The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1917-10-05

JNu ItlihC " oNAOOAs AAO WIS ehN hANaNA
attendant of the day. There was n
snowstorm that night. When Rhoda,
her arctics in place, started for her
school duties next morning, she was
surprised to find a two-foot cleared
track running from the door into the
road along 1t past the timber stretch
and straight up to the very door Of the
schoolhouse. She glanced approvingly
at Jed during the morning session, but
he seemed insenslble to the attention.
'sThank you, jedi" spoke Miss Ford
as, at recess, she passed him at the
door.
"What for. ma'am?" inquired Jed in
nocently.
"The nice clear path you shoveled
for me this morning"
"Why, that wasn't me. Say, did
some one7 Why, 1t was him, of
course ~ exclaimed Jed, with n sudden
burst of intelligence.
"And who is 'himTn inquired Rhoda,
curiously.
'aThe man gave YOUR lunch to-"
"AIy-lunchy repeated Rhoda myO-
tilted.
Eyes, ma'am. oh. that's SOL didn't
tell you, did 1? You see, didn't eat
your lunch, although was nigh fam
ished. ] gave It to fellow who need
ed it ten times worse than did,
reckon"
"Who was 1t. Jedr asked Rhoda,
with rising interest.
"a young man, tall, dark and hand
some. He's been hanging around the
town for a week. Stranger. My broth
er Bill, who works at the post office,
says he calls there half dozen times
a day, so he must be waiting around
for some letter"
"But what about the lunch?" pressed
Rhoda.
why, just as | was going to eat ii,
after leaving you, narrated Jed, Il
saw him sitting on a tree stump. He
looked starved and half.frozen. i
thought to myself, maybe you're sort
of prodigal son, Ike myself went
up to him and said, You look hungry,
Mister Pretty near he said, with a
sigh that hit me hard. set the lunch
down beside him. l told him how /
came by it. That dainty, pretty miss,
he says-'Bless herr
did he say thatr breathed Rhoda,
flushing quite delightedly.
"He did, and say II, too, ma'am,"
iterated Jed, CALAMITY. ''He tried to
make me take back the lunch. just
ran away. was glad. Looking back,
saw him just devourlng that lunch
like starved wolf"
Dainty, pretty miss"-Rhoda was
somehow pleased with the phrase. She
was glad, too, that her sacrifice had
done second duty. The air of mystery
about the stranger Interested her. His
grateful recognition of her charity in
shovellng the path In the snow had q
certain element of romance about 1t.
1t was the next day, and Rhoda and
her little sister were in the barn gath
ering eggs from the nest, when there
was rustic In the haymow overhead.
Mercy met breathed Rhoda, as
there followed a human groan. Some
one is up there. Run and tell mother,
Gertrudel'
Rhodas big brother, Tom, appeared
with Mrs. Ford. The others timldly
followed, rs Tom assembled the stairs.
Lying on the hay was tossing, f.
vered form. From Jed's description
Rhoda at once recognized the mysterl-
Gus stranger and comprehended the
situation.
They were good, heartsome folks, the
Fords, At a glance they knew the
trespasser was no tramp.
There's something for us to do here,
mother" declared Tom, and an hour
later the sufferer was lying on com
Portable bed in Toms room.
1t was three days before the stran-
ger rallied from the effects of the cold
and lack of nourishment Rhoda came
home from school one afternoon to
find their guest dressed and clean
shaven, seated before the glowing CRATE
of the sitting room. An elderly man,
too, was there. He came forward with
both hands extended, as If they were
old friends or relatives.
"And this is Miss Rhoda, l know |"
he exclaimed. my dear, l am the
uncle Of the young man for whom you
and your blessed family have done so
much" and he dubbed over with
gratitude and commentator in the
story he told of an independent neph-
ew seeking to find his fortune in the
cold outside world and failing utterly.
"And 1 was away from home and
didn't get Gerald's letter until yester-
day" explained the old man. "Ahl
he has had hard experience ],
too for was sort of domineering with
the boy. Wen both be better for 1t
ALL"
'This is the road where you cleaned
the snow last winter" reminded
Rhoda, six months later, as her now
frequent visitor, Gerald Wayne. and
she strolled toward the schoolhouse.
"You were very hungry those days,
weren't you, Mr.. Wagner"
Il have been hungry ever SINCE" de-
clared Gerald.
She regarded him wonderingly.
Hungry for your lovel" he ex-
planned, and new sweet delight was
singing in the happy heart Of his fair