South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-06-20

When 1S-year-old Hazel Dunbar
ran away from her native town en-
the company Of young man whom
Few OF her friends had even seen--a
stranger In the place. introduced 20
Hazel 90 summer hotel dance p
few weeks before the elopement-
public sentiment ran mostly in one
direction.
Merit Dunbar never should have
adopted a child in the first place.
said one. 20 which opinion others
nodded assent. adding Especially
Of that light-mined Sceley stock
Dena Seeley would never have been
anything but a child if she had lived
O. be a hundred And Rafe cared
more about adding than farming II
Merit Dunbar must adoLt'-
Why must She was just feeling
lonesome after Dunbar was lost at
sea though goodness knows ne was
ISser az home long enough TO be
L-Sissed."
Then she spoiled Hazel in the
bringing up. went on the friendly
voices "She let her grow up afiip-
perty-tack, like her mother, and
even let her take lessons on her IA
Tiers dddle"
Echoes OF these remarks and frag-
ments OF the general village gossip
came 10 the ears or Mrs. Merit Dun
bar. but she had nothing 20 say In
retaliation or defense. What she
suffered in her most recent sorrow
and bereavement she alone realized
What IL meant 20 her to go about a
silent empty house. unassisted in
her simple duties. unaCcOmpanied az
her simple meals. those who knew
her could only guess.
Three DAYS after Hazers disap-
pearancc. a letter had come in her
handwriting addressed 20 Mrs
Merit Dunbar II also bore the
stamped address OF city hotel,
and 20 this place it was promptly
returned without reading.
After while, other bits OF inter
ested gossip drifted round the So
Cial circles OF the village In some
way. II became known that a letter
had been received and returned un-
opened.
Vow. Merit Dunbar's showing
some grit" approved one. "But
Hazel'll be back yet; just wait. Beg
ging % be taken in, likely"
That's the way such affairs gen
orally end. And I've heard that the
young rascal she went away witt
was a dreadful reckless fellow, and
fairly threw money away. And I've
heard
Thereupon. the missing Hazel
husband was invested with sucf
traits as would stamp him newt
ably as an INSCRIPTIONS ne'er-dO
Nsll calculated 20 bring disgrace
and disaster TO a foolish, trustinl
girl
These rumors agitated the gentle
heart OF Mrs Merit Dunbar Sh,
began to think OF Hazel as more
sinned against than SHINING; 20 won
der IL her punishment would not b,
more severe than even her wrong
doing warranted. Hazel and he
husband at her door. pleading for
giveness, could be dealt with coldI
and sternly. She would never for
give them, she thought. But Haze
deserted and wretched, alone or
the fOster-mothers vision leapeC
ahead and shaped a broken igur,
creeping TO her IN the shadows; 2
figure holding a swathed bundle tC
its breast, seeking the light and
warmth OF a once happy home. To
this igure, would she-could She
withhold forgiveness
Every morning when the cottage
windows were opened on the dewy
garden, Mrs. Dunbar's first thought
was Of the missing girl who had
loved to work among the growinl
flowers. Every night when the cot
tage doors were locked and tn,
lights dimmed, the foster mother
4rould pause at the door OF the de
serted room on the way to her owI
bed chamber. and whisper a Iittl,
prayer for the truant's safety.
There was no great surprise
therefore, when Mrs. Merit heard
tapping on her door. one mellow
evening IN early autumn, and a gan
CLING lad delivered a note. she
waiting" he crOaked mysteriously
and disappeared before he could b,
questioned.
With trembling fingers. the woman
smOOthed the folded pages
Dear Mother Merit" she read
In a handwriting that was familiar