Graham guardian., 1921-05-06

SldullN' u NHut Is IL, young lduy Z! H.
Elva Merrill turned her gaze upon
the speaker and burst into tears. "Oh,
sir !" she breathed, gasplngly. "NIy
ticket! l 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 l
do?"
"Where were you going?' inquired
Mr. Hope.
The reply named a point In South
ern California, and added the further
information that she had no money of
consequence and had given up posi-
ton she had held in town fifty miles
from Denver. "What can do?r she,
faltered. .'The ticket is gone, have
no home, no friend nearer than my
destination"
.'We shall arrange that" spoke Mar.
vim Hope. Just try and be calm. I
will speak to the conductor" and
moved by an impulse his generous ma
ture gould not, resist, he went to the
conductor, spoke to him for some min
utes and then returned to the side of
Elva. ut is all settled,p 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 l cannot pay for it." remon.
strated Elva.
"Not now, perhaps, but possibly Ia
ter. Listen, young lady. 1 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 a lonely old man
who is glad to aid anybody in dis
tress." II ~ r
Indeed, l can reimburse you!" de.
clared Elva, feryently "NIy friend at
San DrurO is Mrs. Honoria Purcelb
| was her companion two years ago,
but she was very hard to- get along
with and | sought other employment.
Last week she wrote to me offering a,
two years contract and is seemingly.
anxious TO have me accept / am sure,
she will advance me sufficient to repay.
you" .IE''.E
81 am sure of that, too" replied Mr.:
Hope in his gentle, reassuring way,
"fT Mrs Purcell is a wealthy woman
whom | knOw~q quite well. And your
name, young lady?" ...... .-l.t,
1T is Elva Merrill" Marvin Hope
Fave 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 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 moth.
err, her only near relative, two wears
previous, and later trials attending the
earning Of her own living. :.
"Were there none other of near
kim" he asked. mo dear friends?"
'Elva shook her head sadly.
From that point until the end of the
journey Marvin Hope exercised fa-
therly care for the homeless girl, that
every hour increased her confidence in
him. When they. reached San Druro
his automobile and chauffeur We're in
evidence. When the machine stopped
II was before 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 a fictitious
name, for purpose. / am your uncle
your mothers brother, Marvin Hope
and l was just disappointedly re.
turning from vain search for you at
your former home. l found no trace
and you can imagine the sorrow of
lonely old man who awoke at last to
a longing hunger for the company Of
his own flesh and blood. You viii not
go to Mrs. Purcell. You viii remain
here, my own adopted child, until you
II shall never marry" spoke EIya,
and her fair face fell,
"Whatl Not even II Rodney Parton
comes after your" f..Es
Rodney Parton" breathed Elva.
"You know of him?' ..s
MY dear" replied Mr., Hope,
searching for you ! found him also
upon the same quest. You had left
your old home, never dreaming how
he loved yOu Well, telegruphed him
en- route that had found you, and he
is probably now speeding on his way
to lay his heart ut your feet. This
shall he his home, MS well as yours
and mine"
And, her arms about The neck Of
this grnpd benefactor, Elva Merrill
sobbed out the joy and gladness that
was welIing up within her happy soul