The Keota news. (Keota, Weld County, Colo.) 1911-1922, 1920-11-26
miss
SUNBEAM"
D ALDEN CHAPMAN



- great sosrow. . solemn response
oility has cone TO mo UNEXPECTEDLY
and ] must not evads Q sacred duty.
What ! would have spoken to you
must remain. At least for the present.
unsaid. In Q year. o. perhaps In two.
the burden may lift 'fToD my shoul'
derx. and then AZ now. all my thoughts.
oil my hopes shall rest on you.
Strange words. cruel. crushing words
we're these for Lydia COuOver. The
written sheet auttered to the door and
inert. benunbed mentally and physical
y. she sat overcome. vainiy seeking to
evolve coherently from IN unexpected
complex situation.
Hdred Boyntoa had been 10 gallant.
- attentive. 70 kindly that she had
known that he loved her. and the
thought had irrndiatel her soul In
the new and delightful experience. He
vas the principal of the village school
Just across from which Lydia and her
mother lived. II WAS . plain. oad-fasa'
iooed home. about all they possessed
except . small annual Income In TIE
shape Of the rent Of little farm dead
william Conover had left them. They
had put In store front to the cottage
and Lydia spelled her mother. who
was giad to have some occupation In
the sale Of school books and lunches
TO the scholars, some Of whom came
from q distance and were glad 10 GET
home made sandwiches and doughnuts
ct q moderate expenditure.
Mother spoke Lydia. when she
learned that Eldred Boyntoo had Re-
lgned from bis position and had lett
town. what does Il meanT
"Just what he says h his letter.
dear" responded patient. hopeful Nra.
Cooover. "He II not the man 70 shIkk
Q duty nor reveal his troubles to 9th.
en-. He had something 10 say to you.
be writes. II must have been that he
loved you. Plainly. n . Just. sincere
man would do. be has encountered
some self.sacrihciai responsibility aud
he has assumed II. He awaits it, cul.
mination to return to you and Offer
you the homage Of Q truly noble
heart"
"Oh. do you think so!' murmured
Lydia. hopefully. Mother. I am going
TO bclievc in you and In him. for he II
the only man ever cared for. II be
would only allow me to share his
troubles!"
For all her anxiety and uncertainty.
Z sweet serenity. . settled faith filed
the pure. unseinsh soul Of Lydia. She
utterly trusted to the Judgment and
sincerity Of the man she loved. She
determined to worthily bear the cross
that had come to her portion. She
only hoped that Eldret Boynton would
give her some further token Of bis
remembrance Of her. OF the task. self
ret. but which she felt certain In.
vo'ved the welfare Of others. She
knew that he had IN aged mother
somewhere In the East and wondered
II a sense Of filinl duty had inspired
hts unexplained action.
Cheerfully Lydia took up her bur.
den. Always gentle. happy spirited
size developed now a loftier concep.
ton Of those qualities which endeareh
her to others, new and greater will.
ingneSs and desire to make smooth the
pathway Of those who came within
the scope Of her influence. The school
children who visited the little store
called her "Niss Sunbeam" and loved
to linger near her. treasurinE hes
smile and caress. Many 4 childish
worry or bump was assuaged BY this
sweet minlstering angel. Many q torn
garment she repaired or missing but