, 1919-12-18

jewel of worth and constancy. Both
my wife and myself realize what we
w to this poor waif who a en-
deared herself to us as though she
were our own daughter"
Doctor Merritt proved his expressed
sentiments by very often visiting the
Bruce home after that. The children
loved hin and he would drop in for an
hour or two and play with them and
talk with Rhoda and listen to her sing.
ing at the piano, for music with Rhoda
was her one great passion. There
never was a visit on his part that
Rhoda did not greet him with a beauti.
full, tender flush upon her fair, expires.
sive face, INT mi night her kindly
b~enefactors INDUCED in playful badi-
mage when she accompanied Doctor
Merritt to the door.
Doctor Merritt has become quite a
beau-eh, Rhoda?" intimated Mr..
Bruce.
"Three times in a week." spoke Mrs.
Bruce. "Rhoda dear, he is a loyal
chevalier."
please don't" pleaded Rhoda, look
ing serious, shy and embarrassed. "He
is only a great good friend to all of us,
hat it 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. 1 met
him today and told him of our plans,
and he was especially pressing in his
inquiries about Rhoda. / presume he
will be here this evening t 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 was two days before Christmas
when the dreadful news came of the
disaster in the South. Fair Villa had
been practically swept Off the map (;
their winter home had been carried
away by the raging waters. kilograms
contained vague and d%istracting de-
tails. They had no reason to hope
hat 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 reverie as the doorbel 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
jubilantly.
"You haven't heardT" 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'll" fairly shouted
the doctor-"they are right herel"
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 al
first stunned the frantic parents as ar
appearance from the dead.
"And last, but not least, she whose
mission in life seems ever to be tc
bring healing and happiness, and love