The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1919-07-31
The Hour of Need
40
Ey T. B.

Homesick and heartsick, Viola Glenn
arrived at a settled conclusion as to
the best course she should pursue.
Since she was a child she had been
motherless. Then for six years her
father and herself had made their
home with a distant relative, an old
widow lady. At length Mr.. Glenn had
been called West to look after some
property nea the Mexican border.
From a place named Waller he had
written Viola that his duties would de-
tain him longer than he had thought.
It was only that Viola spent many
pleasant hours with her fance, Ernest
Dare, that she was willing to remain
away from her father. Then came a
second cause Of anxiety and loneli-
ness. Her lover received q letter from
Mr.. Glenn asking him to come to
him, as his engineering experience
would be of much benefit. Viola Glenn
was tearfully solicitous when Ernest
impaired to her this intelligence, but
he assured her that within q few
months both he and her father would
return. Then came a long spell of
silence on the part of both father and
lover. Viola wrote repeatedly but re-
! celved no word in reply. she could
only decide that they had gone on
business to some remote place and had
been delayed unexpectedly. Viola was
patient and hopeful for over a month.
Then
II can endure this separation from
those I love no longer" she told her
relative, II am going to find father
and Ernest, at least find out what
their strange silence means
Viola arrived at Waller, the town
from which her father had last written
her. 1t had but one hotel and there
Viola registered, and early the follow
ing day started olt to make inquiries
regarding her father. She met with
the severest disappointment She
learned at the post Office that up to six
weeks previous her father had re-
ceived mail at the general delivery. OF
Ernest there was no trace whatever.
Viola had very little ready cash, but
she decided that in time her father
must return to Waller. She learned
where she could live at a lower rate
than at the hotel with q Miss Ora
Mayne, who occupied a pleasant little
cottage, and there Viola established
herself. From the first Viola Glenn
liked the pleasant lady, ten years older
than herself, who in turn became
greatly interested in her guest.
Within a week Viola felt that she
had found the dearest friend and con-
soler of her life. In fact, she fairly
loved the gent!e-spirited lady, attract
ing her as if she were some dearly be-
loved sister. AS to Miss Mayne it
seemed as if she could not do enough
to show her sympathy and affection
for the lonely girl. She never tired
of the confidence impaired to her by
Viola concerning her father and her
lover. She entered into all the details
of Viola's romance. She built up q
theory that relieved Viola's mind as to
the continued absence and silence Of
Mr.. Glenn and Ernest Dare.
'They must be away together" she
convinced Viola, perhaps in some
place beyond the frontier where there
are no mail routes"
"But I cannot remain here indefi-
nitely," submitted Viola, lat least with
out going to work and earning some
thing. My money has nearly given out
and l cannot become a burden ON
YOU"
"A burden?" repeated Miss Mayne
spontaneously. "My dear. what would
my life be without you? Since l have
known you I have learned to love you
30 that I feel toward you as If you
were an own daughter"
One morning Viola was helping
about the house, as was her usual Gus
tom. She was carrying the scrap bas-
ket out Ito the rubbish heap to burn
the litter and sweepings she had gath
cred up and had lit it, when an en-
velope attracted her attention. MISS
Mayne, she had noted, had received a
letter the day previous and apparently
this was it's %container. The envelope
was Just igniting when Viola observed
it's superscription. A thrill traversed
her frame.
"Why, it's fathers handwriting!1
size gnsped, but as the envelope was
consumed IN the flames Viola gradual
" convinced herself that her strange
supposition must be a delusion.
She was in her own room the next
morning when she heard a commotion
at the front door. a cry Of excited de-
light from Miss Mayne, and then-Oh!
t could not be possible! the hearty,
| JOYOUS tone of her father and, marvel
IF marvels. Of Ernest Dare!
Viola rushed to the spot, first to be
EMBODIED in the arms Of her father and
then by turns to cry and laugh in the
| clasp of her restored lover.
Those we're mad. agitated moments
and then, the first excess of emotion
subsiding, Viola glided to the side Of
her kind friend. Miss Mayne, and
wOund her arms ~affectionately about