Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 242, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1919 — Page 2

The Light in the Darkness

By A. W. PEACH

(Copyright. 1»1». ‘•F th * “ cClur » paper Syndicate.) Boris Lane could gather little from the kind eyes of.tbe-physician who retnoved the bandages, and her hopes rose. From the moment of the explosion In the ehomienl laboratory in which she had been employed, during the lone days of suffering in the hospital, she d 14not dare t«> a-k if she would U- left with a badly scarred .’ace. The -question seemed! for the :!me being, vain aid foolish in her situation, hut now that life was assured, the began to wonder if for all her Jays she was to meet the pitying, ques■l on Ing look that the unmaimed give the maimed. “Dyctor, how do I look?” she asked, smiling ns bravely ns she cotild. The gray-headed surgeon smiled In answer, and said in his grave, kind way: “Well, little girl. I think you lave n pair of the finest eyes I have ever seen, and your hair —” “Put I didn't mean that,” she said turriedly. __ “I know, but your question put me n the <dd-enoiigli-to classj so I wanted to t ell you.”- lie looked at her rently. “There is Just one bad scar, . the others will fade. I am'sure. Ybu might bring Miss l.ane a mirror,” he •aid to the waiting nurse. “She whs weak with.'suffering, and her mind was tortured with questions !»f the future, for her training had -men —tfmtrrdnnd rite simple matter t>f a livelihood wits tm small item I1 »"' So vhcti shi* saw In the truthful glass the livid scar that raced ugly-Jlne across her forehead, and the blotches oelow where the acid had touched. — tn angi’.Uh. "Hello. By-w ay ’’’ The pleasant voice cut through heF darkness. !tnd site openetl her tenrffiled eyes to see standing above her the a»t er, d; u g phy si cl:: 11. 1< no wll to her as “Doctor Walter." During the month that her eyes had been bandaged, he had been to, her merely it pleasant vol«‘~a ni l

Now She Saw He Was Tall.

hp w ;J < ‘ t a!’,, tanned ns if from imi ch time spent out i f doors. gray-eyed and dark-lmired. Hi* mild fun in calling hvr ■ -By-w-ny—4n*tea4--of. ' 'Lamr" -hark phased her in fief il.i'dS’i weakness; .now, however, she turned to the pillow. / < His voice, was gentle, for he seemed to understand. "I. 'ok h re. you must me feel that way—"* “No. but If you—were —to —go thrmiuh lift —-this way—pith'd—by 1, everybody." she returned brokenly. "Besides T : — She .paused. ""Besides what?" he urged in the same gentle fashion. She sb.x.k her h-md and wived - him. aside. siio-ng. pleas-: ant manho ’i. the sound of)»s voice, for some reason or < slier, mt le her ''misery all the more bitter —Just why pw,_ ■ ■ ~ ■ She did not gm-s the purpose '.n the nurse's frtet.dly miestioi.: - .- that eve-. n*r>g hut o.v. ..—no one in the wotid to whom she <■ uh! confide some of her anxiety, she t«-!d the nurse what she refused to tell ter. And the nurse did . not tell her. of that purpose/nor offer .any,-sugges-tion as tQ how the fflUtllSt!d girl might solve the iwoblem sh>.- was...fmcing The next morning. Doctor Walter stopped ■again. "Mjss I.am-, I have coyie to make you a formal offer of a* position as my secretary; I want you to look after my office; ar v you willing?" She lifted her scarred "face. "So That was- why the mtrw asked me so many questions "'She turned away. “Even you pity me.’’ j "No. I am I really need some one. and you have had experience with drugs,” he said patiently. Tl 4 quiet reproof in his voice was enough. “Forgive ipe, I lianlly know what I am saying. ’Yes, if I can serve you, I want to.” “All right,” he said, 1 cheerfully. ••We’ll consider the matter'settled.” So it came about that after a week •he found herself in charge of the doctor's pleasant office. < i From the day she had seen her blue-

