The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-08-01

was as merry as q. cricket when shc wen
down the lane In her white bonnet and clean
muslin gown. She nodded to me wa,
watching her from the doorway and smil'
ed quite happily. Twas as proud Of Lettic
as ever my mother had been. She was al
ways such clever, warm.hearted little
thing; for all her high temper.
When she was fairly gone, and church
bell ceased, dressed myself in haste, and
set OF into the town to sec Doctor Nash
Ho was at home, and his men showed me
into. .his surgery, where had to wal, may
bc an hour. When the doctor came in, he
asked me sharply why could not have put
OF my visietill Monday wns.iny business
so pressing? lie did not consider how pre-
cious were the work days to us, or may be
he would not have spoken-ior he was a be-
neyolent man, as we had every reason to
know; he having attended our mother
through her last illness as carefully MS If she
had been rich lady, though we could new
er hope to pay him. explained what !
had come about, and he soft ned then, but
would not alter what he had told Lct,lc her.
self.
"Shc has been with me three or four
times" hc said. "Sha Is an interesting lit.
tie girl; it is great pity, but | do not
think her sigh. can be esaved-l don't indeed,
Jane"
He explained to me why he was Of this
opinion, and how the disease would advance,
more lengthily than need be set down here.
Then he said he could get her admitted into
the Blind Institution if we liked and that
| must keep her well, and send her out OF
doors constantly. And 30 ! went home
again, with very little hope left. as you may
well think, after what had heard.
! did not tell Lettic where had b,cn, and
she never suspected. There was no chapel
that afternoon, and we were getting ready
to take walk along the river bank, as We
generally did on fine Sundays (lor all the
town went there, and 1t frcshened us up to
SEQ the holiday people far more than If he
had stopped at home reading our books, as
many say 1t is only right to do,) when one
Of our ncighbors came in with her SON.
Mrs Crofts was widow, and Harry was
medicine with Doctor Nash.-
They were both kind friends of our; and,
between Le,tie and the young man, there
had been for ever so long sort OF boy and
girl liking; but do not think they had
spoken to each other yet. Lcttie colored up
when Harry appeared, and went into the
garden to show wIll him, the. sSsSoihc Syhi!s !
kitchen window; but they stayed whisper
ing over II 50 long, that did not think it
was only that they were talking about
Then Harry went out at the gate looking
lowncast and vcxed, and Lcttie came back
into the house with queer wild look in
her face that | did not like. Mrs. Croits
id, "Is Harry gomez" and my sister made
her n short answer, and went into the bed
room.
"IIarry is going up to London very soon;
I shall be glad to have the examinations
over and him settled. Doctor Nash thinks
very well of him; he is good young icl.
low, Jane" lreplied that he had always
been fayorite of mine, and | hoped he
would do well but, listening for l.cttie's
coming to us, perhaps ! seemed rather cold
and stiff, for Mrs. Croits asked if | was not
we'll. or if there was anything on my mind;
80 told her about poor Lettie's sight.
"I've seen no appearance Of blindness -
Harry never said u word. You don't think
Il can be true?" she asked. i did not know
what to think. Twas sure that, in that
over the rosc-trcc. my sister had
told young Mr.. Croits; and ! wished his
mother might 60 away. that might 60
away, that might comfort her. AT last
,ho went. Then / called to Lettic, who
came at once. She had been fretting; but,
Is sho tried to hide it, made no remark,
md we went down the lane to the river
meadows in silence. The person we met
was Harry Crofts. lettic seemed put out
when he joined us, and turned back. She
stayed behind, and was presently in compa'
ny with our landlaydy, Mrs. Davis. who
was taking the air in little wheeled chair
lrawn by footman. Mrs. Davis had al
ways noticed Lettic. Harry Croits looked
back once or twice to sec if she was follow
ing but when he found she was not, he
to wait for her, and we sat down
by the water on trcs trunk which lay
there.
"This is a sad thing about.Lettic's eyes,
jane" he said suddenly.
"Ycs it Is. What do You think about
them? Is there any chance for hcr?"
"Doctor Nash says not; but Jane, next
week Phillipson the best occulist in Eng.
land, is coming to stay couple Of day.
with Nash lie, him see her."
al meant to try to set her to London for
ADVICE"
"Therc is nobody so clever as Phillipson.
Oh! .ane, / wish had rassed-"
"Do you fancy you know what would
cure her?"
"rd try. You know, Jane, Lcstic :
meant to ask her to be my wife. did
ask her this afternoon, and she SAID NO.
and then told me about her sisht-it Is oni!
that. know she likes me; indeed, SHE
did not try to deny it,"
"Yes, Harry, you have been so much to-
ccthcr; bu, thcrs must be no talk Of mar
rying."
.. That is what she says"