The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1917-10-27
"My-lunch?" repeated Rhoda. mys-


tilted.
Eyes, ma'am. Oh. that's SOL d:dn'i
tell you, did L? You see, dent en-,
your lunch, although / was nigh fam,
ished. I gave it to fellow who need
ed it ten times worse than I did.
reckon"
who was it, Jed?" asked Rhoda.
with rising interest.
"A young man, TALL dark and hand
some. He's been hanging around the
town for week. Stranger. My broth
er Bill who works at the post Office,
says he calls there half dozen times
a day, 50 he must be waiting around
| for some letter"
but what about the lunch" pressed
| Rhoda.
'Why, just IS | was going to eat il.
after leaving you" narrated Jed, II
saw him sitting on tree stump. He
looked starved and half-frozen.
thought to myself, maybe you're q sort
of prOdigal son, like myself went
up to him and said, You look hungry.
Mister Pretty near he said, with "A
sigh that hit me hard. I set the lunch
down beside him. told him how
came by it, That dainty, pretty miss
he says-'Bless herr"
did he say that?" breathed Rhoda.
flushing quite delightedly.
''He did, and say 1t, too, ma'am."
iterated Jed, gallantly. HE tried to
make me take back the lunch. I just
ran away. l was glad. Looking back.
l saw him just devOuring 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
shoveling the path In the snow had
certain element Of romance about It.
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 me" breathed Rhoda, as
there followed human groan. "Some
one is up there. Run and tell mother,
Gertrudev
Rhoda's big brother, Tom, appeared
with Mrs. Ford. The others timidly
followed. as Tom assembled the stairs.
Lying on the hay was a tossing, fe-
vered form. From Jed's description
Rhoda at once recognized the mysteri-
ous stranger and comprehended the
situation.
They were good, heartsome folks, the
Fords. At glance they knew the
.respasser was no tramp.
There's something for us to do here,
mother" declared Tom, and an hour
alter the sufferer was lying on a COM
'ortable bed In Toms room.
1t was three days before the stran.
ger rallied from the effects of the cold
ind lack Of nourishment. Rhoda came
lone from school one afternoon to
Ind their guest dressed and clean.
haven, seated before the glowing CRATE
II the sitting room. An elderly man,
90. was there. He came forward with
9th hands extended. as If they were
Id friends or relatives.
"And this is Miss Rhoda, knowl"
e exclaimed. my dear, I am the
ncle of the young man for whom you
nd your blessed family have done so
luch," and he dubbed over with
latitude and commentator In the
tory he told OF an Independent neph-
W seeking to find his fortune in the
Did outside world and falling utterly.
"And I was away from home and
dn't get Gerald's letter until yester-
~" explained the old man. "Ah!
has had hard experience-and I,
%, for l was sort Of domineering with /
e boy. Wen both be better for II
l." |