Polk County news-gazette. (Benton, Tenn.) 190?-191?, 1913-12-11

dead alcoholic faint permeated the air
Il was plain 10 read the presentment
strong drink
They aroused the unconscious man
through their own ministrations, but
they discovered that one limb seemed
broken. The doctor told them that
il was a bad fracture when he was
summoned by the humane Mr. Vance.
They knew the next day all that
the young man cared to tell about
himself. His name was Adrian Noble
He had been turned away from his
fathers door on account of his drink
ing habits. He had wandered to Nal
den. in a muddled condition, had
fallen from a high sidewalk and here
he was-penniless, homeless and
friendless.
He told the story shamefacedly as
he met the beautiful eyes of Helen
fixed upon him sorrowfully, reproach'
fully.
"The penniless part of it needn't
worry you, if you are resolute to WORK
and reform" said Abner Vance In his
blunt. practical way. "As to being
homeless. you are welcome here till
YOU are better and We will be your
friends if you will let us"
In a strange, subdued manner, the
young man grew into their family and
business lives. They fixed up a room
for him behind the playhouse stage
and when he got so he could move
around on crutches placed him IN
charge of the little ticket booth.
Adrian Noble would set his eyes
fixed upon Helen as she practiced the
music for the entertainments. lie
rarely spoke to her, yet when she
was away from the family group he
would watch the door restlessly fol-
her temperance.
When he could get around more
freely, Noble began to take a rare
interest in the business. He suggest
ed improvements in the character OF
the films. he was the distributor OF
some unique advertising that brought
in the audiences. He invented
noise piano." as he called it, placed
behind the stage. AS the protector
threw scenes upon the screen, he gave
vivid accompaniment that fairly
| electrified the audiences.
Thus a horse trotting, railroad
bell ringing, storm, the clatter of a
wagon, a blacksmith's anvil-by
means of wooden, metal and whistle
accessories, timed just right, he illus
trated the motion pictures in a new
way.
With brighter business prospects
Mr.. Vance still longed for the big hall
in the center of the town. He talked
about it necessarily and it interested
Noble. One day the latter came to
| Helen with grave, earnest face.
"Will you write something for me?
he asked.
"Certainly-what is it?" inquired
Helen. flushing a trife under his clear
steady gaze.
"A temperance pledge. l am
through with the old folly. / want
your hand to inscribe the promise
shall never break"
Two days later Noble disappeared
mysteriously from the playhouse
Helen never dreamed she could sc
miss him. He walked in upon them
lust after the entertainment Saturday
night, new being in apparel anc
manner.
There is the lease of the hall fol
a year, all paid for and made out IN
your name" he said quietly, handing
a folded document to his host.
What does this mean?" stared the
astonished Mr.. Vance.
Il went to my father with thai
pledge and a truthful, manly story,
replied Noble. "He babe me return
to the true hearts of gold who had
wrought the miracle of my reforma
ton"
Mrs. Vance was crying in her moth
erly, sympathetic way. Helen's eyes
beamed upon him, and in their glow
ing depths Adrian Noble read the
sure promise of a lasting haven o.
love!
copyright, 1918, by w. G. Chapman)