The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1866-07-21
CLARA HOWARD.
AN INSTANCE OF BLINDNESS


ny 8. ASsIB FROST.
IHAD been on a professional visit to
an old patient who had left our busy,
busting city of L. for country air
and repose. The distance from the city
made it rather inconvenient for me to
pay tho call, Us the trains would not
time to suit me, and l was obliged to
stay over night ut my friends house
but old attachment, great interest in
the case, and a decided liking for breath
OF country air now and then, all urged
me to obey his summons, and had gone
three days before the date when my
story opens. I found him very i'll, and
30 urgent for my stay, that had hastily
transferred my patients to brother
practitioner by telegraph, and staid with
him until he was again comparatively
cosy. Sauntering down to the little
stdNon, where the train condescended
to stop for such insane folks as ,cOu1d
start from way depots, 1 saw waiting
upon the platform two ladies, dressed
In the heaviest mourning, and closely
veiled. They were standing leaning
against the railing of the platform,
while, at q little distance from them,
n rough country boy was seated upon
their trunk. Glancing toward them
with that feeble curiosity that passers-by
attract, I went forward to the other end
Of the platform to watch, too, for the
coming train. Two or three times my
eyes wandered to the group destined to
be my fellOw-travellers one tall and
stately, the other small, and scarcely
taller than child of twelve years, yet
bearing in her attitude the quiet reposc
and dignity Of woman. The train
came shooting along to the platform,
and the tall lady went forward to see
about the trunk, while the little one fol-
1awed with timid, uncertain step,
grasping the railing with her hands as
she moved slowly forward.
She was opposite the door, when a
good-natured Come, hurry up" from
the conductor startled her into taking a
step forward; in another instant she
would have fallen headlong under the
wheels of the cars, had not thrown my
arm around her just in time to save her.
"Take care!" cried hastily. Don't
you see the step?"
She WAS trembling so violently that
she could not answer me, and while l
In thought blamed her for such an excess
OF agitation, her companion came up
hurriedly.
"Clara! how could you start without
me: Thank you, sir, for your kindness
she could not SEQ the danger-shc is
blind"
Some impulse, not want of kindness
prompted me to raise the littlo figure
and place her in safety upon the cal
platform, then find her a seat before
took my leave. The car was crowded
and found myself obliged to stand
but succeeded in placing the blind girl
and her companion in good places.
The tall lady would not suffer me t.
bow myself away; she held out slen
der, ungloved hand to me, and threw
back the veil which concealed her swee
face and widows cap.
You must let me thank you, sir" sh'
said gratefully. "My little Clara and
are not accustomed to travelling; indeed
we have never been so far from home a
we are going now, and l felt perhap
unnecessarily anxious about my trunk. ,
"You are going to L--?" | asked.
ayes, to visit sister of Clara's father
1t is only a few months since"-sh
stopped, with full eyes and quiverin
lip, but tho mute glance at her own an
her daughters sable garments told m
what she could not utter.
"You must let me take charge of you
baggage at the depot" said, willing t
change the subject. II have none O
my own, so can give all my attention
yours" and bowed myself away"
The next stopping-place deprived M
new acquaintance of the occupants Q
the seat before her, and | took posse
sion Immediately, turning the seat
face the blind girl and her mother. Bot
wells were now raised, and L could 81
the delicate beauty of the afflicted lad.
Fair, with black hair and heavy blaC
.eyelashes sweeping from the closed liz
on the pale cheeks, small mouth, SCI
sitive and beautiful, she was very low
ly, patient look of resignation staml
Ing every beauty with the great charm
expression.
We were soon chatting freely. Som
tenderness kept both mother and chi
silent on the subject of the latter's {
fiction, but we soon found material f
two hours of social converse. The new
criticisms upon new literature, and Il
thousand ever-changing topics of sm'
talk, were each and all handled in tur
n and the pale check frightened, the swe
lace grew animated, as the blind girl
came meinterested in the subjects discae.S