The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1926-10-08

"a nest of comfort and true hearts
to cherish me-" he added that same
evening.
For years he had lived alone, occu-
Dying a wretched attic room with
poor family in the slums. Long since
he had lost the use of both his lower
limbs. He had been confined to the
one apartment, his wants attended to
by his landlord, but living in the most
narrow way. Somehow he managed
to scrape up the few dollars required
to pay for board and keep each Sat
urday night.
Then that day there had come to
his lonely habitation pretty, neat,
but plainly dressed young girl.
II am Rhoda Leslie" she said. Il
was Rhoda Merrill. Do you remem-
Der the name?"
"Merrilr?" repeated Mr.. Deane. Il
ought to! 1t was that Of my best
friend, Robert Merrill"
my father" said Rhoda, and her
eyes were filed with tears as she
noted the helpless condition Of this
once proud and wealthy man. He
never forgot, and / never will.
thought you in another country. or
dead. 1t was only yesterday that ]
learned about you-poor. an invalid
friendless. Oh, sir!" and her eyes ex-
pressed the genuine love and graft
tude she felt, sit seemed that / could
not come quick enough to your side.
You did everything for my father
when he was alive. He told me that
it was your money that kept me at
boarding school for two years. We
owe everything to you. See, sir, I am
just married to the dearest young fell
low in the world. When told him
about you, he instantly ordered me to
remove you to our own little home.
We will be as your children, tenderly
caring for you all your life"
Then the tears of the astounded
and overcome old man mingled with
those Of this bright angel Of hope, who
had come to his succOr at the darkest
moment Of his life.
She brought her husband with her
that evening, a stalwart, honest-faced
young man, who moved about and
spoke at the behest of her suggestion,
as though her sweet, loving voice
were Nrapt, directing music. It was
dusk when the closed carriage they
brought conveyed the old man to his
new home. He did not see that it was
seated in poor street, he did not mo-
be that as they tenderly carried him
the stairs the lower apartments
were furnished sparseiy, indicating
rigid economy, If not scarcity of
money.
As they placed him in wheel chair
and turned on the lights a rapt cry
came from his lips, ending in sob Of
mingled joy and gratitude
"This is your home," said Rhoda,
sweetly.
"And welcome, thrice welcome, SIR"
spoke blunt, plain Ernest Leslie. "We
realized how you could not get about
freely and have tried to make it COM
Portable for you"
Comfortable! The bedridden old
invalid felt as If he had been lifted to
a new sphere of perfect luxury. 1t
was large, roomy apartment, newly
papered. Two neatly curtained win
dows looked out upon pretty garden.
There were soft, warm rugs on the
floor, fireplace, and as they brought
up his evening meal all this attention
and plenty reminded the old man of
the days when he had wealth at his
ready command.
"You are the best husband in the
world!" said Rhoda, as they left their
guest comfortable and content in what
was to be his own special apartment.
II love the old man because he was
good to you." answered Ernest simply.
you are so willing to make sacri-
fees for others, Ernest" said Rhoda
fondly.
"Oh, we are young, and the pleasure
Of seeing this dear old man happy and
comfortable will compensate for the
loss of few luxuries."
HE must not know how poor we
are" urged Rhoda earnestly. HE
cannot leave his room, you know, to
find out"
mo, let him have the fond dream
that we are able to surround him with
the comforts he SO appreciates and en-
joys"
Fond dream, indeed! To Rufus
Deane there came a period of ease
and comfort that made life one con-
tinuous round Of satisfaction. Never
were more ardent friends than the
bright. happy couple who ministered
to his wants so devotedly as though
they were really his children. He
told them mysteriously more than
once that ''they should not lose by
It," but they paid no further heed to
the remark than to feel that his graft
tude well repaid them for their exer-
lions.
Then came dark days. Ernest Les
He Inst hts nosift0n II bod nor.o