The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1919-07-02
One Snowy. Day
o. ETA pEANE RossrTER
1919. BY western Newspaper un,on)

II
fCopyrisht. 1919. BY Western Newspaper Union.)
(, "Oh, come into this house please!
please" Ts
1 A girl who had Just entered an old
and weather-beaten cottage came run
ming, out again to its front doorway
with blanched face and the appeal
ling cry She threw out her hands
Ipleadingly to a young man passing
along the street. It was showing
Isteadily and he carried a shovel over
one shoulder, his overcoatless figure
suggesting a man out of work and
looking for the same. At once Arnold
Bruce threw down his shovel and has
tened to the porch where Ada Wayne
stood.
cit is my father!" she fiuttered. II
left him alone for half an hour, and
but now found him lying on the floor
lsenseless. He may be dead!"
/ The young man followed her into
a room where, as il slipped from an
armchair at table, white-haired old
man lay upon the floor. Bruce leaned
over him. Then he cast his eyes at
the table. Upon it was an empty
bottle and two glasses, and pen and
link. Bruce lifted the senseless form
Ito couch, shifted the air, and said:
"He is only overcome-b drink, I
should say, young LADY, AZ,
(, Tears came into Ada's eyes. HE
has been writing. she said. "Some-
,one brought him the cruel drink he
has kept away from so long. Who
could 1t be? Oh! my worst suspicious
are confirmed. Richard Markham has
been here taking advantage Of my alb
sence. and there is no telling what he
has induced father to sign" 4
Father! Father!' she cried, touch
ling his arm yehemently. "Has Rich.
ard Markham been here?"
Eyes, he came to see me, he brought
Ime some liquor. he promised me
money II I'd sign" and the drowsy
tones died away.
"Your father will be all right in a
short time," encouraged Bruce. "Can
I be Of any further assistance to you,
miss? 7"
II think not" replied Ada brokenly.
III thank you for your kindness"
j Arnold Bruce left the house, re-
gained his shovel and went to the next
house. There he received an order to
clean the snow from the sidewalk.
Half an hour later, coming to the end
|of the lot, he found Ada gazing rue.
fully at a broken rusty old snow
shovel with which she had been try
ling to clean the pavement in front OF
her own home. Bruce eagerly pressed
ibis services upon her. &.I Z
r Your shovel is out 'of combustion
for good, miss" he observed. "While
II am at It, I may as well clear your
little patch" 64
!, 'sBut 1--we cannot afford" began
Ada in an embarrassed way. .s.'
/! ooh, that trife!" and he set at work
land Ada came to the door as the
young man completed his task. On
the table inside was steaming coffee
pot and plate Of sandwiches. The
young man dispatched the meal with
!sest that showed how much he needed
land appreciated the lunch.
J. Il noticed card in the window" he
said. "You have room for rent. If
.,o,s xvo,,yd <oLo . how, o1occ fo1loxu 1iLo
myself and the charge is moderate, I'd
lbe glad to stay. here. I have to earn
each day enough to carry me, but I
won't leave you in the lprch as to the
ipay."
!, ooh! would be glad to trust you"
said Ada, and Bruce arranged to be-
i,come a roomer in the house and went
out to seek new work. That evening
I: he divided his days earnings and paid
ahead for half a weeks room rent. He
carried in some fuel from the wood
kshed and seemed happy and comforta.
( bic to find himself under a hospitable
roof. He frankly told his story to Ada.
1 Give been wanderer for a year."
ne recited "Quarreled with my IA
Their and made fool Of myself gem
orally. I'm wiser now, and l wrote
home week ago telling the folks so.
I'm expecting an answer any day"
Bruce was up bright and early the
next morning. He came into the
house flushed with the exercise Of
cleaning the garden walk, a snow
dampened paper in his hand.
II think have found something Of
value to you, MISS" he said, and Ada
uttered glad cry as she found the
paper to be document bearing the
signature of her father, turning over
to Richard Markham their little prop
erty. Markham had evidently been
himself dazed with drink and had
dropped the paper in his hurried
flight.
"Tm going to look into the claim Of
that rascal when I get. on my feet" de-
clared Bruce and that afternoon he
came In with a beaming face.
Eve heard from home !" he exulted,
'.'andf everything is all right. They've
sent me- money, and It seems an aunt
Z.