The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1942-06-04
THE ONE
TALENT
g
By ELIZABETH GREENE
g Mcclure Newspaper Syndicate.
WNU Service.
ELUCTANTLY Lydia led the
visitor into the luxurious
living-room, flooded with
e,,Y,1;4L+

sunlight.
Sinking gratefully into the mas
sive rocker by the window, the new
minister's wife fingered her little
black bag nervously, awed a little
by the magnificence about her.
The minister hadn't approved of
her coming; but surely, heaven had
given her this chance to help Lydia
Merrill's darkened soul into the sun
light! The faith in her heart was
so great
GIVE come on a special Grand"
smiled the visitor. give just
learned today that you sing"
The scar on Lydia's cheek burned
painfully. So they had begun their
tattling about her! Well, she had
expected it.
Someone has misinformed you"
said Lydia coldly. "Folks get things
twisted sometimes" she added
grimly, ''here in Putney"
In the silence the minister's wife
gazed thoughtfully from the win
dow. II used to WONDER" she said
presently, "why the Lord did not
give us all the same talents; but l
know noW," she added, "that if He
had we should have missed much
of the joy of life
So that was the minister's Wife's
little game, to come here and
preach to her! Likely the church
folks had set her up to it.
eff they've sent you here to
preach to me-" blazed Lydia, ''it
won't do a bit of good
The visitor crossed to Lydia's
side. "My dear" she said gently,
laying a hand upon the girlish Shout
der, mo one has sent me here.
Through some old papers lett in
the parsonage l learned, quite acct
dentally, that you sing, I've come
to ask" she added, earnestly, eff
you'll go with me this afternoon to
see poor little Dick Mason?"
"Dick Mason!" exclaimed Lydia,
in establishment.
The other nodded. yes; the lit
tie fellow is to be operated upon
tomorrow. He got run over, you
know"
mo; I didn't know anything
about it,, answered Lydia coolly.
Gossip never interests me-"
The minister's wife regarded the
naughty, SCARED face before her
compassionately. How deep the
hurt had gone into that young heart!
This isn't gossip, dearie," she
sighed gently, seating herself be-
side Lydia. THE doctors fear little
Dick is hopelessly crippled His
mother is broken-hearted, for he is
all that she has"
Lydia stirred restlessly. REALLY,
Mrs. Hale, don't see how all this
has anything to do with me-"
81 was coming to that" smiled
the minister's wife. "You see, Dick
is very fond of music and I
thought" hesitantly, eff you'd come
and sing to him today" she pleaded
eagerly, cit might help him to face
better the dark tomorrow.
Amusement held Lydia dumb
Was it possible that the minister's
wife thought that she, Lydia Mer-.
rill, would go down to those poverty
stricken Masons and waste her glo-
rious voice on "a little insight
icant brat? In the hot anger sud-
denly possessing her the scar
throbbed agonizingly.
''Im afraid l must decline your
invitation, Mrs. Hale said Lydia
tersely. II no longer sing, and if
I did," she added significantly, sit
wouldn't be in place like-the Ma
sons'!"
The minister's wife rose quietly.
'Im sorry, dear child" she sighed
softly. "'Tis a pity that being able
to sing means so little to YOU"
$50 little!" repeated Lydia sharp
ly. "Why, it meant everything to
mel" she cried passionately. It
it was the only talent l had"
Very gently the other took Lydia's
warm, soft hands ''The Bible tells
about a man who had only one tai
ent', ," said the minister's wife slow
ly, land he buried his
ooh, you don't understand" in.
terrupted Lydia impatiently. Don't
don't talk about it!''
AS the unwelcome visitor passed
slowly from the garden, Lydia
sighed heavily. Why don't folks let
her alone? Why did they want to
come prying into her misery?
If only she could take her little
motherless Barbara and go far
away from gossiping tongues! But
Ned, her brother, would never con-
sent to leave Putney, thought Lydia
disconsolately; neither would he
give up Barbara
Barbara! Lydia caught her breath
sharply. What would she do with
out Barbara! Since that awful scar
had wrecked her own youth, there
had been only Barbara to live for!
A broken sob escaped Lydia's
quivering lips. Why had that auto
accident happened to her? She had
loved life so, and the future had
been so bright! Now, in the dark
ness, was she to be blamed for sing
ing no more, for burying the talent
that a hideous scar had ruthlessly
made proftless-for who would pay
to hear her sing now, who would
pay?
Are you ready, auntie?"
Lydia started guilty as Barbara,
radiant from her walk from school,
entered the room eagerly.