, 1859-04-18
THE LIGHT OF THE BLIND MANS HONE.

| home By expEes-
THE LIGHT OF THE BLIND MANS Hon1
! AstorT Of the Granite State.
ConetuLon,
"lf you 60 buck without seeing our Ann, sh
won't live year longer. Her hearts bound u
in you. might as well own it as look on an
see her,--'but great sob, which would no
pe choked dorm, stopped him.
"And you blame tnes' William began, but th
bitter emphasis changed to 4 tone tremulou
with feeling as he grasped his friends hand Il
ask, "Will Ann see NE: Will your father
Father interrupted Thomas, vehemently
HE just beg ins 10 See what he has done. IL
wouldn't hare you 60 back to Lowell for M,
money, ii be want afraid to say SO: Ton cal
round tonight and talk with him, won't YEP
And Thomas hurried away in earnest thi
time. It WIS well for both that they were alonl
with their emotions.
What We already know Of AIMS history vii
accouut for her recovery; and explain, as far Al
few nor brief, kept her faithfully informed o
Williams success in the machine shops, and o.
other matters, more interesting to Ann nc
doubt, which d. not espieialls concern US, LII,
tent facilities, which be had never dreamed oj
possessing, had been developed while employed
about the machinery Of the mills, for in this sua::
letter he had spoken Of a successful iurention.
"hcn ne hoped soon to bring out, and which
promised to make his fortune.
AIMS heurt overdowed with joy. Although
she had atrass understood William better than
anybody else could, II was 1'lcdsant to see him
thus winning lis desserts. Il her fathers and
mofher.s hearty appreciation OF bis worth,
equailed their entire forgetfulness Of their ear
ller opinions, Aim vas too unwordly to suspect
them, too happy in the present to be haudtcd
h'y the past. Alas that single cloud should
dlu such PROSPECTS; true it WIS but speck at
ilfst that darkencd the smiling heavens, ret it
grew IKE summer tempest. 1T first, William
wrote, bnt not desspondingly, Of a slight weak.
ness, trltiing inflammation Of the eres, which
would hinder him from study or experiments
ioF little time and delay thc'bringing out Of bis
lnvention. A less cheerful letter briefly stated
that his phF had forbidden all labor or stu
dy ior little time. An ominous silence ensued
aad then came fetter,-Ann's heart sunk
when she glanced at it, in "a strange hand wri-
- An Intimate friend had written what W'illiam
dictated: He was going to consult distinguish
ed occulist in New York "We shall not meet
again, Ann, if his opinion is unfavorable" said
he BE-, IN closing, but keep up good courage,-I
Eagerly did Ann obey him, hoping on until
the death blow Of hope came, in one last cold.
verify 'A' - ''' ee-
1T is all over, Annie,-1 am blind, blind. Not
ahotner rny OF hope to mock me. You are free
snail never see you again, ucycr and NAV
God grant that your eyes may never behold me
Ill my hum'latlon. Forget me. We must not meet
again. have done with hope, done with life.
wclI'
we cannot speculate upon the tears which
1eH upon these words, wrung from q desolate
aud despairing heart. The frail child, whose
hcart had been r:eI nigh broken in her early
trial, rose up from this terrible affection, wo-
man, strong in purpose, and ueavon-supported
for the work she had to do
one bright morning in spring, Ann Warren
si"od BY the small mirror in her own room. ad
Justing her simple toilet. The old apple tree
crowded spray Of fragrant blossoms IN ut the
open window Ann gathered one to fasten in
the braids OF her hair, and then bowed her head
to weep over the memories it had awakened.
only year ago, and how quickly William no.
t1ced them and stopped to admire their color
and fragrance. II might have been the cheek.
fintcd with 4 hue more lovely than the buds.
that be thought Of most, but lie would neyer SCI
3na', ,e nor spFlngtlme, nor happiness ngain
she drew them out, and propped them there to
wither ~
Her eyes were wet with weeping, when her
mother entered. Mrs. Warren seemed annoy.
