Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-03-24

seIHsl timU-sel 757s. what hai
aroused their present CONSERVATION
was the fact that Lucia had not onl!
allowed a travelling circus to show OF
a lot she owned, but had visited 4
several times.
TITS just terrible, Bart!" pro
nounced the agtated Tabitha. Bart
believe that Lucia has fallen Ii
lovel"
"Incredible!" he gasped.
IT'S true. 1t seems that those two
little acting girls are under the charge
OF a man calling himself Henry Nor
ton. He used to he balloon acrobat
but had bad fall. His brother, now
dead, was also an actor, and had
trained the children. Morton is travel
Ing with them as their guardian. ]
won't say that he is not polite, dig
nlfed gentleman, but he has fascinat-
ed Lucia, and I hate him. Well, that
isn't the worst Of It,"
What next2"
why, somehow the two children
have caught the measles and can't 60
on with the show. Morton has can
celed their contract and Lucia, soft
hearted Lucia, has turned the house
into hospital"
You don't mean to say that she has
taken those two childrenf"
ayes, do, and Morton is there, too,
helping nurse them"
II was all true. Without pausing to
analyze feelings or motives, Lucia
Warden had drifted into q new envi-
ronment.
Never had an ingenious. true-souled
little woman more appreciative
friends. After the hardship. uncertain
ties and discomfort of half q season
Of roughing It with the circus, the lit
tie children snuggled down In the
pretty, coy home Of Miss Lucia like
birds housed In cherished nest.
Their uncle would scarcely leave
their presence. His minlstratlons
were assiduous and untiring. When
Lucia came into the sick room, a sort
of glorlfed contentment came into his
bronzed, serious face.
Lucia learned the history Of the lit
tie ones, left under years contract
with the circus company, with which
their father and uncle had been con-
nected.
"That Is all over now Morton told
her, with profound satisfaction. 1T
has been a providence that their illness
came at time when your kind heart
opened the doors Of your beautiful
home to the homeless and distressed"
He told her how he had never mar
rled because Of the hard round Of du-
ties, the broken fortunes OF his broth
er and his family had required.
And then one evening, as they sat
in the glow Of the freight and the
shaded lamps, the little ones asleep
In each others arms, like cherubs,
Henry Morton boldly, bravely told this
superb friend that he loved her.
She was waiting for the declaration,
for she was hoping for 1t.
1--WE must do something" declared
Miss Tabltha to her nephew two days
later, when she learned how matters
stood.
Morton had gone away to close out
a little piece Of property he owned at
a distance.
Leave 1t to me-" replied Bart, af-
ter he had gained every detail he
could as to the past life and antece-
dents Of Morton.
Four days later he sent for Miss
Tabltha In great excitement and ex-
ultation of spirits.
"I've got him |" he chuckled. "That
hint you had about his living at GER
tain town five years ago has brought
results. | wrote to law firm there.
They sent me photograph of him.
Look there"
Trlumphantly, he handed to his rela-
tive q photograph. 1t pictured Henry
Morton-only In convict's suit.
Henry Morton had just returned to
the village as Bart and his aunt ap-
peared.
Il have come upon a solemn mis-
sion," said Bart. Aunt Lucia, this
man Is an ex-convictl"
The astonished Lucia took the prof
fered photograph. With supreme con-
fdence in her face she handed It to
Mr.. Morton.
"My friends" said the latter with a
plying smile, you seem to have hap
pened across picture Of mine taken
when was an actor in stage drama.
As to the trouble you refer to. that
alludes to some financial troubles Of
my dead brother
Miss Tabitha thought It best to plant
herself with another relative. Bart
sneaked into obscurity. As to Lucia,
Mr.. Morton and the little ones-they
haoara nort and ma rcel of tho hanDi.