Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1919-12-25
A Supreme
Sacrifice
oo
BY AMALIES E. COBB
Copyright. 1919, by the Western News.
paper Union.l

reading a letter that had just arrived
'ls he coming ON. mamma" eagerly
questioned her daughter Victoria
"oh, how glad shah be to see him"
There was genuine warmth and sin
ceiity in The fresh young tones. Vie
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 whxn 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. II was silver cup,
then child's ring. then wonderful
doll, a tricycle., talking machine, and
so on until this strongly steadfast rel.
ative upon her graduation sent Vie
toria watch and chain. After that
for two years, every week. Victoria
wrote pleasant, loving letter and re-
ceired in return 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.
81 want every cent of it spent for the
wedding and for starting these young
people out right in 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 II 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 ara
ri,
man who had known little else than
hard wbrk.
YOU see, Bertha he observed to
his sister, this is a wonderful event
in the life of man who never had
chick aor child, and whose thoughts
just reyovs round and round the baby
grown to a woman that was named af-
ter him." and to the last Uncle Victor
smiled chuckled, laughed, played the
extravagant spendthrlft 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 wills
pered rapturously to himself:
1T was worth IT."
Then the smile faded. His brow
furrowed thoughtfully and all the long
overland journey Uncle Victor sat
grave faced and reflective MS though
turning over and over In his mind some
serious problem. For twenty years
he had conducted restaurant in
little mining town. Making the SUI
preme sacrifice Of his life, he had fol-
lowed an impulse he could MOI 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 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
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-sacrihclng, he
fought HIS way to the surface four
times, and each time carrying back to
life an overcome miner, the lost res
cued one being the son Of the wealthy
owner Of the mine.
For month tenderly cared for at
hospital, Il hero to all, The old man
fought death and came Off the victor,
though cripple for life II was morn
ing when his full senses had returned
for the first time. Peacefully he lay on
his cot, gazing out at the green-clad
hills In the distance when q hutterlng
form crossed the room.
"Unciel dear Uncle yictorp cried
Victoria Marsh, and she was kneellng
at his side. her loving arms enclosing
him. ooh, you hero and oh you
wicked wicked--to give up all you
had for my happiness But II is all
right now, for Dudley has come into
great fortune, and be made me hur-
ry to YOUR side the moment we learned
OF all that had happened"
I'm all right" declared Uncle Vic
tor stanchly. "the mining boys have
arranged to furnish me crutches and
home"
aUaye theyT' farea forth Victoria