Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1910-07-08
The Scar Of Fate


the world as famous surgeon: but
there were times when he was man.
For a moment he forgot the delicate
operation that was to save this girls
life while 1t marred her fair face, and
only that he was a man
looking upon a beautiful woman in
sad distress.
Beauty" he sneered, What mat
ters a pretty facet Have you no soul3
Are you afraid?"
The taunt accomplished its intend
ed purpose and checked the approach
ing storm of tears.
"Souli" she retorted, what use
have for a soul7 Yes, am afraid"
1907" he said. with mockery still
in his tone, "All women are alike.
What is a soul compared to a pretty
facet For pretty faces bring fiattsry
and gayety and"
"And all men are alikel" she inter
rupted. stung into unintended self
revelation, Stupid Stupid Stupid
What is my face to me7 hate III But
] cannot lose it. l am not wise. c-
great, or learned: but because an
beautiful men will pay their money TO
watch me dance and sing and n'ie
Do they think enjoy i'll But what
am to do7 How canI stop when my
mother is in the Home for Consump-
tlves and there is no money except
what / am able to earn2 How is he
to live II you spoil my beauty? And
the man am to marry7 Do you sup
pose that he will still care for me?
"Marry7" the doctor was sur9.i ed
to hear himself saying, why should
you marry? Do you love him?"
Love him?" she exclaimed, Love
himl He is rich. He is an artist.
He likes to paint my face. / arr too
tired to dance since have been sick"
The doctor walked over to the win
dow and stood gazing out into the
busy street. He wanted to speak but
he felt that words would choke him.
The girl watched him, wondering.
After a while he turned toward her
again.
Il viii do my best to cure you wi.h-
out an operation" he said slowly out
l am afraid that It viii be lmpossb e."
"Ob, thank you" she murm red
with the sound Of tears in her voice,
and hurried from the office.
Day after day she came these to
have her face treated, but never again
did she come near to losing her SELL
control or speak of herself Instead
she smiled and talked, and laugs cd
and jested. and refused to be ser Gus.
But sometimes, when his fingers lay
on her cheek, she shivered and drew
away.
The doctor sat alone in his st iy.
Outside the rain was beating dismal
ly against the dripping sash. He had
been trying to read, but had flung his
book away in sudden disgust at mis-
upon its contents. Now he was .'lly
watching the drops of water trick ng
down the window pane. Suddenly the
silence was broken by voice tat
seemed to him to come from W min
himself.
"Is that girl getting well?" it as ID.
NO." he answered aloud, "sso is
bIOnAl6 WbAsG NNtAJ
what will happen to her II Oh
don't operate on her face?" the vc.ce
continued.
"She viii die" was his reply.
How long can she live?"
''Not many months"
why didn't you do 1t long ago."
The doctor sprang to his feet with
an exclamation.
Good heavens! What have l done!
What have l donei Day after day
have let her come to me and have pre-
tended that was curing her W en-
! knew that was doing her more
harm than good. Day after day
have watched her growing weaker and
thinner, when In half an hour | could
have restored her to perfect health,
Why! Why!"
Because | would not heal her for
that other man. FOOL Fooll Why
didn't know tat have been killing
her because love her? Love? Love
l am not fit-to live. But I--I-must
| give her to him."
Hour after hour he paced the floor
struggling with his temptation. The
next day he told her that It would bs
necessary for him TO operate at oace
and he wondered why she laughed In
stead OF weeping, as he had thought
that she would do.
The patient lay unconscious upon
the operating table. The surgeons
knife had done it's life-saving work
but across the delicate cheek stretch
ed a long, disfiguring scar With sen
sitive, skilful fingers the surgeon in
serted the last stitch. Then he
Strengthened himself up and watcho
the nurse as she began to apply the
bandages. Suddenly he turned to the
man at his side.
rs she to be your Wife?" he in
quired.
"She was to have been." the otheI
answered slowly, but can you moi
see that a man with the soul of al
artist can not marry a girl with a face
like that7"
Soul Of an artist" the doctor
stormed. Soul Of a paint pot ConlC
you not see that her soul was far more
beautiful than her face? Col YoJ
are not OF to touch her"
For a moment the artist gazed al
the unconscious figure upon the IA
BILE and then he turned and left thS
room.
When the girl regained conscious
ness she was lying in the doctors
arms.-SUSAN f. BURBANK.
Most Important Of All.