The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1919-09-12
4
The Ship Came h
Y
i
B. vIcroa ARNOLD
~ ~.
scopyrls hit. 1918 BY the Western news
papsr upion-)

At q point on the river shore Where
q great bluff projected bright. careless
youth splsshed and laughed and shout
ed with 10Y. Alma Dunn had broughi
the four little children Of d neighbof
10 play Ir The Sand and, their slioes
and stockings high and dry on ffe seai
OF an cid rottiug scow, they venfnrea
ankle deep into the sparkling water.
At that same moment on the othef
side OF the bluff, pensiye, disheariehea.
Ysung manhood In sombre mood. sal
Marvin Rose, staring listiessiy at Inc
water. He had left the city iliai mao
held nothing for him of encouragement
or hope. with high ambitions dashed
and only husks for his portion
He was so absorbed that the echo +
Of d scream followed by the uproaflous
chatter Of excited juvenile voices
failed TO arouse him He was thinking I
sorrowfuIiy OF the ships OF fame anu |
fortune that had never como IN. II z /
cynical way he laughed bitterly as /
there fioated around the base OF The
bIuff a battered old scow.
s.About the only kind OF d craft thai
will ever bring veal or woe 10 me
soliIoouixed Marvin Rose. Then he
observed on the gun"ale OF the scoW
Ave pairs of shoes and stockings. Four
gf them were Of diminntiye size. The
other, dainty. graceful. told of giriish
ownership. He went quite 20 his ankles
IN the water and rescued this queer
fi0tsam.
The episode rather Interested him
Judging from the voices he had heard
Rose reasoned out that some party had
lost their footwear through the treaeh-
cry of the shifting scow. The bluff
came sheer down 10 the waters edge
with no path beyond II. He made an
ar1sful Of the articles and proceeded
inland. He crossed the bluff and came
upon wagon road. and a little further
on man bearing scgthe. The lat
ter looked curious as he made out the
burden Rose carried
Where did you find them?" he In
CURED at once. Alma Dunn and the
irfEe ones Will be glad to get them
back. for none Of them probably have
more than one pair and as Rose e1-
piained he continued: ] met them go
ing dolefuIiy hnmeWard barefooted
You'I get d welcome, mister"
"Where does Miss Dunn md the
little ones iive9" inquired Rose, and
the man Indicated a little group Of
houses about half mile distant and
Rose trudged on.
The first house painted slate col
or vas his guide, and as he Knocked
at It's door the unshod damsel Of the
brookside approached. She flushed
and shrank aside to hide her feet.
.They fioated past ME down the
river" said Marvin.
II am so glad Ny little friends
were quite foriorn over their loss
Father, strange gentleman has
brought home the lost shoes. Won'i
you thank him and entertain him
while restore them TO the little
oness.
An old man supporting himself wifi
a cane came hobhling to the door
When Alma returned she found her fa.
fher and fhe stranger seated at table
discussing the meal she had prepared
familiar as two old frientts.
II reckon. Just as tile children de
seiared, the fairies had something TO dt
with your mishan. for II has driftee
sfr. Rose right up against what botl
ne aud / have heen looking for saie
Mr.. Dunn s.He wants work. and Iys
got II 10 give him. We have pretty
near arranged that he is to faks
charge OF my three teams and super
intend the town work until get or
my feet again
Mr. Dunn was the owner of fha
teams In question; In fact, outside O
his humble little home they We're ahou
alt lie had of value--except Alma. be
fore Rose closed his eyes that nigh
he decided that his ship had come In
for the homely old float had hrough
him Into the company Of the most win
some Iass he had ever met. Before tn
week was out he was content to pas
his life in The secluded little hamlet
The charge Of the teams opened hof
orable employment and the evening
spent with Alma and her father Wer
occasions Of rare comfort and conten
ment.
Once he referred in mock dolefu
ness to the ship that had never com
TO him. but likewise to the river Graf
that hud brought him peace and hal
piness. He touched vital chord !
fhe experience of the old man whe
he did SO. Mr. Dunn had investe
nearly his all IN nautical venture |
behalf of an old sailor friend "wh
had never come back" he told Hos
snournfully.
But Marvin forgot his past disai
pointsnants and Sllas Dunn his inyes
snent loss when the former and sh.
s5susfing Alma told the old man {
their mutual love.
you've got more than my blessing
ne said. you've got my aonfldenc
and you'll he true as steel to Aifna.
know; and what more do / wish
sife?''
Just one day before the weddiT
sthere caima wonderful news to Il
humble woodland home. II was to Il