm. Ht
swung down the slope and landed OF
: the rocks Just below her. Don't you
love this place? | used to come here
when | was a little fellow and lister
: to the water as it broke over the rocks
I'm glad you're going to stay
/ IT'S dear of Aunt Polly to let me
1t s. all her doing. She Just shows yol
the right way to go somehow ant
makes 1t seem easy. l was afraid te
face the winter alone"
you wouldn't have had to-" Der
D blurted out. Il wasn't going to lei
you go away" He stopped and looked
:, up at her as she sat on the bank. ferns
and pine needles around her. I'D have
I told you right straight on. Now, sup
D pose ought to wait till spring
Y Myrtis was silent. Her chin leaning
: on her hand. she looked down at the
e brook, afraid to meet the big boys
eyes.
? It's natural for you to stay here.
!, he went on. The place will be mine
: some day, and Aunt Polly loves you
You can teach this winter II you wanl
! to, but the minute you get tired. Ayr
I tbs, want you to quit, and I've go'
, mothers wedding ring she gave me
: when she died. and told me some da,
. 1t would be for the girl loved best
, Myrtis, can't you say anything at al
to me?"
. She met his eyes with tear-filleC
ones, and held out her hands to him
, whispering: I'm so glad, Ben"