St. Cloud Democrat. [volume] (Saint Cloud, Stearns County, Minn.) 1858-1866, 1860-06-07

W NcdlLA dHdIil, uiO tNt:s otc II ced5e W AduuI
me. But that hour came at last, and for
three weeks T never heard its echo; and
Elsie never left me. AS I grew stronger
she sat beside me and read to me, az in
the old times, until that day came when,
propped with pillows, sat in my old chair
in the parlor, close by the open window.
My mother had kissed me, and was sing
ing over her household duties for very
pleasure. There was no one in the room
but Elsie Russell and myself: My heart
was very soft and warm that day. I long.
ed to thank them for all their care and
kindncss-even the remembrances of the
step I hated was no longer terrible to me.
Something Of my first thoughts tried to
say, but Elsie placed her hand upon my
arm as spoke.
"Paul," she said, II have not spoken Of
! it yet, but you owe your life, SO far as man
is concerned, to DR.. Claymore. We could
have done nothing. He did everything.
He never left you for a moment, Paul,
until you were out Of danger. We can
never forget any Of us his Kindness and
devotion but for that we must have lost
you"
"lt would have been loss to deplore,"
l said, with something of tho old bitter
ness. "Would you have gricved much,
Elsie?'
"Paul! Paul p she said rcproachfully,
with her little hand upon my arm again ;
30, Paulw
"And why should you?" I continued.
"a blind mole, useless to you and himself
"a sightlcss thing, to be led and tended
and cared for, where he would give his
life to guard and cherish instead! Why
should you grieve for it, Elsie? You
would not long"
"Paul, Paul, you break my heart? 1t
is who am the cause, the innocent cause
OF your blindness. 1t is l who have made
you so wretched. Why did you snatch
nc from the flames, Paul? My death
would not have been as terrible as this -
She spoke with suppressed agony in
her voice which I had never before heard
from any human being, and l. involuntari-
ly stretched out my arms and wound them
about her waist.
"forglvc nc, my moro than sister," l
pleaded; "it is worth alt to feel your sweet
! pity, to have you thus near me. Let nc
keep you thus awhile, Elsie, as though
were in reality your brother; and believe,
from my soul l shall forever bless you and
any one vino makes your life happy, be he
who he may. I have seen it all along, FL
sic; and if at first bitter thoug hts would
come, when remembered that as he would
gain, so we must lose you, heliev: me, dear
Elsie, they are over now, and I have no
thought that is not kindness, no feeling
that is not brothers for him or you."
AS Ispoke I heard once more that ring
ing step upon the path, and she started
from me. '.The new step, Elsie! Go
and meet it," I said.
She turned and paused. "Paul," she
said, edo you think that any new step
could be as dear to me as the old ones
have loved so long? Oh, Paul !'
"It is right, it is natural, Elsie; do not
blush to own it, I said, for I had resolv-
cd to look my hard fate full in the face,
and be unselfsh at least for the future. /
could say no moro for she was gone, and
he had come in her stead-he, tue owner
of that step which | had first heard coming
up the garden path a year before
"You are looking better," he said.
81 thank you, Doctor Clay more; find
I owe it to your kind attention that am
thus far recovered" I answered. II fear
l have proven very troublesome and very
ungrateful patient. Accept my thanks
and apologies; they are all the amends
that remain for me to make"
He laughed frankly FsTotell you the
truth, Mr.. Blair" he said, "only your fc-
yer and delirium saves you from half a
dozen challenges, aud as many ducls.-
You appeared to have considerable animos-
ity towards Inc, for some unexplained rca-
son." - ~.s-...,... ',... il
I felt myself color as he spoke, but could
make no ,anewcr. Hc went Oh:
~ did not come to speak Of this" he
said. care you strong CROUCH to bear a
little agitation p
1 believe I am" / replied. .r:...,~.
The Doctor arose, and leaning over me
pressed his bis finger! upon my eyclids very
softly: "Pardon me-" he said, you must
have been blind a long time ?"2:,'3 'a@
"Ten weary years, T answered, =
"And have you never thought Of regain
ing your sight ?-have you never hoped to
DO 50 :? he asked, in a gentle tone, still
keeping close beside me. n., ..,.:
Thought oft? often, often hoped for
1t, never! It IS a blessing denied to me
forever. Ishall never see again. ~ = i,
80 thinkEyou may; l am almost certain
Of it." interrupted the doctor rapidly
"While you were i'll, I examined your eyes
carefully. Ny dear boy: I think T may
promise you chat you shall sec again, and
well, never mind; the rest will follow
Of ITSELF, .,.,,.;, ,..:...-mr --s., 49,. i
What that last inexplicablee! sentence
meant [ did not dare to think the prom
Use OF the first was too glorious to realize at