The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1919-12-18

slve face ana one night her Kindly
~benefactors INDUCED in playful badl,
mage when she accompanied Doctor
Merritt to the door.
Doctor Merritt has become quite Il
beau-eh, Rhodaf" intimated Mr..
Bruce.
Three times in a week" spoke Mrs.
Bruce. "Rhoda dear, he is a loyal
ehevalier."
Please DON'T" pleaded Rhoda, look
ing serious, shy and embarrassed. He
is only a great good friend to all Of us
and he has so encouraged my singing
that 1t has made me more anxious than
ever to please him."
Early in November Mrs. Bruce, the
children and Rhoda went TO the
Florida winter home where the family
spent four months of the year. There
were anticipated happy days in the
pretty bungalow when Mr.. Bruce
should join them later on. 1t was just
two weeks before Christmas when Mrs.
Bruce decided to take a trip North and
remain with her husband until the
holidays, when he would be ready to
accompany her to Fair Villa. 1t was
a few days after her coming that her
husband said to her. laura. Doctor
Merritt has fairly haunted the house
evenings since you went away. met
him today and told him of u plans,
and he was especially pressing in his
inquiries about Rhoda. l presume he
will be here this evening to ask you
about Rhoda," but the young physician
did not materialize as expected, and
the next day the Bruces understood
that he had left the city.
1t vas two days before Christmas
when the dreadful news came of the
disaster in the South. Fair villa had
been practically swept off / map;
their winter home had been carried
away by the raging waters. kilograms
contained vague and %distracting de-
tails. They had no reason 10 hope
that their loved ones had escaped the
general fate Of those who were miss
ing among the former residents of the
little inland town. They were now
ready to go South and seek a trace of
their two little children and of Rhoda.
in whom they had so trustingly left
them in charge.
ut must be the taxi" spoke Mr..
Bruce, arousing with a sigh from his
painful reverle as the doorbell rang,
but he crossed the outer threshold to
come face to face with Doctor Merritt,
The manner and words Of the latter
were Earring to the bruised sensibili-
ties of the bereaved father, for the
young physician was radiant Of face.
His eyes suggested a fervent exhilara-
ton as he greeted Mr.. Bruce with riot
GUS embrace and waved his hand gay
ly to Mrs. Bruce, who had followed her
husband into the hallway.
"A glad and merry Christmas to
both of you'll" hailed Doctor Merritt
iubilantly.
"You haven't heardf" spoke Mr..
Bruce in a low, reproachful tone.
"Why, what DO you mean?' ques-
toned Doctor Merritt.
1.-THE disaster at Fair Villa-the chill
dren."
why, bless you" fairly shouted
the doctor-''they are right here"
Harold Bruce wavered against the
wall for support. Mrs. Bruce uttered
a wild scream. Across the threshold
from the porch there rushed little
Eta and her brother. Joy, delight,
ecstasy mitigated the shock Of what at
first stunned the frantic parents as an
appearance from the dead.
"And last, but not least, she whose
mission in life seems ever to be to
bring healing and happiness, and love,
and peace to all those who are dear to
her!" in a gently reverent tone con-
tinued Doctor Merritt, and with SUI
preme satisfaction the young physician
viewed the five reunited ones in a
maze of embraces, kisses and tears.
Rhoda, clinging to Mrs. Bruce, hid her
face in modest confusion, as Doctor
Merritt recited her brave battle
against the elements in a great storm
upon a battered raft until she had
brought the children to safety.
"But you, Doctor Merritt" pro-
pounded Mrs. Bruce wonderingly-
how came you to be at Fair Villa?
81 arrived there after the disaster"
was the reply. II had gone there on a
specific mission, later executed, to ask
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