Evening Republican, Volume 22, Number 242, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 7 October 1919 — The Light in the Darkness [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

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

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.

Now She Saw He Was Tall.