The Ward County independent. [volume] (Minot, Ward County, N.D.) 1902-1965, 1920-09-16
"MISS
SUNBEAM"
D. ALDEN CHAPMAN

6eooeeoeeeeeoeeooeeoeoeoG
Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Uaten')
"A great sorrow, a solemn response
bility has come to me unexpectedly
and I must not evade sacred duty.
What would have spoken to YOU
must remain, ut least for the present,
unsaid. In year. Of perhaps In two,
the burden may lift from my shout.
ders, and then as now, all my thoushtA
all my hopes shall rest on YOU"
Strange words, cruel. crushing words
were these for Lydia COnover. The
written sheet futtered to the floor and
inert benumbed mentally and physical
ly, she sat overcome, vainly seeking to
evolve coherently from an unexpected
complex situation.
Eldred Boynton had been so gallant,
so attentive, so kindly that she had
known that he loved her, and the
thought had irradiated her soul In
the new and delightful experience. He
was the principal of the village school
just across from which Lydia and her
mother lived. 1t was plain, Old-fash.
Toned home, about all they possessed
except a small annual income In the
shape of the rent Of little farm dead
William Conover had left them. They
had put in a store front to the cottage
and Lydia spelled her mother, who
was glad to have some occupation In
the sale of school books and lunches
to the scholars. some of whom came
from distance and were glad to get
homemade sandwiches and doughnuts
at moderate expenditure.
Mother" spoke Lydia, when she
learned that Eldred Boynton had re-
signed from his position and had left
town. what does it mcan?'
.Just what he says in his letter.
dear" responded patient, hopeful Mrs.
Conover. "He is not the man to shirk
a duty nor reveal his troubles to 9th
erS He had something to say to you.
he writes 1t must have been that he
loved you Plainly, as just, sincere
man would do, he has encountered
some self-sacrificial responsibility and
he has assumed it. He awaits its cul-
minatiOn to return to you and offer
you the homage of a truly noble
heart"
"Oh, do you think SOP" murmured
Lydia hopefully. "Aiother, am going
to believe in you and in him, for he is
the only man ] ever cared for. II he
would only allow me to share his
troubles"
For all her anxiety and uncertainty,
sweet serenity, settled faith filled
the pure unselfish 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 Eldred BOyntOn would
give her some further token of his
remembrance Of her of the task, self
SET. but which she felt certain in
volved the welfare of others. She
knew that he had an aged mother
somewhere in the East and wondered
if sense of tilal duty had inspired
his unexplained action.
Cheerfully Lydia took up her bur-
den. Always gentle, happy spirited
she developed now loftier concep-
ton of those qualities which endeared
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 Miss Sunbeam" and loved
to linger near her. treasuring her
smile and caress. Many childish
worry or bump was assuaged by this
sweet ministering angel. Many torn
garment she repaired or missing but
tons replaced until one of her friends
facetiously designated the store as "a
clothes hospital" as well as haven Of
delight for the school children.
There came letter from Eldred
Boynton one day, mailed in an Eastern
city. 1t contained but three words
and initials: "All is WELL" While
this deepened the uncertainty Of the
circumstances surrounding Boynton,
somehow the brief message nightly
hearened Lydia. Then, ten months to
day from that upon which he had
left. there was second terse missive:
II am coming back" it said simply,
and Lydia. all by herself: TREMENDOUSLY
kissed the precious page.
A great JOY came to Lydia when she
heard that he was about to resume his
position as school principal Then one
afternoon as she was walking through
the little town park she saw him COM
ing down shaded path. She noted
that he wore an emblem of mourning
on his hat. He was thinner than of
old and his face more serious, but as
he neared her ana extended his hand
in warm, earnest greeting, and, retain
ing 1t in his clasp, led her to a bench
her heart beat wildly and she felt
that crisis to their acquaintanceshipI
impended.