schrred face she had not looked into a mirror. She combed her hair by arranging a small mlrmr in such a way that Jler~~fHce~~was~ not revealed. The pitying glances of the patients ■who came in was all the mirror she needed. Keener, too, was Walter’s gentleness, and the way his eyes would rest uponher in moments when_she guessed, he did not realize that she knew he wntr looking at her. Everything seemed to combine to make life more and more dismal as she looked down the slope of the year';. Worst of all. and unguessed, she found herself being drawn more and more to the tall, handsome physician. His personality seemed to the wt'akcned and worried girl a 1 shelter wit hin which there was kindliness and peace. The full’ force of the situation did not strike her until one momentous day, when a girl came into the office; lovely with the lovt-llness that is always suggestive of June time and She w:;'- welcomed with manifest ph :i'-ur< by Walter, and the stricken girlin her simple gray and white dress felt the world sink about her. “I must be brave." she said to herself. I must. He Just pities me, and I must' not trouble him.” Two weeks went by. The Junetl.de girl came and went with Walter; and his In terest in her presence was evident. Then came, the day that bore with it a change of destiny. The Junetide girl, her face flushed with joy; hurried from the office, qnd Walter, following with as much pleasure shining on his, went with Iter. Doris watched them go. and guessing what had taken place between them, felt the room about her grow gray ns with dusk. From her world the last sunshine went. Through the darkness came a suggestion. She trembled. To go through life alone —■ 'nW object of‘pity when she wis gry for love, for beauty and happiness “and! youth—it was toompehF The afternoon waned. The din of the great city ebbed Into the low num--1 otone suggestive of tides that have ! spent their force,' drawing outward to [ the st-a. -She~s.itt 1 n sllencert Imnrrntet*]y she went to the cabinet in which he 1 kept the drugs with which he stocked his ease. She knew every compart“mentF Fronta“bottle -she shook out / with a steady hand three tablets —mor- ! phine —enough to send her Into the long and restful sleep which would carry her hcyonrl -suffering, beyond pity, beyond heartache. Taking them, and shivering only slightly in the act. she turned to the couch and lay down. “I am sorry, ; dear, for the trouble and bother..l shall,, • cause you, but I am weary, bevond t .y- ig.,. .--y...-. » — ~ Out’ of came a voice, insistent, firm and thrilling, with a meaning that broke into her conscious- ' ness. She opened her eyes, feeling strangely rested and at peace. ■ The lights were—soft mid shining In the office. Kneeling beside her, his face strained with anxious question, was Walter. “Doris. Doris, what have you been trying to tIo?" The grief tn his voice ! woke her to full consciousness. Sanity camo. With a low cry she sprang up. Ito find herself caught in jmnK i and held tight. "Don’t pity me!” she begged breathlessly. , found himself: "I don’t pity you.” He drew her closer to him. “I love you! Hon blind you have been! Haven’t you seen?” “Seen? You love me—me?” she questioned in a whisper. “Li -Lem ytm stay j n._my arms, until I am thronrh Ido love yo' 1 —have fromZypu have given nieJ'no sjrn—in your own Thought; is that it?” "But look at me!” His mellow laugh relieved the tension. “Sr> that is ift—Foolish girl, T Fam notmne o.f those wlio love a face; ri love the spirit behind those brown i eyes of yours—a troubled spirit now. Let me bring it peace! May I? Just i say •Yes!’” She clung to him. Speech was beyond her for the moment. After a struggle she whispered: "And I have loved you- ‘ from the moment yon ‘ bmked tit me and spoke to me, but I did not dream-r”' “The dream begins.,,now, my dear, to eAme— a lips brushed —her rthe office. Then we’ll go for a long spin under the stars. We— She remembered. Horror filled her eyes. "But I took morphine! Why ! did—r”