"a, us she noticed them. believe that Child
means to kill herself. She cries half tie time.
salo she, IN thought. ann had turned away
and seemed very busy with her shawl and bon.
net.
"ion going out:.' queried her mother. "Your
crcs arc as red rs ferrcts." She reviewed
le,srcly, apile Of sewing which lay upon the
tahle, for no rerly came to her question.
Ire got the house work all done m, and | |
thought mebbe, YOU d like to finish fitting that
calico ofmine. haint single dress that's dc.
cent for afternoons
Nill not some other time do as well. moth |
er: she asked quietly. mud then confronting |
", mr. sue added; Mother, ain going up 10
Af. Dratl!ey's. She seemed to understand |
crfectly, Just how many words were needed to |
alsc tile storm Of Indignation, which she
MAS prepared TO meet, for she added nothing
more,
Ann Warren !" screamed her mother .rbv
F"a're beside yourself What will rour fathrr
<ar, I'd like to know: As long as William lad
'ense enough 70 break OF, I'm sure I'd let him
'cc that could live Without him.
II had married William before he hc
'a'ne blind, would you have advised ME to de-
crt him.
Nonsense! that's quite another story, If
'"u d" 60 there to-day, can see how it will end.
amt your duty to tic yourself down TO blind
man,"
\ shiycr ran through the girls veins as the
ast words fell upon her car bnt she added. in
er patient, deprccatlng way; "Mo,bcr. I'ye |
''ou;;:ht this all over She did not say PRAYED
yer II. hut pansing rcverentlv, added, after q
r'le. :, | believe knlw my d,.ty, muther.''
.. :" ! should think yam did," screamed Mrs.
arren again, in angry excitement but Aun
'as already beyond the reach Of Ilpr <hrlj ZONES
''rry1ng ncross the field toward Mr. Brutilcy's
Mrs. Bradley was ut work in her kitchen. when
nm Warren stole softly in Ut tile open door.
l!cnee and sadness perradcd the house al.
h6,ugh subcams flooded the room with their
ie came in through the open windows. Shc
[af1ed nervonsly, us the advancing shadow
ansed her to look up from her work, 10 en-
NJ, those tearful, wistlul eyes, eloquent
th inquiries
Why its you. Ann warren." she c1c1aim.
u under her breath, as she cautiously closed
e doors. and then came to sit down by her
dc. WHY, yon poor child, how altered ron
D look: She grasped AIMS cold hand between
''h her own warm palms carcssng1v, anu both
cpt silently for time. Tits comfort to me.
nm, to SIC ;,u you This trial; perhaps oughtn'tt
say us William does. that i. had been better
he had died. The Lord knows best. I,ut :
cre amt biz Of use your comin', so. William t
ouidn't ~ have you see him for the world. lie
no can blame him:" {
!" alay 80 ur. Mrs. Dradley:' I
nc eaGcF question made all entire change in I
Fs. bFad!cr's manner. Drawing herself IN. G
e answered cold!y. more so than you would I
we deemed possible. with those bluue ewes SO e.
sttu!ly looking into hers for permission;
:" don't see any use in ii. No, I've nothing J
the world against you. child, but i, would ouly
'rrow up y il]ia1n 5 feelings for nothing, The :
atel is broken of, and properly enough, for a
'at know. We can't blame anybody for thu,
It II does seem as if your folks might have
nc feelings for us in our trouble 'siah War
takes pains to tell folks, since William come !,
1ne. That the Bradeys always was an unucky ! |
I, and he Enesscs TINT its about as we'll 50 us
!, way. Ann could find chances enough. II :
ilinnl had broke down. William wns thc T.
II 10 sce that be must give you ur, but il does
+ trouble" q
AIMS lip quivercd, and it WAS long bcfore she II
ind soice To plead: "Oh don't Law up fath
$ hun! speeches. Think Of me now 1us, ~
ii used to. will you nots l came hoi,iug ia
'nt.ort William,if if you will only let nlv scc
We'll, ! don't know as can help it." sa;d :
:. bradley, in an apologize tone. for Ann
d gl'ded AWAY. determined upon hearing no !
Her courage faltcred when she reached her