The Detroit times., 1917-09-05

thunder and slashes OF wind driven
rain, >Rhoda~ Ware had heard an omi
nous drip-drop that tlled her with an
uneasy dread OF Vhaf the morning
light might reveal She was, there.
fore. not astonished when, upon en-.
tering her kitchen, she saw a great
area OF soaked ceiling where paper
and plaster bulged and threatened a
disastrous fall The low roof had
sprung not one leak. but several II
was a shingled roof. with a decided
slant. and II covered the lean-to OF
The decrepit old house but d had
failed her now and II would cost
considerable 20 repair the damage
While she drank her morning tea
and ate her toast she pondered over
many things. The sunshine came
into the kitchen thru the window
where entered also perfume from
the clump of Sweet Williams that in
some degree compensated for the
rank rmell of wet plaster A sun
beam danced in Rhoda's teacup. II
was an old silver luster cup, bat she
used II every day because she liked
pretty. agreeable things.
She was herself rather pretty and
agreeable 10 see as she sal with the
cup In her hand. Rhoda was a small
woman. with shining back from her
left temple--and she had blue eyes
II was her own fault that she had
rot married, for she had one or two
chances. She might have been airs
Abel Todd OF the Meadovbrook
farm or Mrs Hiram Appleby 81 the
big, new house on Floralave., but
rather she preferred 10 remain
Rhods Ware
AND why? Simply because she
had loved one man so well that all
others had been as shadows compar-
I'd with him. Yet OF all men him
she would not marry she dare not
The curse OF his father and grand
father hung over him-the drink
curse. which had ruined every Shay
who had lived for two generations.
Her own father had been a victim
Of that curse and her mothers mis-
cry had warned Rhoda in time She
had refused Norval Shay and TOLD
him why And when he had passed
out of her life forever. az she be
lieved, she had bravely constructed
substitute for the real thing ne
call life.
For years she had taught a dis
trict school Her entire worldly pos
sessions consisted Of the little gray
house. She had grown worn and
silent in the struggle. and The white
lock had become whittier and whittier
Until it looked like rift OF snow on
- hat nd fraF h.lri
things were beginning TO look A lit
tie fairer and she was beginning 10
dream dreams OF having a new dress
and few books 80 read. with ham
mock in the back yard. the roof had
gone 10 pieces under the reavy rain
and must be- mended, IL not actually
reshingled
1T seems TO me can't give up the
hammock and the lawn gown and
that set Of Dickens" she though 10
herself I've wanted them and
planned for them so long N will
cost $50 10 get that roof shingle ed.
for Joe Hull r. slower than molas-
ses in January He will offer ~ rea-
sons why II should be reshinsled
instead OF mended II seems 70 me
pack on my back. n II hadn't been
mothers ! would have let II 20 long
ago. But because IL was hers Il has
been sacred thing 10 me. Dear
little mother Many time we
have been homeless but for this old
house, which she chung 10 in spite
OF all II was the only thing that
did not 60 down poor fathers throat
I guess God and | only knew what
she went thru, but al least her Ell
perience saved me from one as bad
or worse For tho / loved Norval
Shay. and do. and shall till ! die.
he wasn't much more Of a man than
my father was" She drank a third
cup OF tea and came TO a resolu.
ton.
"Ill patch that roof myself, she
thought. II ought 10 be able 20 I'm
handy with a hammer and nails.
And I don't need a ladder can
climb thru the back bedroom win
dow upstairs"
II was very hot on the roof. The
shingles felt like heated steel under
Rhoda's knees and hands as she
crept about trying 10 find the feaky
places.
Mrs. Bliss called 20 her from next
door. What you doing. Rhody
Ware You want sunstroke this
blistering hot morning."
I'm menoing the roof" Rhoda re-
piled.
MY land, Why don't YOU nave
~the roof doctor7''
"The what" Rhoda stared down
at her neighbor.
cThe roof doctor, Amt you heard
OF him. He's been here two weeks
and he's mended all the roofs out
Floral-sve. way They say irs won
derful what he'll CO with a little pa
per and paint. We're going 70 have
him Maybe he'll come today while
we're at the Sunday school piCnN
You better come down and 20
along"
Rhoda laughed. Thank you. but
I've set out 10 mend my roof" she
returned.
n was dificult work driving nails
and setting in new shingles where
che thought they were needed. She
heard the Kisses start for the picnic
and sighed a bit wistfully. Then the
thought OF the hanging plaster IN.
dcrnchth urged her on TO work
faster. Another storm might come
~ any time.
An hour later suddenly tho roof
seemed 90 ny up and strike her in
the face and following upon the
blow came q deadly blsckness. She
tried 10 CRY out did cry out. and