Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1921-03-31
The
Better Part
By MURIEL LEE
10 1890. ws.tsr. Newspaper Union.)


sentiments Of the same with earnest
ness and faith. Upon only one woma
had he bestowed the fervOr Of stead
fast affection, had basked In the sun
light Of her smiles Tor a brief period
and tl.en she had fitted like SOM
beautiful bird and he was left desc
late.
Esther Wayne had been very friend
ly to Wallace, and had he been Of 4
more venturesOme nature he NIGH
never have lost her. Unexpectedly
Miss Wayne had become heiress to q
fortune. II took her away for q
month, settling up an estate. In the
meantime extrnvagnnt stories Of her
wealth came to the ears Of Wallace
She and her young brother, Sidney
were to return and build q fifty
thousand dollar mansion. rumor said.
II placed the Waynes on pedestal Of
social and mOneyed prestige that fair
ly daunted Wallace. He was poor.
Obscure-how could be ever hope to
win this rare paragon Of beauty and
fortune. He decided that 1t 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 a position in tho city
at three times his former country town
salary. He made steadfast progress
and this was well, for II took his mind
away from sorrow and despair. He
settled down to q quiet. steady going
life and sought in kindly deeds COM
pensation for the loss OF love.
II he had only known 1t. 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 acqualntance-
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 1t and left her
a widow at the end OF year.
Esther had gone through an expert
ence that ages the soul. and the old
home and old friends too had grown
distasteful 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 a 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 a strangely acute way.
"Ive 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 f1utter of
emotion crossed her face, but she was
unobserved by those present. She was
eager to hear more.
He's the friend Of everybody in the !
and jolly as can be-
always a word Of cheer from the old |
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 a woman since his first love
him. just tell you this
because he doesn't act like the forl0rn
pining lover with broken heart. He
Just pulled himself together and sought
4 new line of Understanding good to
others. They say that from the first
lay he came to the store he faithfully
nut aside exactly half of his earnings.
Every Saturday night he starts out to
pend this surplus, dresses up In the
most commonplace way, goes down In
q the slums and hunts for poor fami-
les in trouble, neglected children, the
lick, the weak, the unfortunate. Makes
system and a business of 1t. He has
for the loss Of the love (
# one woman by cherishing that of I
he whole world"
Esther managed to see Wallace sew
raj times during the next month, but
lways at a distance. He had improved
With the years. The baneficent ex-
of his calm, vet pleasant face
old of an unselfsh and a sacrificing
oul.
There opened up no way that
rought them together. although Es-
her looked for that welcome material
.ation. Then her constant t6oughtA y
( Wallace were broken in upon by an
occurrence that distracted her. Sidney .
Wayne did not return from school one
ay, and no trace could be secured of
i'm. The police were satisfied that !,
band Of city ruffians had abducted
nd were holding him In captivity to
,roe his wealthy sister to ransom
i'm.
Esther was heartsick with anxiety 4
mel dread. She was mourning over
ie new trouble that had come to her,
hen one afternoon she heard welcome
mes In, the hail below her room and n
We rushed down stairs to fold her e.
'st brother In her loving arms. @
And with him was Mark Wallace, "
nd soon Esther knew that through W
Il acquaintance with the poor and N
WHY there had eventuated a ciew to n
IL whereabouts Of the kidnapped In
~.
az II. /