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Jfleaded -to- Iter fiance, "tb wiH mean
so iAutih to those I love and cherish."
But, proud as Lucifer in the con
sciousness of an ancestry harking
back to diplomats, great money
kings and even earls, in the first
fiush of sentiment Elwyn Durand
had thrown, away the happiness of
two livesruthlessly.
So Lura told nothing that she
might have told, even to her dear
friend, Beatrice. Durand went
abroad, wandered in odd foreign
Spots, returned home, and wearying
of all wealth might buy of folly be
, came interested in a great humane
industrial housing plan.
Lura at J;he end ofjtwo .years set
tled down Into a quiet retired life,
giving her entire devotion to tier in
valid mother. Life's darkest hour
came to her when the mother dledi
Only the comfort of moderate wealth
was left to hef . She became a friend
and benefactress to the worthy poor l
of tne section where she lived.
Beatrice Lane had remarried and
had removed to California. Lura had
drifted "away frdm Her old friends.
Her life was recast in a new and
more practical mold. The old ro
mance, the one of her young life, re
mained, however, a sad but tender
memory.
One day Durand met ail old col
lege chum. The latter was a doctor
now. They had not met for years,
and the physician Invited Durand to
call at his home to talk over old
times. Then Dr. Wltherell became
greatly interested in Durand's story
of the humanitarian work he, was
engaged In.
"It occupies me and I hope to do
some good," related Durand, "but I
do not seem to make the people
warm up to me. I am not very
happy at heart, to tell you the truth,
"Wltherell, and I fear my pensioners
are repelled by" my rather smileless
ways."
"You have grown Into a rather solemn-faced
chap, for a fact, Durand,"
railed the doctor. "You need a com
panion, to cheer you, to join you in
your good -work, to infuse it with the
warmth of real womanly sympathy."
Durand put up his hand gravely to
dismiss a subject distasteful to him.
He was a man of strong purposes.
He had loved once. His was a squl
that' would never wander from its
first ideal.
"It is a rather queer coincidence,
but I have a patient who has been
following somewhat in your line of
humanitarian work," proceeded the
doctor. "It is a woman the most
noble of God's creatures There is a
call from my office."
Dr. Witherell crossed a hall into
his consultation roonu When he
came out he ushered a lady to the x
front door. At a. sight of her
uurana s iace grew wmie as maroie.
"Doctor," he gasped, "that lady!"
"Miss Lura Belden," replied his
friend.
"Yes, yes, I know," uttered Du
rand, incoherently, "bui who what
iff She now? ,
"A being with a great soul," re
plied the doctor reverently. "She is
the lady I told you of. Born with
a voice that must have come to her
froman angel, she was for two years
a leading operatic singer. Some
trouble of near relatives demanded
the great sacrifice. Her insisting on
an operatic career caused a rupture
between the man she loved and her
self. Although 'forever parted, out
of respect for hinvshe has given up
her career. For over a year she has
been the angel of mercy of one of
the poorest districts of the city. She
haa sang only at the settlement
clubs. A month ago a little child
who heard her sing, dying of a
malignant throat disease, begged her
mother to ask 'the boofer lady to
come to her. I warned her not to
go. Miss Belden ignored my advice.
She remained nursing the little one
till the child died. They tell me that,
she passed avay with rapturous
ecstacy on her face, while her loving
nurse softly sung her favorite mel-
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