The Wahpeton times. [volume] (Wahpeton, Richland County, Dakota [N.D.]) 1879-1919, 1917-07-12

dent of the broken bridge had rudely
disturbed 1t.
Il will, Elva," promised Maurice,
and an hour later, true to his word, he
Joined Elva ut the gate Of her lowly
home. Elva lived with an old maiden
aunt and they were even poorer than
Maurice. She greeted her lover eager.
ly. Old Mr.. Trask was all right. It
might be we'll, however, Maurice sug.
gested, to have Elva or her aunt visit
the cottage the next day and see that
he was Keeping so. Then Maurice
leaned closer to his fair companion.
CAS- was saying when that splash
startled u.s." he spoke, low-voiced and
smiling, and lower went the blushing
face Of Eliza, and his utterance faded
down to u tender whisper, and hers
was responsive, and the soft, balmy
air quivered with the echo of their
first love kiss.
Elva went to see Mr.. Trask the next
day. She found him dressed and seat.
ed in chair near to the open door
way. He was wrapped up and his face
looked pinched and troubled. It bright.
ened as Elva came into view.
II was too stricken to even thank
you and your brave, good friend yes
terday," spoke Mr.. Trask, and in a
very few minutes Elva felt easy and
friendly with the old recluse. She
detected that it was with difficulty
that he got around. Playfully and then
insistently she declared he must let
her tidy up things and started at work
forthwith. Elva was truly appalled,
at the disorder and barrenness of the
three little rooms the cottage con-
tanned. When she came to the larder
her pretty face took on a plying ex.
preston.
Some dry bread was all that she
found. Without saying a word to Mr..
Trask, she hurried away by the rear
door, reached home and went around
to the barn Of the place.
Elva had rare docile pet in Whitley,
the one hen she had raised and owned.
In the feed box were a dozen eggs
she had accumulated to make q set.
ting for Whitley. Resolutely Elva gath
cred them up In her sun bonnet. Then
she fastened back to the cottage.
The old recluse devoured the toast,
coffee and four fresh eggs with an
avidity that showed he had been neg
ligent of his eating in the past. For
several days Elva continued to go
down to the cottage and act the help
full housekeeper. Her presence seemed
to have humanizing influence on it's
inmate. Mr.. Trask came out of his
shell. He had money, Elva learned,
and she induced him to order house.
hold necessities from the village.
Maurice came to call upon her one
evening to find his lady-love in q state
Of great excitement.
Suppose we stroll down to the cot.
tage and see how Mr.. Trask is get
ting along?" he suggested.
"Why, Maurice, he is gomez" said
Elva.
"Gone?" repeated Maurice vaguely.
eyes, only two hours since. Oh,
Maurice! it is like story book. It
seems that he had quarreled with his
wife and had isolated himself here,
and what do you think !-she traced
him and came to see aunty and me
this morning, and took message to
Mr.. Trask, and they are reconciled,
and am glad that we have all been
able to so happily mend two broken
lives"
1t was a month later, and Maurice
and Elva were seated in the garden dis
cussing details of their approaching
marriage. when the parcels post man
drove up in his delivery gig.
For "NIiss Elva Parsons" there was
a small boxlike package.
"What can it be?" murmured Elva.
as her eager fingers undid thes cover
ings.
"Why! an egg, golden egg" ex.
claimed Maurice, as such, lying in
soft nest Of wool. was disclosed.
1T opens" said Elva. "See the lit.
tie card! From Robert Trask as a
grateful acknowledgment of the care
and kindness Of true, unselfish
friends"
And inside the quaint treasure case,
suggestive of "Whitey" and her prod.
uct, was n new, crisp one thousand
dollar bill, and the worries of the
future were past for the happy pair.