Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1922-02-17

little general store business that had
given them bare living for twenty
years and enabled them to give their
only daughter, Helen, an excellent
musical education.
A relative In the South had been
the cause of sudden determination
on the part of these worthy, credu-
lous people that had altered the whole
current Of their lives. He had made
lucky investment In a motion pic
ture show and was fast acquiring q
fortune.
"Well sell out, find nice, respect
able location In some pretty home
town and 60 into the business" de-
cided Mr.. Vance.
So, pride and novelty carried the
Vances away from their usual sober
judgment and here they were now,
discussing the results as proprietors
Of the Palace" photo playhouse at
Maiden.
The Vances had arranged some cozy
living rooms at the rear of the play
house.
"What was thatT suddenly en-
claimed Mrs Venice.
"It's Helen" cried her husband,
and ran to the door, and his daughter
burst Into the room.
what is it~ gasped her mother in
alarm.
'I-stumbled over man-maybe
dead, don't known shuddered Helen.
"A prowler or some one wandered
up from those vile drinking dens on
the river" decided Mr.. Vance. "Tll
go and see."
He returned In few moments stag
gering under the great weight Of q
helpless human form.
"Oh, dear! dear" exclaimed the
motherly Mrs Vance, after a glance
at the white pulseless face Of the I'm
conscious stranger-"a young man,
almost boy Abner, this is pitiful"
Helen stood regarding the rescued
wayfarer as though gazing upon some
vivid camera scene.
They aroused the unconscious man
through their own ministrations, but
they discovered that one limb seemed
broken. The doctor told them that
1t was a bad fracture when he was
summoned by Mr.. Vance.
They knew the next day all that
the young man cared to tell about
himself His name was Adrian Noble.
He had been turned away from his
fathers door on account Of his drink
ing habits. He had wandered to Nal.
den, In muddled condition, had
fallen from high sidewalk and here
he was-pennlless, homeless and
friendless
"The penniless part of 1t needn't
worry you, If you are resolute to work
and REFORM said Abner Vance In his
blunt, practical way. "As to being
homeless, you are welcome here till
you are better and we will be your
friends II you VIII let US"
In a strange subdued manner, the
young man grew into their family and
business lives. They fixed up room
for him behind the playhouse stage
and when he got SO he could move
around on clutches placed him in
charge Of the little ticket booth.
Adrian Noble would set his eyes upon
Helen as she practiced the music for
the entertainments.
When he could get around more
freely, Noble began to take a rare
interest in the business. He suggested
Improvements In the character Of the
films, he was the distributor of some
unique advertising that brought In the
audiences.
With brighter business prospects.
Mr.. Vance still longed for the big hall
in the center Of the town. He talked
about it necessarily and It interested
Noble. One day the latter came to
Helen with grave, earnest face.
"Will you write something for meY'
he asked.
"Certainly-what is it," INQUIRED
Helen, flushing a trifle under his clear,
steady gaze.
"a temperance pledge am
through with the old folly. want
your hand to inscribe the promise I
shall never break"
Two days later Noble disappeared
mysteriously from the playhouse.
Helen never dreamed she could so
miss him. He walked in upon them
just after the entertainment Saturday
night, a new being In apparel and
manner.
There is the lease of the hall for
a year, all paid for and made out in
your name," he said quietly, handing
a folded document to his host.
"What does this mean?" stared the
astonlshed Mr., Vance.
81 went to my father with that
pledge and truthful, manly story"
replied Noble. "He babe me return
to the true hearts Of gold who had
wrought the miracle of my reforma-
ton"
Mrs. Vance was crying In her moth
erly, sympathetic way. Helens eyes
beamed upon him, and In their glow
ing depths Adrian Noble read the
sure promise Of Q lasting haven Of
Lowell