The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1860-08-04

OF ElSle's betrothed husband, without any
thought of my helpless self, and thanked
God that it was so firm and light-so fit a
step to walk beside her through the toilsome
march of life.
A month had passed was in town still,
but was going home on the morrow. When
went, I should see the old house-my
mothers face I should look, at last, in
Elsie Russeli's eyes, and thank her for her
kindness to the blind man, who almost
seemed like some one else, so different did
life appear to me, now that sight was re-
stored.
land for all this, must thank you, DR..
Claymore," said. grasping his hand, and
looking thankfully into his handsome face !;
''but for you l should still grope my miser-
able way through life. You have given me
the power to be man. can be my mo-
TIERS protector now. instead of the burden
lave been so long"
''And, Paul Blair, you can tell Elsie Rus
sell that you love her," said the young doc
tor, quietly.
I started, and looked at him in astonish-
ment
81 understand" he said 81 know what
you have thought. but that pure heart is
Still stood motionless and wondering.
"You are right" he continued, 81 did
love Elsie Russell as brother love her
still ; but you, Paul Blair, have read your
heart from the frst-I know all that you
have borne, for something of its sorrow I
have felt myself. When I first came to
your home,' he went on, 81 saw that you
loved Elsie, and knew that l came there as
a riUol-hnf Iyhof oOncidaraI
other when he was himself in love? l
wooed Elsie Russell, and hoped to win her,
feeling all the while that was breaking
when you were taken i'll ?''
"Indeed I do" 1 answered. "Shall I
ever forget it ?"
''That day, continued the doctor, 81 had
ridden out with her upon the quiet river
bank I told her of my hearts love, and
found that it was hopeless. The knowledge
was very hard to bear, Paul but when, in
her innocent pity of my grief, she told me
that she esteemed and liked me-that she
had no friend she valued more. but that
there was one whom she had always loved,
who needed her more than did, for whose
sake she would remain single forever, if
needs must be, then, Paul Blair, I felt that
coming there l had come between pure
and holy love-seldom seen or felt on earth
and prayed to God for pardon. When,
riding homeward by her side, I found you
lying PROSTATE on the ground, and learnt
from your rawlings, and the words of the old
servant, that my surmises were only too
correct, Heaven knows that all the anger in
my heart was for myself; for you I felt no.
thing but compassion. For that strength
which made me strive to bring my rival
back TO health and happiness, which put it
in my heart to pray for your restoration to
sight, as though it had been my own,
thank the mother who taught me to pray.
and God who gave her TO me. Paul Blair.
if did not know you had noble heart l
would never tell you this; but knowing
that, l would make you yet happier by Civ
ing you the knowledge that my step can
never come between you, save to your care;
that you have not to win heart, but only
to claim it. Good by. God bless you
Go home to Elsie and make her joyful"
l listened to his step as it faded away in
the distance, and could have wept--how
good and great he was.
At home they knew nothing of what had
happened. AS the carriage drew up at the
gate, looked out and saw light form,
that knew must be Esies, tripping down
the path. stepped out, and waited until
she came up AS she drew close to me l
shut my eyes.
"Dear Paul, are you at home again p
Your mother has gone down to the village
to meet you; you must have passed her"
she said, taking my hand in hers.
"Then you are alone, Elsie % said.
Eyes, Paul.
81 will go if you will lead me, Elsie
through my arm and walking on. We sat
down together in the little parlor. and I
ventured to steal glance at her. She had
solemn eyes and golden hair were just the
same. She was looking at me sadly. l
arose, and crossing TO the sofa, sat down
beside her. 'Elsie RUSSELL said, 81
have something to say to you; no filter
opportunity can come than this. Will you
listen to, and answer me 2"
''Surely, Paul." she said. "why not 90
And there and then / told her of my
love.
'.And you remember that I am blind,
Elsie that you must lead me about and
care for me as should for you; that the
world will call this sacrifice, and blame a
blind man for winning such treasure
You remember all this, darling. and will
not repent-you are sure of that %
Paul. your misfortune makes you dou-
bly, dear to me-" she said: 'tdo not speak
of it again. You know that it is no sacri-
fee to love and be love6-it is the highest
happiness man can know-the greatest earth
ly blessing
'.But, Elsie, if could see, you would
love me still-you would be glad, Elsie %
cob, Paul if that could be poor. dar-
ling Paul p
"Come to the window and look at me,
Elsie" 1 said. "Look into my eyes, dar-
ling-what do you read therei''
She gazed, tiembled, gazed again, and
reading there the truth, clasped her hands
together and tainted in my arms.
Oh, how happy we were that night, in the
same cheerful parlor where, year or more
before. the strange step first broke upon my
ear. How happy were we in that glad hour
when claimed her for my wife. in the little
church near by-and the step that had
hated had brought it all.