The Red Cloud chief., 1922-01-19
The Singer
Sacrifice
- e.
BY MiNfFRED EUNGAR


a beautiful young M Stundiug
at the window of q drawing room.
superbIy furnished, II young man lean
Ing towards her. tall, aristo,"utjc LOOK
ing, graceful and composed ana with
q fine intellectual face--this was the
picture. Tie young man was the
brother and the lonely girl Tic warm
est friend Of widowed Beatrice Lane.
you are determined. Luraf' the
young man WAS saying.
Lura Bcldcn lifted both hands,
clasped In n pleading, distressed way.
Her eyes We're tender, her voice gentle
and appealing.
"Elwyn," she said softly, bur with
intense eagerness. sit Is only two bright
years In my life that I ask. not for
myself-just for arts sake and-and
for Others"
"Then 1t is good-by," definitely re.
sponded Elwyn Durand. almost harsh.
~. THE lure Of applause, the dover
Of gold-must | meet It ut every step?
1t Is unworthy of you to throw self
ana fame into the frail scales as
against the love Of Il true ana homes.
heart
ooh, you do not understand" cricd
Lura, but he was gou
"The %songbird. I.ura." thus they had
called her. The gift had been born
with Lura. When Il 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 Il real impcra.
trlce. Offers had come to her that
were b%ewiidering to her girlish mind.
"Only two years, Elwyn!" she had
pleaded to her fance. ut will near
so much to those | love and cherish"
So Lura told nothing that she might
have told, evcn to her dear friend,
Beatrice. Durnud went abroad. wan
iered in Odd foreign spots, returned
home, end wcarying of all wealth
might buy OF folly became interested
in n great humane Industrial housing
plan.
Lura at the end OF two years settled
down into II quiet retired lie, giving
her entire devotion to her invalid
mother. Lifc's darkest hour came TO
her when the mother died. Only the
comfort uf moderate wealth was left
10 her. She bccam" Il friend and bene-
factresS to tn" worthy poor of the sec
ton in which she lived.
Beatrice Lane had remarked aud
had removed to California. Lura had
driftcd away from her old friends.
One day Durand met an old college
chum. The latter was Il doctor now.
Doctor Witherell became greatly inter-
ested In Durand's story Of the humani-
tartan work he was engaged in.
1T occupies me and l hope to do
some good" related Durand. but | do
not seen to nuke the people warm up
to me. l am not very happy at heart.
to tell yCd the truth, Witherell."
ut Is a rather queer coincidence,
but | have u patient who has been
following somewhat in your line of hui
manitarlan work" said the doctor. 1T
Is n ~wOman-the most noble Of Gods
creatures There Is a cal! from my
Office
Doctor Witherell' crossed the hall
into his Constitution room. When he
came ont he pshcred II lady to tine
front door. At sight of her Durand's
face grew White as marble.
Doctor" he gasped, that lady"
Miss Laura Bclhcn," replied his
friend.
"Yes, yes, | know uttered Durand
incoherently; "but who-whut is she
nowf"
"A being with Il great SOUL replied
the doctor reyerently. SHE Is the lady
! told you OF. For over II 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
month ago IA little child who heard her
sing, dying Of a malignant throat dis
ease, begged her mother to ask the
boofer lady to come to her. l warned
her not to go. Miss Belden ignored my
advice. II was Miss Belden's last
song"
'Why what do you mean?" ques-
toned Durand.
"She contracted the disease from
the child. Il have reached the glory Of
my life In making one poor soul happy
In Its darkest need, she now says"
A humbled man, Elwyn Durand
sought Lura the next day. He found
her ut a hall where an exhibit of art
and needlework Of her pensioners was
In progress, And there, her sweet, pa
tient face encouraging him, he told
of the great love that had never
dlmnled, and they went down to the
street.
Went down 10 II new life, mutually
blessed, to be together as nan 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.