The Mount Holly news., 1919-12-30
A Supreme
Sacrifice
By kMAL1Es E. COBB
(Copyright, 1919, by the Western News
pApOr Union.N


paper Union.)
Dear brother Victor-it's just like
him." said Mrs Eulette as she finished
reading letter that had just arrived.
rs he coming on, mamma eagerly
questioned her daughter, Victoria.
"Oh, how glad shall be to see him."
There was genuine warmth and sin
cerity in the fresh young tones. Vic
tOria had never seen the uncle she so
cherished, but had always treasured
the oft repeated tale of how when she
was born the confirmed old bachelor
after whom they had named her their
first born, had come two thousand
miles across the country to view the
little mite he was so proud Of
Upon her every birthday, for eight
cen years few days before the natal
occasion there arrived regularly some
gift or memento. They kept pace with
the maturing years. 1t was a silver cup,
then child's ring, then a wonderful
doll, tricycle., talking machine, and
so on until this strongly steadfast rel
ative upon her graduation sent Vic
toria watch and chain. After that
for two years, every week, Victoria
wrote pleasant, loving letter and re-
ceived in return a crudely fashioned
epistle replete with tenderness and
love-
She had last written him that she
was about to marry Dudley Marsh.
The Eulettes were comparatively poor
people, and while Uncle Victor had
been always profuse in his gifts, Mrs.
Eulette had understood that her broth
er was scarcely even well to do. She
was profoundly surprised, therefore,
when she read in her brothers letter
that he would be on hand by the wed
ding day and enclosed draft for two
thousand dollars.
Il want every cent of it spent for the
wedding and for starting these young
people out right III life," the epistle
ran. Dear little namesake, feel that
must see her made happy at any
cost"
Dudley Marsh demurred when he
was made aware of the munificence Of
the generous Uncle Victor. He and
Victoria had mapped out an ideal mod
est start in life, he said, and besides
the dear old man was doing too much
for her
you will break brother Victor's
heart If you say one word to spoil his
pleasure in showing his love for Vic
toria," declared Mrs. Eulette, and so
the matter rested and Uncle Victor ar
rived, rugged, bronzed, suggesting a
man who had known little else than
hard work
you see, Bertha" he observed to
his sister, this Is wonderful event
in the life of man who never had
chick nor child, and whose thoughts
| just revolve round and round the baby
grown to woman that was named af-
ter him." and to the last Uncle Victor
smiled, chuckled, laughed, played the
extravagant spendthrift to perfection,
| and as he left on the train for home
and Victoria threw her arms about his
neck and kissed him, the old man whis-
pered rapturously to himself:
ut was worth It'll"
Then the smile faded. His brow
furrowed thoughtfully and all the long
overland journey Uncle Victor sat
grave faced and reflective as though
turning over and over in his mind some
serious problem. For twenty years
hn ho k1I
little mining town. Making the su-
preme sacrifice of his life, he had fol-
lowed an impulse he could not control
when he learned Of the approaching
wedding. AS a matter Of fact he had
cut away the only provision for his
old age to give to Victoria comfort
and happiness. Now, back home
again, he found himself without a dol
lar in the world and started to work
in one of the big mines of the district.
He received few letters from Vic
toria bubbling over with the joys of a
newly made bride, and these he treas
ured, for she did not write again after
year. Then sturdily he resigned
himself to the arduous labor he had
undertaken. One day there was bad
accident in this mine. A giant in
strength, fearless, self-sacrihcing, he
fought his way to the surface four
times, and each time carrying back to
life an overcome miner, the last res
cued one being the son of the wealthy
owner of the mine.
For month tenderly cared for at a
hospital, hero to all, the old man
fought death and came off the victor,
though cripple for life. 1t was morn
ing when his full senses had returned
for the first time. Peacefully he lay Oh
his cot, gazing out at the green-clad
hills in the distance when a fiuttering
form crossed the room.
"Unclel dear Uncle Victorl cried
Victoria Marsh, and she was kneeling
at his side, her loving arms enclosing
him. "Oh, you herol and oh you
wicked, wicked-to give up all you
had for my happinessl But it is all
right now, for Dudley has come into
great fortune, and he made me hur-
ry to your side the moment we learned
of all that had happened"
"Pm all right" declared Uncle Vic
tor stanchly, "the mining boys have
arranged to furnish me crutches and
home"
Have theyT' flared forth Victoria
exeitedly. "Well, they'll be disappoint-
ed! Right straight you are coming
East with me, or Dudley will be out
here with a posse to kidnap you. And"
continued Victoria in whisper,
there's little child waiting for you,
our first born, and we have named him
after you-Victor