Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1922-06-29
The Singers
Sacrifice
Observation-Disclosures

81 WINIFRED DUNBAR

Copyright 1917. western Newspaper Union.
A beautiful young woman standing
at the window of a drawing room.
saperbly furnished. young man lean
ing towards her, tall, aristocratic look
Mg. graceful and composed and with
a fine Intellectual face-this was the
picture. The young man was the
Brother and the lonely girl the warm
est friend of widowed Beatrice Lane.
you are determined. LunT the
young man was saying.
Lura Belden lifted both hands
alasped in a pleading, distressed way.
Her eyes were tender, her voice gentle
and appealing.
"Elwyn.." she said softly, but with
intense eagerness. at is only two bright
years in my life that I ask, not for
myself PAST for arts sake and-nnd
for others" sag SAG
Then # is good-by" definitely re-
Sponded Elwyn Durahd. Almost harsh
~. 1.-The lure Of applause, the dover
Of gold-must meet 1t at every stepf
II is unworthy Of you to throw self
and fame into the frail scales as
against the love Of true and honest
heart"
''Oh,. you do not understand" cried
Lurn, but he was gone.
1.-The songblrd. Lura." thus they had
called her. The gift had been born
with Lura. When great business
crash had wrenched from her mother
a royal fortune she had come to the
rescue with her peerless voice.
She had won. laurels unexpected, the
public prints discovered real impera-
trtce. Offers had come TO her that
were bewildering to her girlish mind,
"Ony two years, Elwyn!" she had
pleaded to her fiance. 1T will mean
so much to those love and cherish"
So Lura told nothing that she might
have told, even to her dear friend,
Beatrice. Durand went abroad, wan
dered in odd foreign spots, returned
home, and wearying Of all wealth
might buy of folly became interested
IN great humane Industrial housing
plan.
Lura at the end OF two years settled
down into a quiet retired life, giving
her entire devotion to her invalid
mother. LIES darkest hour came to
Der when the mother died. Only the
sOmfort Of moderate wealth was left
70 her. She became a friend and bene-
factress to the worthy poor of the sec
liou in which she lived.
Beatrice Lane had remarked and
had removed to California. Lura had
. lifted away from her old friends.
ne day Durand met an old college
am The latter was a doctor now.
Doctor Witherell became greatly inter
es4ed in Durand's story of the hufnani-
sATian work he was engaged In.
Ut occupies me and hope to do
xDrOe good" related Durand, "but do
not seem to make the people warm up
to me. am5not very happy at heart
20 tell you the truth, Witherell."
ut Is "a rather queer coincidence,
hut !. have 3 patient who has been
following soIaewhGt in your line of hui
mnnttarian work. said the doctor. 1T
N 4 woman-Tthe most noble of Gods
creatures There is call from my
afice"
Doctor Witherell crossed the hall
into his consultation room. When he
came out he, ushered lady to the
front door. AT sight Of her Durand's
face grew white as marble.
Doctor" he gasped, that ladyr'
Miss Laura Belden," replied his
fEaeRd
Yes. yes, 4 know" uttered Durand
RncOAerently *but who-what is she
newY
"A being with great SOUL" replied
ahe doctor reyerently. "She is the lady
/ told you OFFS For over year she has
Been the angel Of mercy Of one Of the
poorest districts Of the city. She has
sung only at the settlement clubs. A
Snonth ago little child who heard her
sing, dying of malignant throat dis
ease, begged her mother to ask the
1oofer lady to come to her, l warned
her not to 60. Miss Belden ignored my
aasice. It was Miss Beldens last
aag."
-Why. what do you meanr Ques-
fi0ned Durnnd.
.'She contracted the disease from
TIE child. Ihave reached the glory Of
nv life In making one poor soul happy
n It's darkest need, she now says"
A BUNDLED man, Elwyn Durand
sought Lura the next day. He found
Se9 at a hall where an exhibit of art
end needlework of her pensioners was
n progress. And there, her sweet, pa
dent face encouraging him, he told
q the great love that had never
aImmed, and they went down to. the
street.
Went down to a new life, mutually
blessed, to be together as man and
wife, helpers Of the poor and OPP
pressed guides to the unfortunate, the
idols Of happy, grateful children. Lura
had indeed sung her last song, but in
their souls love was singing all the
years long.
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