The Ashland union. [volume] (Ashland, Ashland County, Ohio) 1854-1868, 1863-05-13

. have prevented me from making the slightest
= move, but Dsyertneless save on the road to
heafth again, did that step9ceasc to Haunt ME
: But that hour came at last, and for three
weeksid never heard its echo, and Elsie taes-
ri erElatt me. bsAs1 grew stronger, she satsbe,
II side me and read to pe as in the odd, times,
d until that day came, when, propped with pill
lows II sat in my old chair ii the paror, close
II by the windows Ny mother liiat Kissed me,
and was singing over her household DUTIES for
Il very plcasdfe There Mas- no ONE IN che room
!. but Elsie gRpssell and myst1f tssBfy heart Ss
+ very soft and calm that day, i leaaed to thank
d them for all their, care and ,kindness-eYen
shs rsns .s brace q the SEP s hated sas vas R
h Something 6fmy first thoushts IL tried, to
eEsay. but Elsie plaeed hershaad 4uponI opyGarm
pan sbs id hs have a $50 Oxen s You vet
but you owe your life, as far as man is con-
tceraedy otob Dr. CLAY more We could have
done nothing Cd ii did every thingic He new
er left iyou for. a. moment .RaqL until lzyou
were out out Of danger; We gan never forgstr
1any of us, his care and devotion. But for
THAT we must have lost you.' ~
tItiRould have been q less to deplors,,
said with something gof thee cd bitterness.
Wouldayo have gfieved maoh,s Elsie. ,iiT2.e e
+ sPaul (! Pault she said, ereproaehfully, with
her itti, hand upon my arm again 8 .oh,
Paul Pos 6y,f evf=fb d! oi sod ei II Gof1Bn s
s. .tAndI why should you n i continued. "a.
blind mole, unlessto you and to himself La
/ sightless thing, toabe led and tended and cared
for, whore ehe Moaldggise his life 60 GUARD and
herishIinstead, hasWhy should YOU grieve ioff
I-it, Elsie3 4 You would not Tong!s onT boa Iis
/ Paul. Paul, you break MY lhenft1 1T iis i
/ who am the canse-Athesiaae aecehtc cause Of your
blindness ItisI who shave made 'ycuI So
wretehed.v Why did youss1atch me from the
/ flames, Paul My DEATH would not have been
so terrible as tfisFT hsTss! gtitsaas d2id 9df-'
| I She spoke Eieiia suppressed agony In her
voice which bhad never before heard from
any human Icing: andi Iinvo voluntarily stretched
out my arms and wound them about her waist. !
l. Forgive me, my more than sister. plead ?
ed Itis. worth dn feel your sweet Pity
have youlthus near me. Let me keep you
| thus awhile, Elsie, as though were in reality
| your brotheE1 cd 3shw wslz Tstsd5sH lsieEI
| 3 As spoke, / heard once more that ringing
| step upon the path, and she started. from me-
ri .tThs new step, Elsie 7 Go and meet it. I
She turned and paused. asPa1f,,I she said,
do you think that rny step could be asZ dear
to me as tie cid ones have loved SO long
[ .Oh,E PAUL aiEE--sEsaissSa ba9zgoFz e
1t is right, it is natural, Elsie; do not blush
to oEanit, said, for 4 had resolved to look
my hard fatn fall iD the face, and be n6selisi11
at least for the future- I could say. no more
for she was gone, aud he had come in her
stead-he, the owner of. that step which had
first heard coming up the garden pdtk a year
:, ,Yourare booking beasr,H he said 7oi nrs1o
L thank you, DIR. Cha yfnore II find I owe
it to you're kind attention that L am thus far
recovercd,' / answered. I fear / have proved
a very troublesome ar unsrateful patient.
Accept my thanks md apologies they are all
the amends that remain for nae. to make 'ae9
He laughed frankly. q ,sH 20 YES 70! q 81
:, TO tell you the truth, Mr. Blair he said,
'oniy yourifeper and delifium saves you from
half a dozen challenges, and as many eeueIs.
Y Youauppear to have considerable animosity
toward me, for some unexplained reason Z ifI
i felt myself color as he spoke, but could
make no answer He went one fr29d -ssz
z tId'd.not come to speak ofthis,,, he said.
Are you strong enough to bear little agita-
I ton onYa--=-==-- - -
Il believe I am, replied a -. - =
~ =. The 1octor arose, and, leaning oyer, me.
pressed his fingers upon eyelids very soft Il
e pardon mt, J, hessaid, you must have been
- fTcn weary years. answered yd bszisae1 q
115 .And have you never, thought of regaining
your sight Have you, never hoped TO do Ise?'
he ss asked G in gentle tone, stll keeph close
Thought of it! of en-, often hoped for it, |
peverIl It.isa blessing denied to me forever
I shall never see again, y.a 5g,..sisso - /
:! think you may; I am AIN almost certain of
it, interrupted the doctor, rapidly; While !
and, iny dear boy, [ think i may promise you
that you will soc. again, and7-7well, never
mind the rest will follow of itselE =; ai.jrag
Il 1t was arranged that was to Keep the whole
a secret, and to accompany him to, the city,
when was strong .enough b, that he might have |
it, in his power to perform an operation in |
which he religiously believed. For my part,
I could not believe could oply4;7, hope, and
pray - ~. l.;f. s.sis F.ri;Iss .se;f'.stsi |
left home in a fortnight with Dr. Clay.d
more during that time had been thinking /
and reasoning much With myself, and had |
grown very calm. If Il had ever had ANY /
hope that Elsie could have becnF my own, it /
would have been harder s. but i had salways i
felt that must sone' day lose her, and now +
at least, knew that the oneeshe. had chosen !
was worthy of her, believed that when II
heard that step on the morning of niy,journey,
I listened 10 it as the step of Elsie's betrothed
husband, without any thoughts ofmy help I
less sell, and thanking God that ! was SO
firm and light-so fit a step terwalk beside her
through the toilsome march OF life. ~
A month had passed II was in town. still,
but was gsing home on tLed morrow When I
I went, 1 should, see the old house-my moth
er's face; should look, at least,li Elsie Rms
sells eyes, and thank Eer for her, kindness to
the blind man, who almost seemed like some
one else, so different did life appear to- me,
now tnat sight was restored. 3sx on ogSiad ftoE 7
'And for all this, i must thank ityou,pi DIR. t
Claymere,' said, 7gfasping his hand, and I
looking thankfully into 1shisi Handsome face, t
'tbut for you should still grope my miscra.
Bile way through life sYou haysgisen me the
power to be aimanoRI I ncanJibs 'shyI mothers
protector now ,fpstead of,theb burden I.9haye I
bee SO long, no. giie1stil oE9@ siTat oar II
etAnd, Paul Blair, you can tell Elsie Russell
that you love her, said the young doctor, quiz