The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1913-11-06
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that moMehtaly silence.
She was as a being with crystal
window in her souls abiding place,
her mind palace. His heart leaped
to repeat the love tale she had listened
to not twenty-four hours agone. But
she had spoken in a clear, sisterly
way. That rejection should be no
barrier to companionship, however.
He decided that. 10 know her, to be
near her-there was more in that
for his longing spirit than the adula-
ton and alteration Of a score of the
mincing damsyld OF the Beale set.
Young Doctor Ra,ey counted up
his small capital, calculated to a dol
lar, figured out what se1cral prac.
tice he cenll drrnnd unou and set at
work on Wis uGss4oI d, divine charity
and usefulness. The needy and IN.
fortunate knew thpt they We're wei
come to iree consultation, attendance
AID even free medicine, and his Of
nee was soon oVerrun. 1t was, indeed
blessed work, He was cut Off from
all nllnSial cooperation from hi.
steelyAearted relative now, and his
Old a>h',ncd patients were fast drop
ping away from physician who ca
tered TO the coarser element" as they
ohrased it. The misery he saw and al
leviated, however, the relief and JOY
he brought where there had been
misery and pain, the true hearts OF
Told he discovered in the homes 0! the
loNly and worthy, more than com
oensated him for his strong self-sacri-
flee.
Then one day a break in the routine
two thunderbolts, each devastating
and vital. They came with shock
to Walter. His uncle had practically
lost his entire fortune. A side issue
OF his great friends, the Beales, had
failed, carrying down an army of
creduous investors.
Walter went to his uncle and sug-
gested what assistance and sympathy
he might proffer, but the sullen old
man rebuffed him. That very after.
noon a barefooted, wild-eyed girl
rushed into his office.
"Oh, Doctor Ridley!" she gasped,
there's been an accident. Miss Oar
ley" and tainted away.
Walter was at the works fast as his
feet could carry him He found Ber>
tina, pale and disheveled, seated on q
work bench near a dismantled ma
chine. A dozen of the child workers
surrounded her, frightened, weeping
and solicitous for her welfare
Bertha barley had been heroine.
She had sprang to falling shaft just
In time to save half a dozen from be
ing crushed and injured. She had
fought a noble battle with the whirl
ing monster OF steel.
There were a dozen severe abra-
sions, and one crushed finger, which
Walter attended to, ah. so tenderly!
longing to kiss the poor lacerated
hand. 1t would be two weeks before
Bertha could resume her wonted
tasks.
He called at the smaller quarters to
which his uncle had betaken himself,
but was refused admission. He heard
that Mr.. Weare was severely i'll with
a contagious disease, but he was not
sent for.
Then Bertha was absent from home
for two weeks. Her father professed
ignorance OF her whereabouts, but one
day Waiter received telephone call
from his uncle.
He found Mr.. Weare recovered from
his illness, a new. softer light in his
old eyes.
Walter" he spoke. 81 should have
died but for the gentle ministrations
OF volunteer nurse, whose true iden'
tity ! did not know until an hour
since. ] have changed my mind as to
the fleeting friends Of this uncertain
world. ] wish to realize upon what
little I have left. and make a new
home with you down at the settlement,
where heart and home are not mere
hollow words"
And this nurse?" asked Walter
She appeared as he spoke-Bertha,
and in her beautiful eyes he saw q
new light-the love glow of won.
an who had right now to accept his
homage.
And two days later Walter Ridley
placed on her dear crushed finger an
ring.
Copyright. 1913 by W. @. chapmsn)