"No," he said gently; “I was worried alny.it you, -an<l_jwa&-fearful myself. „I. had .filled that bottle with harmless sn»r pil]s. Little girl. I have watched you and kept ward over you. I did not Intend to lose you—waiting in hopes that you would take some interest in me.” •»« The nms'c in her hea rt died at the shuck of her recollection. At his last words it started up softly the music that links eternity to eternity. "You love me—even my hideous face!” she said again, as. .if. the news were to<> good to be true. He f.-rm-il in his authoritative 'gays sician's way. and going to the corridor. —returned with a —mirror. . “Y'on sensitive soul, you_onght to know those scars have faded -out ’’ She took the mirror., wondering, a last wonder surging in her heart. All those long weeks she had kept her vow never to look upon her marred face? She took the mirror, his eyes tender iifxm her. One glance was enough- The blue, vivid sears were gohe.l Memories ot them would remain, but his love would heal even them with the balm that is the surest healing of all woes of earth—the balm of • great love.

THE EVENING REPUBLICAN, RENSSELAER, IND.

HIS WORD OF REAL WORTH

World Would Be Better if There Were “ ' More Like This Omaha Business Man. An Omaha newspaper man has a motor car, remarks the World Herald of • 1 hat city. Last spring he had ft painted. Not lon g ago the surface be,gan to develop (tn' amazing series of cracks like the “crow’s feet” about an old man’s eyes. The man greeted the cracks with amazement rapidly becoming disgust. Every time he looked at the car he lost his appetite and his good temper. ■- The other <lay the car was taken to the paint tdmpv—lfft owner was fully prepared to hear that he had used the wnmg kind of polish, that he had let the car stand out In the sun. that anything and everything had spoiled the paint except that the paint itself was at fault. ~ The painter-Jooked the- car ■ overhe said. "The varnish must havebeen bad.” » It was all over in two minutes. The man’s-faith in hutuan nature jumped several hundred per- cent. The sky was dear ; the whole world was set in rosy hue. was^-fl—mart wdto-dMn’t dodge responsibility, who tried no excuse, who l>acky<T lTifo work with his word and made good hjs word. Isn’t it a pretty good policy?

ENDED WITH HONORS EVEN

Rattlesnake and Pet Cat Staged Battle Which Caused Death of Both Combatants. ■ ■ ■- ■ » t - Will'iarn Lessig, gateman at the Erie railroa<l crossing east of Ramapo, N. -J-- tdls a story of ~a luttflv- he-~-strw ■ betumen * rattlesnake and a pet cat. -H-i-nded fatally for l»>111. — Mr. Lessig saw a rattler about four feet long going to'ward the river. He picked up a club and was about to start for it when, ire declares, a cat IcafH-d out ahead of him and set updn the snake. The cat got a fine hold on the back of the rattler’s head. But the snake fought dcsfierately and got iffi a sting which caused the cat to release its hold and crawl away. In twenty minutes the cat’s body aliiuTsnwlce its size and the poison finally caused death. The snake had been so severely wounded it was unable to find cover and when a crow discovered it lying in the opon field it was too~ weak to offer resistance ami was soon swinging in the air> as the _blrd_made off with IL - ■ ■ '

Loves His Melon.

Watermelons’ have been high in price tins season, but “Uncle Joe’ Cannon has gone right ahead eating them. It is a habit acquired by him when lie v\as a small boy in North Carolina. . Consequently the eighty-tliree-year old statesman waits each year for the arrival -of the watermelon season, and ■ hi<T as soon as the ripe ones begin to arrive Uncle Joe .may be seen sticking a big-ehwnk of something red into his mouth. Sometimes he goes at it “coon fashion” and plays a solo with his lips on a long, red slice, throwing away such implements ms knivesyttntl forks Uncle Joe can tell when a- water melon thumps right and knows by The color and general appearance whether the melon is sweet and juicy or was pulled too green.

A miserly landlord was going round fntieetio-r lii-; rtiaut. the o !l| er day AL a little girl wffiv watched open-mouth-ed and open-eyed the business of paying over the imyney and accepting the receipts. He patted her on the head and started to search his pockets, saying: “I must see what I have got for you.” After searching his pockets for some time he at last brought out from a remote corner a peppermint. As he handed it to the girl he said: "And now what will you do with that?" The litt+e girtHookeffi at it, then at him, and replied: “Wash it."

