Wyoming democrat. [volume] (Tunkhannock, Wyoming Co., Pa.) 1867-1940, 1868-01-01
THE BLIND SINGER OF THE CA
THREDAL.
By F. II. sTAUFFER.

| nltlLbSs o NE was leaning against a plllar
perfectly motionless except occasionally
drawing a glove which he held in one
hand, idly through the other. His attitude
was expressive of gracefulness, and bis face
was calculated to make one turn and look
at it again, even in casually meeting him
on the street. II was youthful face, to q
certain degree childish and yet there was
something about the thin lips expressive Of
will and energy. His forehead was high
and white, cleaning out from mass Of
raven hair; his eyes were dark, bedewed
with sort of languor; such eyes as al
ways speak the truth, and deepen into a
warmer glow when they meet your own.
Though richly dressed, there was nothing
of the fop about him. He wore no jewel
ry beyond the small diamond ring that
shone upon the ungloved hand. r .sy.
His eye was drinking in the scene around
him. The paintings, the works OF the ia
nous artists of the olden time-the massive
doric pillars. the richly frescoed ceiling,
the tesselated aisles, the narrow pews of
polished walnut, the pulpit of porphyry,
ornamented with Latin inscriptions and
cherub faces--the windows OF stained glass,
the sombre organ with its high futed front !;
as he calmly surveyed these, and felt the
holy presence, that filed the palace, beau
tiful pAacidness rested upon his feathers,
and more than one girlish face was turned
at furtive moments towards his.
The ceremony was drawing to a close,
and the deep, solemn tones of the organ
floated through the church. 1t was mas.
ter hand that touched the keys. Music
seemed to assume personifcation in that
dim old room, Now the tones were loud,
reverberating then low, soft, fiute-like, and
ever and. anon changing from allegro te
adante, in which the improvised introduce
tories seemed more enchanting than either.
The playing was superb-aud yetit was
not that which made him bend his head
more attentively, and brighter light TO
irradiate his face. 1t was tne soprano voice
in the choir that was touching his heart
with its exquisite sweetness. He seemed
to hold his breath lest the smallest intona-
melodious voice it was. Others had list
ened to its witchery, and had felt their
worship touched by better inspiration.
1t rose and fell in a sort of easy yolupt-
uousness. When it trembIed it was the
tremor of rathos, and when it changed to
its rigidness, it was the assurance, the pos
itiveness of faith. ....
The young mar looked up at the choir,
and among the array of beauty there, his
keen eye detected the singer. Her face
was upturned, her eyes were closed, and
the light fiom the window overhead seem
ed 10 change into spiritual radiance as it
fell around her. o..
After the closing of the ceremony, the
young man waited at the foot of the mar
row stairs leading from the gallery. The
singer was leaning upon her fathers arm,
and her eyes were still closed. ,.,. .,..
She waS blind r -.- ...-
The young man was startled at first when
this fact dawned upon his mind, but as he
took another glance at that sweet face, his
heart went out toward her with a yet
warmer glow.
1t was an oval face, and spiritually fair
the skin was almost transparent and the
velvet lips were tinged with vermillion.-
Her form was well developed, every mo-
tion expressive of grace, and the beauty of
her attire consisted in its simplicity alone
almost any other fabric or arrangement
would havelBeen in antagonisrh with that
trusting, child-like face. Her dress was of
plain calico, unadorned by jewelry, while
shawl of a sort of neutral tint was thrown
negligently over her shoulders, partly con-
cealing her full ripe bust, and covering but
to the elbow the plump, snowy arm that
rested within her fathers: .'t'a.
*
Earnest Harcour, the young stranger,
was seated beside the blind singer of the
cathredal. One arm was thrown confid-
ingly around his neck, while the face up
turned to his was lightened with the new
life that had been born in her SOUL They
were in on artists studio, and face, very
prototype of the blind girls, that rested
against the easel, told the story Of hours of
such communions. a,
Miriam, my beloved" spoke the young
man, "you must be my wife. You must
come to my home"
"And my father Ernest? o! cannot
leave him r' .-
49," He shall come too. My home shall be
your home and his"
Ernest, / know l love you. | cannot
see your face | cannot see your eye kin
die when you speak; but ! can hear your
voice and feel your warm careSs.' There
is, too, a spiritual essence about you that
draws me towards you, and that tells my
instinct, and assures my reason, that you
are all that is noble and true. Bot, think
of it, Ernest! but a poor, Ignorant
blind girl7-a very child" a
"For this do I love you above aught
else. You are not ignorant. have sat
at your feet for hours, quiet, listening
pupil. You have revealed to me how
beautiful can make my life. You have
turned my aspirations towards all that is
noble and grand. Floating, idly on the
sea of life, reckless, aimless voyager, did
you not come to me and direct me iu the
beaten channel-becomiDg to me compass,
chart and guide? You are blind! Should
I not love Won all the more for that Let