Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-07-18

Still stood mOtlohlesi ana wondering.
6" You are right, he continued, al did
love Elsie Russell; as brother I love her
still but you, Paul Blair, have read your
heart from the first know all that YOU
have borne, for something Of its sorrow l
have felt myself When first came to your
home be went on, 81 saw that you loved
Elsie, and krew that l came there as a rival
but what nan ever considered another
when he was himself in love2 Wooed Elsie
Russell, and hoped to win her, feeling all
the while that ! was breaking your noble
heart. You remember the day when you
were first taken ill2"
"Indeed | do / answered. "Shall lever
forget it2'
"That day." continued the doctor, 81 had
ridden out with her upon the quiet river
bank. l 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, / felt that
coming there had come between pure and
holy love-seldom seen or felt on earth-and
/ prayed to God for parden. When, riding
homeWard by her side, / 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 felt nothing
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, l 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, would
make you >yet happier by giving you the
knowledge that my step can never come be-
tween you save to your ears-that you have
not to win heart but only to claim it,
Good-by. God bless you'll Go home to FL
sie.and make her joyful"
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, Hooked out and saw light form, that
knew must be Elsie's tripping down the
path. Istepped out and waited until she
came %. As she drew close to me shut
my eyes.
Dear Paul, are you at home again2 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.
''Yes, Paul"
81 will go if You win lead me, Elsie"
She answered me by drawing her hand |
through my arm and walking on. We sat |
down together in the little parlor, and ven
tured to steal glance at her.
Shehad altered very little since her childhood |
Her solemn eyes and golden hair were Just
the same. She was looking at me sadly. |
arose, and crossing to the sofa, sat down be- |
side her. "Elsie Russell" ! said, 81 have |
TO say to you; no filter opportu- |
nifty can come than this. win you listen to,
and answer mel 2"
'iSurely, Paul" she said, 'fwhy not?1
And there and then / told her of my love. |
"And you remember that am blind, FL |
sic; that you must lead me about and care |
for me as should for you; that the world |
will call this a sacrifice, and blame a blind |
man for winning such treasure. You re- |
member all this, darling, and viii not repent |
you are sure of that2'
paul your misfortune makes you doubly |
dear to me, she said; ''do not speak of it |
again. You know that it is no sacrifice to
love and be loved-it is the highesthappiness
man can know-the greatest earthly bless
ng.D
"But Elsie, if could see you would love
me stiH-you would be glad, Elsie p
'Un, PAU! II JnHU eOdIu ooT pun, uuIEIIIIE i
Paulr
"Come to the window and look at me, El-
sic, said. "Look into my eyes, darling
what do you read there p
She gazed, trembled, gazed again, and
reading there the truth, clasped her hands to-
gether and tainted in my arms.
Oh, how happy we were that night, in the |
same cheerful parlor where year and 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.