The Ely miner., 1930-02-14
The Two Great
Surprises
BY DUFoRD JENNIE


gently. "You have something very
much on your mind OF your heart,
Alen. You better let me help you.
Confession is good for the soul. you
know"
ITS on my heart, guess Mr.. Cum
mings," she said bravely. and then
the story came-aided by his gentle
questioning. The story Of the love be-
tween her and Ted Hamlin of their
happiness together, their planning for
a home together because he. like her,
was fatherless and motherless: and
then the trOuble-the wedding date
put off by Ted three times. the quar-
rel, and then
Mr.. Cummings was drumming on
the table He was locking out of the
great window Of his Office. and he
seemed to be dreaming. The hum OF
the factories around them came into
the office, but his voice as he spoke
bit wistfully made the room seem
very quiet to Ellen.
probably one Of the most beauti-
full things In the world is absolute
trust between man and woman"
he mused in his gentle way. I'm a
bachelor, as you know. but--well, let
me tell you story
So the letters waited and the fac
tories hummed on. while Mr.. Cum
mings, hesitating at times dreamed
over the days of his youth and the
girl he had loved.
Mr.. Cummings came to with start.
He turned to her. $50 you see, Ellen,
q little more trust, little more faith.
You better get in touch with Ted.
Perhaps he put off the wedding date,
not because he was losing his love for
you, but for some other reason"
But Ellen's mind was full of the
story she had heard. "But do you
still love her, Mr.. Cummings?" she
queried.
He smiled at her wide serious eyes.
reached into his desk, and drew out a
photograph. Ellen looked at it in
silence An imperious but lovely face
looked out at her.
That evening Ellen pondered the
matter long, but she had something
else to think Of When she finally
made up her mind that she simply
could not write to Ted, her pride still
strong, she turned to the other thing
she had in mind. 1t fascinated her.
Could she bring Mr.. Cummings and
his sweetheart of long ago together2
On the back of the photograph she
had noticed an address and name
Ruth Densmore.
The next day, she put the plan in
operation, and the result was, on the
following Monday, when her vacation
began, she took the train to the North.
ern village where Ruth Dcnsmore
lived.
When, later on, she stood before
the stately home back among the elms,
her courage almost failed her, and
she felt that she was on q fools err
rand. When the door opened, and she
faced tall woman, with hair slight
ly silvered but with dark eyes and
lovely face, her courage revived.
In the comfortable living room,
Ellen told her errand, brokenly at
times, but with rush of words at
other times. She watched the older
woman's face change from sadness to
tenderness, then to great longing In
the end, she said with a voice that
trembled slightly:
II thought Will had forgotten me
though / have never forgotten him.
How foolish we were-how foolish we
were! But this dear little scheme of
yours-I don't know" She mused.
SIS 1t pride stillf" Ellen asked
shyly.
The other started and smiled. "Pm
afraid it is. Stay with me for dinner
and we will talk it over"
On Monday morning, two weeks
later, the clerks In the outer office
looked up with interest at Ellen, her
cheeks flushed and her eyes bright
with excitement, and they saw fol-
lowing her a woman whose youth had
passed without taking some of youths
immortal charm.
Ellen stepped into the office. Mr..
Cummings was there and-another-
Tedi
Mr.. Cummings chuckled as he saw
her face. "Now, Ellen, forgive me for
mixing in your affairs, but | made up
my mind l would have a surprise for
you when you returned. Ted and
have become good friends. The rea-
son why he put Off the wedding was
because he was building a surprise
home for you-and he couldn't quite
make 1t 60. I've given him some busi-
ness-and the home will be ready I
Now what do you say?"
Ellen sank back against the door,
staring at Ted. His eyes were shin
ing. She wanted to rush into his
arms; she fought back her emotion
as she remembered-and turned.
"And / have a surpris. for you, Mr..
Cummings. I have some one here"
she said breathlessly, and opened the
door back Of her.
She saw Mr.. Cummings rise from
his desk as he saw who entered. His
lips moved but though no sound came
the hunger and Joy in his eyes made
Ellen's heart sing.
"Ruth-my dear!" were his broken
words.
Then Ellen felt strong arms around
her. She was hurried out, the door
closed. and she looked up into Ted's