The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1917-12-13
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"My-lunchY" repeated Rhoda, mys

"My-lunchY repeated Rhoda, mys
tilted.
Yes, ma'am. Oh, that's SOL didn't
tell you, did II You see, didn't eat
your lunch, although / was nigh FAM
ished. / gave 1t to fellow who need
ed 1t ten times worse than l did,
reckon"
"Who was 1t, jedi" asked Rhoda,
with rising interest.
"A young man, tall, dark and hand
some. He's been hanging around the
town for a week. Stranger. Ny broth
er Bill, who works at the post Office,
says he calls there half dozen times
for some letter"
But what about the 2" pressed
Rhoda.
why, just as was going to eat It,,
after leaving you," narrated Jed, II
saw him sitting on q tree stump. He
looked starved and half-frozen.
thought to myself, maybe you're sort
Of prodigal son, like myself went
up to him and said, You look hungry,
Mister Pretty pear he said, with
sigh that hit me hard. 1 set the lunch
down beside him. l told him how I
came by 1t. That dainty, pretty MISS
he says-'Bless her p"
did he say that?" breathed Rhoda,
flushing quite delightedly.
HE did, and say it, too, ma'am,"
iterated Jed, CALAMITY. HE tried to
make me take back the lunch. l just
ran away. was glad. Looking back,
I 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 a
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,
Gertrude !"
Rhoda's big brother, Tom, appeared |
with Mrs. Ford. The others timidly |
followed. as Tom assembled the stairs. |
Lying on the hay was tossing, fe-
vered form. From Jed's description |
Rhoda at once recognized the mysteri- /
GUS stranger and comprehended the
situation.
They were good, heartsome folks, the
Fords. At 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
shaver, seated before the glowing CRATE
of the sitting room. An elderly man,
both hands extended, as if they were
old friends or relatives.
"And this is Miss Rhoda, I know 7"
he exclaimed. MY dear, 1 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. "Ah
he has had hard experience-and /,
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
six months later, as her now
visitor, Gerald Wayne, and
she strolled toward the schoolhouse. +
'You were very hungry those days, T
weren't you, Mr.. Wayne"
II have been hungry ever SINCE" de- f
clared Gerald. 0
She regarded him wonderingly. !
Hungry for your loveW he ex-