Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1922-05-19
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y sv|lllIFRED DUNBAR
copyri9ht, 1851. WssternI ''Nev.ns per' III

copyrisht. asss. Western asswspaper Union
.oh, Lora, think what il means q
me II
And, Dorothy what Of myself ''
Rather what of Lewis Martin.
Don't you see, dear, that it is his
future, his success In the world that
Sis at stake7 Oh, love him sol j
love him 50 l'
e"And - $500 = ss
Lora Bissell leaned her face with.
in her arms and wept as though her
heart would break. The eyes Of the
pale, thin. hectic-faced girl at her side
were also glistening, but eagerness,
self1shness, hope were the influences
that moved her.
Both loved the. same man-Lewis
Martin. Lora had reasons to believe
that he would ask her to become his
wife very shortly. Dorothy had also
received many attentions from the
brilliant ambitious young man who
was their hearts desire. . 4... : .
Listen to me, DEAR" urged Dorothy
almost breathlessly. "You know that
Lewis has in him the making Of q
great man. If he settles down in this
sleepy town, what will he ever amount
to? With my means he can have
leisure to 60. on with the scientific
education that will make Of him an
eXDert engineer"
Lora stole glance at the excited
face Of her companion. She had
nothing to offer to Lewis Martin except
love, and he had not yet asked for it.
Perhaps he might never do it. If he
married Dorothy it would add at least
a brief period of bliss to that lonely
heart.
Dorothy" she said, II shall go away
tomorrow to visit distant relative.
1 shall remain away until hear from
you. When you have gained your
hearts wish, and not until then, will
I return"
"Bless you! Oh, bless you'll" sobbed
the grateful Dorothy. II shall win
Lewis Martins heart, for it will break
M own if do not"
The very foundation of the life of
Lora Bissell seemed shaken the next
morning. A, letter came from Lewis
Martin. 1t asked permission to call
upon her two evenings ahead. Be-
tween the lines she read deep signifi-
canoe to the brief epistle. She did
not answer it.
At last to her dista MT refuge there
came a letter. from Dorothy. She
was married to Lewis Martin. The
lines dubbed over with Joy. Lora
returned to her home and took up
anew the heavy burden of her loneli-
ness and silenced love.
Only casually did she hear from the
Martins during the next four years.
A little child was born to them. The
father was winning a high rank in his
profession. Then ons day rush tele-
gram came to Lva. It was from
Dorothy. It gave an address in dis
tant city. It read: '>
. "Come quick. am dying"
It was no exaggeration. The pitt
full heart Of loyal Lora~ forgot all Of
the past save her steadfast girlhood
love for the poor wife, whom she
found dying almost in the midst Of
poverty. -.
"Your husband, Mr.. Martin?' was
almost Lora's first question.
"Have you not heard?" inquired the
wretched woman. HE was lost in a
great snowstorm in the frozen north
no word for nearly a year. He is
probably dead-and dying! And the
little child, Mae. What of herr"
II will take the child, Dorothy"
she said simply. "She shall have all
that love can give to make her
happy"
"Oh, may heaven bless you, my one
true friend!" breathed the poor suf-
ferer.
And then new life opened to Lora
Bissell. 1t seemed as IL the child were
gift from heaven: :,
Two years went by and Lora cher
ished the little one as, her own. And
then one dark, stormy night she an
swered knock at the door, to face,
breathless, aghast, the returned wan
derer-Lewis Martin.
He had strange stirring story to
tell. Illness, the severe weather had
held him practically captive Tor two
years. --J~.
He had traced his child to his pres
ent hostess.
"Aunty-mamma" spoke only a few
words to little Mae, to have her under
stand that this was the papa Of whom
they thought every passing day of
their lives. = *.
II have a good position offered me
on the Coast" replied Martin. "What
shall I say to you, dear Miss Bissell,
for what you have done for me and
mineW ~. S'es,Fs- -,
Lora's heart was beating ferce]
with emotion and apprehension.
"0h, what an .aunty-mamma she is u"
cried Mae, lovingly. "And we never
forgot you, papa. See."
The speaker ran to a stand in an
alcove and took up framed photo
graph Of Martin. Il.
"Each night aunty-mamma makes me
look at your picture and say my little
prayers. Then she cries and kisses
the picture"
Macs face was flooded with bushes.
She trembled all over.
II know about about your love and
sacrifice forfor Dorothy" spoke