Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1918-08-30
His Sacrifice
- I4
By CECILLE LANCDON
Copyright. 1918. Western Newspaper Union-l

81 have bowed to the young lady
next door twice and she re-
turned my salutation," flared forth
Ada Noble. "She won't have the
chance to affront me again!"
Ada was fiery by nature and flashed
into the house in vast lutter of resent
ment. Her brother, Adrian, had no.
tieed the young lady in question at a
window. She was about his own age,
fair and graceful. He had particular
ly noted an appealing, winning express
sion on her well nodded face that
spoke of gentleness rather than
hauteur.
Perhaps she is shy; maybe she did
not see you, Ada" he submitted.
"Oh, yes, she did :" declared his sis
ter, snappily. "She was looking
straight at me. A stuck-up family, l
fancy. 1 did hope %congenial neighbors
would o next door,"
The theme was naturally discussed
by the members of the Noble family.
Father was not interested and said
nothing. Mother, in her quiet way,
hoped that there was some misconcep-
ton on the part Of Ada. Adrian, cher
ishing a pleasing memory Of the far
newcomer, decided secretly he must
somehow form a friendly acquaintance
with her.
They learned that the name OF the
family was Bray, and the daughter
was Eliza. The latter never left the
house except to go out upon the front
porch. She would sit there half the
day.. her mother would often sit near
her, and Mrs. Noble decided that the
girl had been an invalid.
One morning as Adrian came out OF
the house bound for the medical col
lege where he was a student, he no
ticed the girl, clinging to her fathers
arm, accompany him as far as the
next corner. There she kissed MIN
goodbye and slowly returned toward
the house. Adrian started TOWARDS
her. He had advanced perhaps halr
the distance when he spurred up to a
swift run. waving his arms and shout
ing out madly. There had turned the
corner a runaway team, which, IN
stead Of taking the street, dasheo
down the broad sidewalk.
The girl never turned. Calmly, even
" she came onward. Adrian threw
his arm around her, fairly lifting her
from her feet, swung her into a vacant
lot and gasped out as horses ana
wagon Numbered by.
did you not notice them comingE
Oh, thank heaven! 1 reached you IN
time"
81 did not see," she replied In soft.
melodious tones, because am
blind"
He swayed under the shock of the
revelation, meantime thrilling at the
contact of the c%on1ding clasp OF her
hand, which rested upon his own. Her
mother came rushing from the house.
Her father, pale and perturbed, hur-
ried towards them.
Mamma, can 1 see his face?" spoke
the girl.
sPlease indulge her." said the fathera
and he guided her hand towards the
face of Adrian, and with velvet touch
the slim white fingers traversed his
features.
"He is young, and bright, and good"
she said, wistfully. Mamma, will l
see him again?"
Eyes, DEAR" soothed Mrs. Bray, and
Adrian was asked to call that evening.
1t led to a perfect friendly union.
Ada became the daily chum of the gen.
o-oa&,,ra EuonfnOC Adrian
would read to Enta and tell her OF
what he had seen during the day. Sne
had been blind for two years, the re-
suit of a wasting fever. His very
soul went out towards her, he loved
her with an added fervor because OF
her pitiful helplessness.
At the college where he was a stu
dent, a young man named Elliott Dur
and had developed remarkable prof.
cheney in oculistic science-so much
so, that a noted surgeon had taken
great interest in him and designated
him as a rising star in the profession.
Many a time Adrian discussed with
Durand the possibility of restoring the
evesight of Elita. Finally Durand
agreed to see her and quietly study
her case. The first time he was intro
duced to Elita and she had "seen"
him with her gentle finger search, she
acted strangely subdued and silent.
Durand consulted the great oculist and
told Adrian that a liberal fee would
be required to command the service
Of the noted savant.
Adrian had earned and set aside the
money to carry him through college.
Without telling any one, he drew his
last two hundred dollars and handed
1t to the surgeon.
There was a brief operation and the
parents of Elita and Adrian and Dur
and were In the room, when, a week
later, the bandage was removed from
Elita's eyes.
She saw! Her glance rapidly
scanned those before her. Her eyes