English Women—Buying Farms.

Women in England are 1 buviiut their own farms or their own truck and garden spaces in rather conspicuous numbers. And this is all an outcome of the tremendous work done by women on the land during the. war. The general feeling is that there will not be much room for. the common female farm laborer as time advances. but for the woman who has a little money and who looks upon farming as her profession and her lite work there is excellent opportunity in this direction. In the first place. on account of the compact location of the garden spaces and the cities in England transportation <>f foodstuffs is easy. Then garden truck and flowers do grow abundantly and profusely there, and always find ready markers. The Forgetful Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson tells an wnmsing storv of an old West country parson who had to hold two services, none in his own- Church - and otfe in the church over the moor. . On arriving at the latter church he got into the pulpit and said he was awfully sorry, but he had forgotten to bring a most admirable sermon which, he had written. “Luckily.” he continued, “as I came across the moor, I remembered a ,beauful Story, which I will tell you in place of the sermon. Er-er-well, daah It, Eve forgotten that, tbo?”

Wise Child.

TAKING NO CHANCES

“Dick, darling,” hinted Mrs. Youngbride, ‘‘do you remember how we used to sit on one chair at papa’s?” “That was all right at papa’s,” replied the practical Dick, “but I’m not going to forget that these chairs cost me good money;” —

A HANDICAP

“I wouldn’t have my boy taught grammar at all, if I had my way.” “That's a strange idea. Why not?” “I intend that he shall be a writer bi popular songs.”

FREE STYLE

“Dancing is the poetry of motion?" “Are these' go-as-you-please jaza •teps what you would call vers libre?"

UNDERSEA HUMOR.

Miss Minnow—l don't like to dance with Mr. Lotester; Miss Perch—Why? Miss Minnow —He pinches you so dreadfully!

NO CHANCE.

Be careful how you Do it, please, Y o u— cannot fund— Gate a sneeze.

USE TO IT.

Do you mean to say that your daughter hasn’t told you she was engaged to me? Yes, I told her not to bother me with those affairs unless she intended to get marhid. M

LAUGHING STOCKS

Ate you laughing at me? demanded the professor sternly to his diass.’ Oh, no sir, came the reply in chorus. Then, asked the professor even more grimly, what else is there in the room to laugh at? -

CLINIC HAS PROVED WORTH

Organization Established by Boston Firm Well Worthy of Imitation by Other Employers.

A pioneer medical clinic, established 15 years ago to protect the health of 600 employees, and gradually enlarged and expanded until it now cares for a total of 2,7oo—that is the record proudly held today by a well-known Boston firm. At the time of its organization the medical director was in charge of the clinic in the capacity of director and visiting nurse. Now the clinic is In charge of a practicing physician and surgeon, assisted by three full-time graduate nurses. During the influenza epidemic of last winter, over 350 employees were treated per day, with only six deaths during the entire course of the dreaded disease. All Cases were given careful individual attention and, in instances where no family —doctor —was—ln -attendance; immediate arrangements were made for It is the policy of the nurses in the clinic to advise all employees -with whom they come in contact to be insured, an activity which the firm Itself handles through an employees’ organization. The purpose of such advice is to secure Insurance for all employees in order that they may receive its benefits after one week’s illness. This arrangement does not place a premium upon the employees’ being ill, and at the same time the clinic cooperates in the matter of insurance. A dental clinic is in a formative state and, no doubt, will be established in a short time. The plan and method of administration and organization is ‘simply in the making, but it Is safe to say that the dental clinic will be as efficient as the medical clinic. The Modern Hospital, in describing the clinic, says that it has fully proved - Its-value—in- -protecting the Tiealth—of: the employees of this- particular-com-pany and merits the commendation and imitation of other mercantile and industrial establishments.

