The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-08-22
THE DAILY
SHORT STORY
The Light in the Darkness.
BY A. w. PEACH.
Copyright, 11s, by the Mcclure
Newspaper SyndIcate.)


~ oRRIs LANE could gather little
from the kind eyes OF the physi-
- clan who removed the band
ages, and her hopes rose. From the
moment Of the explosion in the chem
ical laboratory in which she had been
employed, during the long days Of
suffering IN the hospital. she did not
dare 10 ask II she would be left with a
badly SCARED face. The question
seemed, for the time being, vain and
foolish In her situatlcn, but now that
life was assured. she began u won-
der II TO- oil her dajr she was 20 meet
,the plying, questioning look that :he
unnamed give TIE maimrtl.
Doctor, how d. look" rho asked,
smiling as braVely as she could.
There Is Just one btu scar. the 9th :
ers will fade, am sure. You might
bring Miss Lane mirror" he said to
the waiting nurse.
When she saw in the truthful glass
the livid scar that raced its ugly line
across her forehead, and the blotches
below where the flying acid had
touched, she moaned in anguish
"Hello, By-way!"
The pleasant voice cut through her
darkness, and she opened her tear
filled eyes to see standing above ner
the attending physician known 10 her
as CDR. Walter" During the month
that her eyes had been bandaged he
had been to her merely a pleasant
voice and gentle fingers. Now she
saw he was tall, tanned as II from
much time spent out OF doors, gray
a..A IA hat t. ~.
in calling her "By-way" instead Of
Lane" had pleased her in her childish
weakness; now, however, she turned
to the pillow.
His voice was gentle, for he seemed
to understand. Look here. you must
not feel that way"
mo, but IL you = were-to-go
through life-this way-pitied-by
everybody" she returned brokenly.
Besides, I''-she paused Besides
what?" he urged in the same gentle
fashion.
She shook her head and waved him
The next morning DR.. Walter
stopped again. Miss Lane, l have to
come to make you a formal offer OF a
position as my secretary; want you
to look after my office; are you will
ing?"
She lifted her SCARED face. Gwen
you pity me-"
mo, l am sincere. really need
some one, and you have had expert
ence with drugs" he said patiently.
The quiet reproof in his voice was
enough. Forgive me, l hardly know
what am saying. Yes, II / can serve
you, want to-"
So it came about that after a week
she found herself in charge of the doc
tors pleasant office on the wide street
where the leading physicians Of thu
city had seemed to locate them
selves.
From the day she had seen her
blue-scarred face she had not looked
into mirror.
Worst of all, and unguessed, she
found herself being drawn more ana
more to the tall, handsome physician.
His personality seemed to the weak
ened and worried girl a shelter with
in which there was kindness and
peace.
The full force of the situation did
not strike her until one momentous
day when girl came into the office,
lovely with the loneliness that is al
ways suggestive Of June time and
roses. She was welcomed with mani
fest pleasure by Walter, and the
stricken girl in her simple gray with
white dress felt the world sink about
her.
Two weeks went by. The Junetide
gin came and went with Walter; and
bis interest In her presence was evil
dent
Then came the day that bore with
it 8 change of destiny.
The Jnntide girl, her face flushed
with JOY. hurried from the office, and
Walter, following with as much pleas
NEe shining on his, went with her.
Doris watched them go, and guess
ing what had taken place between
thenL felt the room about her grow
grey as with dusk. From her worio
ths last sunshine went. Through the
eSarkpess came suggestion. She
trembled.
The afternoon waned. She sat in
silence, then quietly she went to the
eapA1et ~ which ne kept the drugs
wath Mlhtch ne stocked his case. From
z botAe she shook out with q steady
h2nq three OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
o send her into the long and restful
sleep which would carry her beyond
spgSsfFtrg, beyond PITY, beyond heart
aohe.
Taking them, and shiyering only
sltshtly If The act she turned 10 the
couch and lay down.
Out ok the darkness came voice,
ipsistent, firm and thrilling, with q
meaning thai broke Into her conscious.
ness. she opened hes eyes, feeling
strangely rested and at peace,
The lights were soft and shining IN
the office. Kpeelipg beside her, his
taee gtf aimed With anxious question,
Doris, Doris, what baye you been
trying 70 dol" The grief In his voice
woke her 70 full cons teusness. san-
uyacaIne. With 4 low cry she spFaI,R
W 70 md herself caught ii bis arms
and held tight 'NNE''' ~ ~
Don't pity me-" she begged hreath-
HIS voice indicated that be had
found himself II don't pity your Ha
brew her closer to him F''I love yoIIl
How blind you have been! Haven't