Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1919-07-10
After the Years
By OTILLIA FRANCES PFEIFFER

Copyright. 1919. by Western Newspaper Union.)
The kindly, faced, gray-bearded old
man occupying section seven in the
Pullman sleeper gave great start as
a poignant cry echoed through the
coach. He sought the source of the
outburst and, at sight of the white,
despairing face of a modestly attired
young girl, advanced towards her.
Her hands were clasped and her
eyes, affrighted, We're fixed past the
open car window. She sat now like
one turned to stone by some vivid
calamity. She had boarded the train
at Denver, Marvin Hope had noted,
and the conductor had just appeared
at the other end of the car.
"You are troubled" he spoke in
stantly. what is it, young Lady,"
Elva Merrill turned her gaze upon
the speaker and burst into tears. ooh,
sir!" she breathed, gaspingly. my
ticket! I was getting ready for the
conductor and for only an instant
placed it, on the window sill. The
wind took it and-oh! what shall /
do?"
where were you going?" inquired
Mr.. Hope.
The reply named point in South
ern California, and added the further
information that she had no money of
consequence and had given up a posi-
ton she had held in a town fifty miles
from Denver. "What can I do?" she
faltered "The ticket is gone, I have
no home, no friend nearer than my
destinatio
eve shall arrange that" spoke Mar
vim Hope. "Just try and be calm. l
will speak to the conductor" and,
moved by an impulse his generous ma
ture could not resist, he went to the
conductor, spoke to him for some min
utes and then returned to the side of
Elva. 1T is all settled" he said, with
a great deal of cheerfulness in his
tone. "At the next station the conduc-
tor, by my desire, will secure
through ticket for you"
"But 1 cannot pay for it," remon-
strated Elva.
mot now, perhaps, but possibly la
ter. Listen, young lady. I am bound
for the same destination as yourself
You will tell me your story, and we
shall try to discover some way to
make you feel free to- accept tenn
porary loan from lonely old man
who is glad to aid anybody in dis
tress."
Indeed, 1 can reimburse you!" de-
clared Elva, fervently. "My friend at
San DrurO is a Mrs. HOnoria Purcell.
I was her companion two years ago,
but she was very hard to- get along
with and I sought 'other employment.
Last week she wrote to me offering
two years contract and is seemingly
anxious to have me accept. Lam sure
she will advance me sufficient to repay
you"
II am sure of that, too," replied Mr..
Hope in his gentle, reassuring way,
''fCr Mrs. Purcell is wealthy woman
whom l know quite well. And your
name, young Lady,"
ut is Elva Merrill" Marvin Hope
gave violent start. 1t was well that
Elva had her gaze averted at that mo-
ment, else she would have been
amazed, possibly alarmed, at the
manifest emotion of her benefactOr
He seemed to experience difficulty in
restraining an impulse to seize her
hands, or fold her in his arms, pouring
forth a wild torrent of words Of glad
ness and JOY crowding to his trembling
lips. He recovered his self-possession
as Elva exhibited the letter from Mrs.
Purcell. He listened breathlessly to
the story of her life; bereft Of a moth
er, her only near relative, two years
previous, and later trials attending the
earning of her own living.
"Were there none other of near
kim" he asked. "No dear friends p.
Elva shook her head sadly s7 s71'
From that point until the end of the
journey Marvin Hope exercised ia
therly care for the homeless girl, that
every hour increased her confidence in
him. When they reached San Druro
his automobile and chauffeur were in
evidence. When the machine stopped
it was before a beautiful mansion set in
the midst of an exquisite garden. Elva
supposed this to be the residence of
Mrs. Purcell.
"Home!" Marvin Hope announced,
as they were met in the hall by
motherly housekeeper-"my home, and
yours My dear, gave you fictitious
name, for purpose. l am your uncle
-vnI1r mothers brother Marvin Hone