The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-06-27

,hvsician invited Durand to call a.
his home to talk over old times linen
DR.. Witherell became greatly interest,"
ed in Durand's story OF the hulnani
tartan ork he was engaged IN.
1T occupies ME and | hope 10 w
some GOOD" related Durand, but 40
not seem to make the people warm up
to me. am not very happy at hear',
to tell you tie truth, Withereil' anu
I fear my pensioners are repeiled ny
nv rather smileless ways.
you have grown into a rather SOL
enn.faced chap, for a fact, Durand'
rallied the DOCTOR You need a COM
RAMON to cheer you, to join you IN
YOUR good work, to infuse 1t with the
warmth of real womanly sympathy.
Durand put up his hand gravely 10
dismiss a subject distasteful to him.
He was a man of strong purposes
He had loved once. His was soul
that would never wander from its
first ideal.
1T is a rather queer coincidence
but | have a patient who has peen
following somewhat in your line OF
humanitarian work" proceeded the
doctor. 1T is woman-the most
noble of Gods creatures-There IS
call from my office"
DR.. Witherell crossed hall into his
consultation room. When he came
out he ushered a lady to the front
door. At sight of her Durands race
grew white as marble.
Doctor" he gasped, that LADY,"
miss Lura Belden," replied his
friend.
Eyes, yes, l know" uttered Durand
incoherently; but who-what is she
now?"
"A being with a great soul" replied
the doctor reverently. She is the
lady told you of. Born with voice
that must have come to her from an
angel, she was for two years a leading
operate singer. Some trouble of neal
relatives demanded the great sacrifice
Her insisting on an operate career
caused rupture between the man
she loved and herself. Although for
ever parted, out of respect for him
she has given up her career. Fol
over a year she has been the aIge
of mercy Of one of the poorest dis
tricts of the city. She has sang only
at the settlement clubs. A month age
little child who heard her sing, dying
! of a malignant throat disease, begged
her mother to ask the boofer lady tt
come to her. l warned her not to 60
Miss Belden ignored my advice. She
! remained nursing the little one TIL
the child died. They tell me that she
passed away with rapturous ecstacy
on her face. while her loving nurse
softly sung her favorite melody. II
was Miss MERGERS last song"
why, what do you mean?' cues
toned Durand.
"She contracted the disease from
the child. 1t affected her throat, ar
operation was necessary, and the
peerless cantatrice will never sing {
note again. 1 have reached the glory
of my life in making one poor sou
happy in its darkest need she nov
says
A humbled man, Elwyn Durant
sought out Lura the next day. HI
found her at a hall where an eXhibi
of art and needleWork of her pension
ers was in progress. And there, he
sweet, patient face encouraging him
he told of the great love that hat
never dimmed, and they went down tt
the street.
Went down to new life, mutual.
| blessed, TO be together as man ant
wife, helpers of the poor and OF
pressed; guides to the unfortunate
the idols of happy, grateful children
Lura had indeed sung her last song
| but in their souls love was singing al
the years lclg
Copyright. 1918, by W. G. Chapman.)