The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1916-07-06
SHELTER PORT
BY izoLA FORESTER.


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, ii 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 schoolmate of Esther's.
When she was eighteen. Esther
found her position at the town H.
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 of 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 q
smile when Myrtis wakened.
I'm so useless. Aunt Polly" she
said one day. I'm no more good to
you than a weed"
Some weeds have turned out heal.
Ing herbs. dearie," answered Aunt Pol.
~ happily. II 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, shouldn't If was you, Myr.
tis.' 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 IL 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, 50 busy serving
dinner she never noticed what was
happening right under her nose Like
enough you won't be bit lonesome
out here Would you rather go back tc
Esther and do library work."
"Oh. I'd much rather be here with
you," Myrtis exclaimed. cts hone
now
well. just stay. then, child. We love
to have you. Don't we. Benz"
Certainly de-" said Ben. Seems az
II you belonged here new. Aunt Polly
took me when I was a little shaver
after my folks died and brought me
up, and know how 1--we the place. ;
The letter came the following week
notifying the new teacher CT her ap
pointnent, and Aunt Polly was, II
anything, more enthusiastic than
Myrtis herself. She went about the
house singing. and Myrtis stole down
to the walk by the brook in the pine
glen Just to think how wonderful life
had turned out for her. It was so good
Just to be wanted and loved after one
had been a wait on the waves OF
chance and circumstance.
The hemlock branches cracked on
the slope above. where she sat. Ben
called hello to her.
Have you seen the black calf any
where"
"Not down here"
1--WE been hunting 1t for an hour"
he declared without a qualm. He
swung down the slope ard landed on
the rocks Just below her. Don't you
love this place? l used to ccr1e here
when / was little fellow and listen
to the water as it broke over the rocks,
I'm glad you're going to stay"
ITS dear of Aunt Polly to let me.
It's all her doing. She Just shows you
the right way to go somehow and
makes it seem easy. I was afraid to
face the winter alcne."
"You wouldn't have had to-" Ben
blurted out. Il wasn't going to let
you go away" He stopped ard looked
up at her as she sat On the bank, ferns
and pine needles around her. I'D have
told you right straight CT. Now, I sup.
pose ! ought to wait till spring"
Myrtis was silent. Her chin leaning
on her hand, she looked down at the
brook, afraid to meet the big boys
eyes.
"lt'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 want
to. but the minute you get tired, Myr-
tbs. want you to quit, and I've got
mothers wedding ring she gave me