SEEMINGLY NO AGE LIMIT

Applicants for Divorce Are by No Means Always in the Days of Their Callow Youth. There is no age limit to divorce. In Oregon a womaff at the age of eightytwo years is suing for a decree from her husband, who is a callow stripling of seventy-one summers. This seems to be another case of too much mother-in-law, as the wife asserts that her husband's love hns been.-alienated and undermined- through the wk of his nidther. who is now ninety-four years old and who never did like her, anyhow. They have been married some ten years now, and the wife said that when the husband took her money 'to buy an auto for his mother and wouldn’t let his wife ride in it, she knew that his love was dead. When she remonstrated the husband coldly informed her that she could leave the house. When the wife said that the home was. her own and bought with her own money the husband replied that might be so, but he had thoughtfully had the deed recorded in his own name. Now she has to appeal to the courts. It is rather rough when a bride of eighty-two has Jo compete with a ninety-four-year-old mother-in-law for the affections of her husband.

A Foreign Ship.

Homer L. Ferguson, president of the chamber of commerce of the United States has stirred up the patriots over the reproduct ion of a being on our lw*tHiiy-iloUar blllsr- Maktngpross his auditors with the fact that this country has entirely too few ships, lie whipped out a twenty-dollar bill and declared: “Why, even tlfe ship reproduced on this bill is one that, was taken over by this country during the war. It flies the American flag, all right, but. It is a foreign-built ship.” Examination proved he was absolutely correct. The ship has four funnels, and there never has been a fourfunneled ship built in this country for our foreign trade.

The Mean Man.

Everybody knows the story about poor Tom Sharkey, who electrified theZ lingers in his saloon one daydty ing heartily. “Well, boys, what are we going to have?” And then,' ,as the loungers gathered round the bar, Ire ailded. “Rain or shine?” Representative Gordon Lee of Chickamauga told a story of a similar kind about a mean -man nt Atlantic City. Some friends visited him on a hot evening and after they had sweltered a while in the sitting room he said: “ ‘Well, friends, coukl you stand some refreshments?’ ‘“We certainly could!’ the visitors replied, and they moistened their dry lips in pleasant anticipation. “ ‘Then,’ said the mean man, rising, ‘we’ll open this window. There's promise of a breeze.’ ’’

The Uplift.

A senator, apropos of the huge quantity of army meat which ’it was proposed should be sold to the packers for less than Half the price paid them by the government, said: . “Why sell this meat to the packers? Would .it not be better to sell it to consumers direct and thus aid in reducing the cost of living? ’ ’The senator added bitterly: “The high cost of living! We heard ■ lot about the uplift movement to be expected as the result of the war, but we didn’t expect the uplift to be concentrated on prices.” -■ ../

SETTING THINGS RIGHT

**l am told that you referred to me M an ogre.” —“The idea!” —“Don - 1 try to evade —the issuer madami Did you or did you not call me an ogre?” “Certainly not. I wouldn’t be so unkind. I merely said your face threw my little Christopher in convulsions.”

THEIR LOCALITY

“Jinks says he has such vague but beautiful ideas Imprisoned in hia unind.” - 4< l suppose he keeps them in his ‘'rain cells.” —<

HEARTLESS.

She —T attended cooking school before we were married. He—What did you do there — -play bridge?.

HIS REMEDY. Medicus

What would you do in the case of a person eating poiso no us mushrooms? Student —Recti tn m e n d a change in diet.

A WAY TO LEARN.

“What would you do if I should dare To steal a kiss from you?” asked he. “To answer that I do not care, But there’s a 1 w ay to learn” said ■he.

A BOLD FLIRT

Miss Bug: See here, don’t you dare address me [Without an introduction. I’ll have you know I’m a perfect lady bug!

SMART CHAP.

m be your sis- , ter, Murmured she. And then he kissed her. Brotherly.

NOT FLATTERING.

He I love you better than my life. She Considering the Hfe you lead, I am not surprised.