The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1919-08-21
The Hour Of Need
Py T. B. ANDERSON

] since Sne was cnlld Sne nau Deen
motherless. Then for six years her
father and herself had made their
Lhome with a distant relative, an old
widow lady. At length Mr.. Glenn had
been called West to look after some
property near the Mexican border
From a place named Waller he had
written Viola that his duties would de-
tain him longer than he had thought.
1t was only that Viola spent many
| pleasant hours with her fiance, Ernest
Dare, that she was willing TO remain
away from her father. Then came
second cause of anxiety and lonel-
ness. Her lover received 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 a 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
oeen delayed unexpectedly. Viola was
patient and hopeful for over a month.
| Then
! 81 can endure this separation from
hose l love no longer" she told her
relative. 81 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 oIt 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 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 gentle-spirited lady, attract
ing her MS if she were some dearly be-
owed sister, AS to Miss Mayne Ii
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 Violas romance. She built up a
! 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 indeh-
nltely," submitted Viola, "at least with
out going to work and earning some
thing. My money has nearly given out
and cannot become a burden on
you"
"A burden" repeated Miss Mayne
spontaneously. "My dear, what would
my life be without you? Since | have
known you l have learned to love you
so that 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 ont to the rubbish heap to burn
the litter and sweepings she had gath.
cred up and had lit 1t, when an en-
velope attracted her attention. Miss
Mayne, she had noted, had received a
letter the day previous ana apparently
this was its container. The envelope
was just ignlting when Viola observed
ltS SuptloC lpNiOi' a thtAi hufNASSN
her frame.
"Why, IT'S fathers handwriting r.
she gasped, but as the envelope was
consumed in the flames Viola gradual
ly convinced herself that her strange
supposltion must be deluslon.
She was in her own room the next
morning when she heard a commotion
at the front door, cry Of excited de-
light from Miss Mayne, and then--Ohl
It could not be posslblel the hearty,
Joyous tone of her father and, marvel
of maryels, of Ernest Darrell
Viola rushed to the spot, first to be
EMBODIED in the arms of her father and
then by turns 10 cry and laugh In the
clasp Of her restored lover.
Those were mad, agitated moments
and then, the first excess of emotion
subsdlng, Viola glided to the side OF
her kind friend, Miss Mayne, and
wound her arms afrectonately about
her. ooh, father!" she cried, through
all my suspense and loneliness she
has been like a mother TO mel"
May | remain so. dear VioaY In
terrupted Miss Mayne TREMENDOUSLY,
"for this is--my husband"
And then the mystery was explained.
Mr.. Glenn had married her secretly
before he went away TO find Ernest
Dare, who was being held for ransom
by Mexican bandits. Father, lover re-
stored to her, new mother welcoming
her with earnest love, Viola Glenn felt