Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-11-05

A BLIGHT
BY ELIZABETH WEED
Copyright. 1910 by American Press
Association.


baby, through the carelessness Of a
nurse. she fell, and cut her lip. produc-
ing a wound that in healing left a
scar, giving very disagreeable ex-
preston to her face.
Edith could see In the faces OF those
she met q repugndnce occasioned by
her expression. AT flrst she tried to
obyiate this effect by smiling. but she
saw at once by the further recoil OF
the one looking at her that she was
only frightening the disagreeable i'm
preston. Such physical blights usual
Iy have one OF two effects. either the
blighted person is unconscious of the
defect or becomes painfully sensitive
concerning II. Edith was of the lat
ter class. She would not go to the
social gatherings of her own age. More
and more she shrank within herself.
Then. becoming conscious that In be-
ing a recluse she would be forced into
a life of selfishness. she began to de-
vote herself to the poor.
She had friends. girl friends. who
sought to draw her out socially. Con
ndence between young girls is close.
while that between opposite sexes, es-
pecially at that age. is distant. The
young men who met Edith looked
upon the expression on her face and
turned away with shrug. Her girl
friends had a better opportunity to
learn what there was under the mis-
Leading expression. When ons Of her
chums was married she insisted on
Edith being her bridesmaid. Edith
demurred. but her friend would not ex-
cuse her.
At the wedding the bridesmaid.
looking up suddenly. saw the eyes Of
a young man she had never seen rivet-
ed upon her and without that repealed
expression she was accustomed to see.
The man was a recent graduate Of a
medical school. The reason why his
face did not reflect any disagreeable
expression at her defect was because.
being a practitioner. he was used to
controlling his features when treating
his patients.
But Edith did not know this. She
knew only that man with kindly
face was looking at her without any
reference to her defect. And when
DR.. Allan Emerson requested an In
PRODUCTION and was presented to her
her heart fairly bounded within her.
Not for an instant while he chatted
with her did he seem conscious Of her
blight. And she. being made to feel
that It was inconsequential. rose above
1t 50 far as to display the real attrac-
tiyeness and worth that were in her.
And yet the reason of the young doc
tors desire to make her acquaintance
was that very defect. He bad been
observing her before she had noticed
him and with professional eye had
been watching the effect of her scar
upon the various expressions that hit-
ted across her face. Some physicians.
rough In manner. though they may be
invaluable helpers to the afflicted,
would not have scrupIed to betray the
real object OF their interest. Emerson
was Of a different kind. He not only
concealed his own thoughts for pro-
fessionaI reasons. but from an innate
sense Of dclicacy.>
Whatever be- the exact analysis OF
his feelings. the act produced mark
ed impression upon Edith Wilton. A
man whose personnel. whose bearing.
was far above the average had not
only failed TO show any repugnance
at her defect but had asked to be 10
troduced to her and cbafted with her.
displaying UNUSUAL interest In her
without seeming to be conscious that
there was any difference between her
and other girls. unless TO her advan-
fage. But when ihe asked her II be
might not cal; upon her the cup OF her
delight was full.
A few months after the meeting DIR.
Emerson asked Edith to be bis wife
when she had accepted him be men
toned for the frst time her defect.
letting her know that be believed ne
could remove. at ieas; its effects.
why" ssi1 Edith. didn't you re-
move 1t before proposing TO me-"
Because. sweetheart" he replied
''shese stupid men who have been
passing You by would have learned OF
your real worth. and the Geld weld
have beer fuli Of rivals"
There was more ic Der eyes than IN
her words when she replied. You
know very well that none OF them
were to be feared Sy you"
But Edith dreaded lest In case nm
operation were not successful ncr lover
might ind himself tied through life
10 blighted woman snd unhsppiBess
foy both would result She therefore
insisted on having the operation per
formed and II the trouble were re
moved the marriage 20 take place att
ervsrt. Dr. Emerson demurred 10
this. saying that whether the op-
e-rffcr were or were not a success be