The Washington bee., 1911-08-05
A BLIGHT
By ELIZABETH WEED

able disposition, but when she was
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
Ahe met repugnance OccasiOned by
her expression. At first she tried to
obviate this effect by smiling, but she
saw at once oy the further recon of
the one looking at her that she was
only heightening the disagreeable i'm
preston. Such physical blights usual
~ have one Of two effects, either the
bl1ghted person is unconscious Of the
defect or becomes painfully sensitive
concerning it. Edith was Of the lat
ter class. She would not 90 to the
social gatherings of her Owr age. More
and more she shrank within herself.
Then, becoming conscious that in be-
ing a recluse she would be forced into
6 life of selfshness, she began to de-
vote herself to the poor.
She had friends, girl friends, who
sought to draw her out socially. Con
hdence between young girls is close,
while that between opposite sexes, es-
pscially at that age, is distant. The
young men who met Edith looked
upon the expression on her face and
8 turned away with a shrug. Her girl
friends had a better opportunity t.
learn what there was under the mis-
A.. -
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
young man she had never seen riYet-
ed upon her and without that repelled
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 a man with a kindly
8 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.
q Not for an instant while he chatted
with her did he seem conscious Of her
zblight And she, being made to feel
that it was incOnsequential, rose above
zit so far as to display the real attrac-
tiveness and worth that were in her.
And yet the reason Of the young doc
tors desire to make her acquaintance
twas that very defect. He had been
Observing her before she had noticed
him and with a professional eye had
been watching the effect Of her scar
upon the various expressions that fit
ted across her face. Some physicians,
rough in manner, though they may be
Invaluable helpers to the afflicted,
would not have scrupled to betTay the
real object Of their interest. Emerson
was of a different kind. He not only
concealed his own thoughts for pro-
fessional reasons, but from an innate
sense of delicacy.
Whatever be the exact analysis OF
his feelings. the act produced a 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 in
roduced to her and chatted with her
displaying unusual interest in heI
without seeming to be conscious that
there was any difference between heI
and other girls, unless to her advan
#knge. But when he asked her if he
might not call upon her the cup Of heI
ielight was full.
A few months after the meeting DR.
Emerson asked Edith to be his wife
When she had accepted him he men
toned for the first time her defect
letting her know that he believed ht
could remove at least its effects.
''Why," said Edith, didn't you re
move it before proposing to mey'
Because, sweetheart" he replied
these stupid men who have beer
passing you by would have learned o
your real worth, and the field woult
have been full of rivals"
There was more in her eyes than il
her words when she replied, ''YoI
know very well that none Of then
were to be feared by you"
But Edith dreaded lest in case al
operation were not successful her love
might find himself tied through lif
30 blighted woman and unhappines
Tor both would result. She therefor
insisted on having the operation PEI
formed and if the trouble were rt
moved the marriage to take place af1
erward. DR.. Emerson demurred (
his, saying that whether the OF
Grafton were or were not a success b
would not give her up. Both stOO
firmly on the ground that they ha
taken, but the man, since the resu
would be the same to him in an
event, finally yielded
The operation was merely q matte
Of delicate handling, its only object b.
ing to produce a certain result {
facial expression. DR.. Emerson Pc
formed it himself, covering the wOun
he made with a piece Of ski