Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1860-07-18
The Step Upon the Path,
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tenderness equal to any have ever known
but hated il, and drove it away still.
knew my mother was there, and Elsie; bul
that step destroyed my pleasure in their pres
ence.
Not until lay so weak that an infant could
have prevented me from making the slightest
move, but nevertheless safe on the road tc
health again, did that step cease to haunt
me. But that hour came at last, and for
three weeks never heard its echo, and Elsie
never left Inc. As grew stronger, she SAT
I beside me and read TO me, as in the old
! times, until that day came, when propped
with pillows / sat in my old chair in the par
J lor, close By the open window. Ny mother
! had kissed me, and was singing over her
household duties for very pleasure. There
was no one in the room but Elsie Russell
and myself Ny heart was very soft and
/ calm that day. | longed to thank them for
! all their care and hndness-eyen the re-
membrance of the step 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.
nPaul,n she said, "I have not spoken of
it yet, but you owe your life, as far as man
is concerned, to Dr. Claymore. We could
have done nothing. He did everything. -
He never left you for moment Paul, until
you were out Of danger. We can never for
get any Of US, his care and devotion; but
for that we must have lost you"
ait would not have been q loss to deplore," |
said, with something of the old bitterness.
"Would you have grieved much, Elsie !"
"PauI Paulr she said reproaehfully,
with her little hand upon my arm again /;
40, Paulp'
And why should your" l continued
" A blind mole, useless to you and to him
self-a sightless 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, Elsie2 You would not
long,
'FPaul, Paul, you break my heart It is
I who am the cause, the innocent cause of
your blindness. tits I who have made you
so wretched. Why did you snatch me from
the flames, Paul2 My death would not
have been as terrible as this"
She spoke with suppressed agony in her
voice which | had never before heard from
any human being, and l invOluntarily
stretched out nay arms and wound them
Hbout her rroist.
"Forgive me, my more than sister," 1
pleaded; it is worth all to feel your sweet
pity, to have you thus near me. Let me
keep you thus awhile, Elsie, as though were
in reality your brother.
As spoke, heard once more that ring
ing step upon the path, and she started from
me. "The new step, Elsie Go and meet
it, said.
She turned and paused. "Paul," she
said, do you think that any new step could
be as dear TO me as the old ones ] have loved
so long2 O PaulW
alt is right, il is natural, Elsie; do not
blush to own it, I said, for had resolved
! to look my hard fate full in the face, and be
unselhsh at least for the future. l could say
no more for she was gone, and he had come
in her stead-he the owner Of that step
which had first heard coming up the gar
den path year before.
You are looking better" he said.
"I thank you, DR.. Claymore; / find owe
It to your kind attention that am thus far
recovered" [" I answered. al fear l have
proved very troublesome and ungratsful
/ patient. Accept my thanks and apologies;
| they are all the amends that remain for me
to make"
! ne lAQGHeu LduhAg.
mTo tell you the truth, Mr. Blair" he said,
"only your fever and delirium saves you
| from half-a-dozen challenges, and as many
/ duels. You appeared to have considerable
animosity towards me, for some unexplained
reason
1 felt myself color as he spoke, but could
make no answer. He went on:
az did not come to speak Of this he said.
a Are you strong enough to bear little agi-
tation p
/ al believe am, Ireplied-
The doctor arose, and leaning over me,
pressed his fingers upon my eyelids very
q pardon me, he said, "yOu must have
been blind long time z
aTen weary year" answered.
-UAnd have you never thought Of regain
ing your sight7 have you never hoped to dc
so y he asked, in a gentle tone, still keep
ing close beside me.
7eThought OF it often, oftenl hoped fol
it-neverl 1t is blessing denied to me
forever. shall never see again"
~ think you may; am almost certain o.
il" interrupted the doctor rapidly. "WhilC
Won were i'll, I Iexamined your eyes carefully
and my dear boy, think may promise you
that YOU shall see again, and-well never
mind; the rest will follow of itself"
It was arranged that l was to keep the
whole a secret, andto accompany him TO the
city, when l was strong enough, that hC
might have it in his power to perform ar
operation in which he religiously believed
For nv part, l could not believe; l eoulC
only hope and pray.
Ileft home in a fortnight with DR.. Clay.
more; during that time 1 had been thinking
and reasoning much with myself and haC
grown very calm. If I had ever had any
hope that Elsie could have been my own, i
would have been harder; but had always
felt that must some day lose her, and now
at least, 1 knew that the one she had choser
was worthy Of her. / believed that when
heard that step on the morning of my jour
ney. listened to it as tine step of Elsie's be
trothed husband, without any thought Of my
helpless self and thanked God that it was 81
firm and light-so fit a step to walk besidt
her through the tOilsome march Of life.
A month had passed; was in town still
} but was going home on the morrow. WheI
, went should see the old house-my moth
! er's face; l should look, at last in Elsil
Russells eyes, and thank her for her kind
ness to the blind man, who almost seemed
like some one else, so different did life ap
pear to me, now that sight was restored.
And for all this, must thank you, DR.
Claymore," l said, grasping his hand, ant
looking thankfully into his handsome face
abut for you should still grope my miser
able way through life. You have given m
: the power TO be a man. can be my moth
er's protector now, instead of the burden
have been so long"
"And, Paul Blair, you can tell Elsie Rus
sell that you love her, said the young doc
tor, quietly.
: started, and looked at him in astOnish
. ment.