Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1920-10-21
The
Better Part
By MURIEL LEE
Ca 1920. Western Newspaper un

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ga 1920. Western Newspaper Union.)
Love and charity had played i'm
portant parts in the career Of Mark
Wallace. and he had entered into the
sentiments Of the same with earnest
ness and faith. Upon only one woman
had he bestowed the fervor Of stead
fast affection, had basked in the sum
light Of her smiles for brief period,
and then she had fitted like some
beautiful bird and he was left desc
late.
Esther Wayne had been very friend
~ to Wallace, and had he been Of a
more venturesome nature he might
never have lost her. Unexpectedly
Miss Wayne had become heiress to q
fortune. It took her away for a
month. settling up an estate. In the
meantime extravagant stories Of her
wealth came to the ears of Wallace.
She and her young brother, Sidney,
were to return and build fifty
thousand dollar mansion, rumor said.
1t placed the Waynes on pedestal of
social and moneyed prestige that fair
~ daunted Wallace. He was poor,
obscure-how could be ever hope to
win this rare paragon of beauty and
fortune. He decided that it would be
best for his peace of mind to go away
and try to forget her.
This in fact he never did, but he
was somewhat buoyed up by his sue
cess in securing position in the city
at three times his former country town
salary. He made steadfast progress
and this was well, for 1t took his mind
away from sorrow and despair. He
settled down to quiet. steady going
life and sought in kindly deeds COM
pensation for the loss OF love.
II he had only known it, Esther
Wayne had come back to her native
town hoping to find him there, and
disappointed and more than that when
she learned that he had left the place
permanently. 1t was natural that she
should decide that he had never cared
for her outside of casual acquaintance
ship. For long time Esther cher
ished her own dream of affection, then
sought to Danish it's memories and
married man, Eris Danvers, who
sought her only for her fortune, dis
sipated nearly half of it and left her
widow at the end of year.
Esther had gone through an experi-
ence that ages the soul, and the old
home and old friends too had grown
dfstasteful to her. She removed to
the city where Sidney. then only ten
years of age, could receive the benefits
Of superior education. They made
their home with family who accom-
modated few chosen boarders. The
son of the family, at table one evening,
made remark that suddenly opened
the flood gates of memory with Esther
in strangely acute way.
"I've got the happiest man in the
world for my boss, they tell me-"
spoke the young man. "He is the
manager of our firm and l heard his
history today. He has been with the
house for five years and his name is
Mark Wallace"
Esther was startled and a flutter of
emotion crossed her face, but she was
unobserved by those present. She was
eager to hear more.
Hes the friend Of everybody in the
establishment and jolly as can be-
always word of cheer from the old
bachelor, as they call him. One of
the fellows at one desk told me that
Mr.. Wallace was disappointed in love
years ago, and that he has never
looked at woman since his first love
disappointed him. l just tell you this
because he doesn't act like the forlorn
pining lover with broken heart. He
just pulled himself together and sought
new line of interest-being good to
others. They say that from the first
day he came to the store he faithfully
put aside exactly half of his earnings.
Every Saturday night he starts out to
spend this surplus, dresses up in the
most commonplace way, goes down in
to the slums and hunts for poor fami-
lies in trouble, neglected children, the
sick, the weak, the unfortunate. Makes
a system and business of it. He has
compensated for the loss of the love
Of one woman by cherishing that of
the whole world"
Esther managed to see Wallace sew
eral times during the next month, but
always at a distance. He had improved
with the years. The beneticent ex-
preston of his calm, vet pleasant face
told Of an unselfish and sacrificing
soul.
There opened up no way that
brought them together, although Es-
ther looked for that welcome material
ization. Then her constant thoughts
of Wallace were broken in upon by Ell
occurrence that distracted her. Sidney
Wayne did not return from school one
day, and no trace could be secured of
him. The police were satisfied that
and We're holding him in captivity to
force his wealthy sister to ransom
him
Esther was heartsick with anxiety
and dread. She was mourning over
the new trouble that had come to her.
when one afternoon she heard welcome
tones in the hall below her room anu
she rushed down stairs to fold her
lost brother in her loving arms.
And with him was Mark Wallace,
and soon Esther knew that through
his acquaintance with the poor and