The Republican journal., 1870-08-18
A MUTUAL MISTAKE.

"A MU ORl MlS AkE.
''Drab and cherry for the parlors, with
satnwood, don't you think, Flossy? And
blue instead of the inevitable green for the
dining room. AS for the bedrooms-H
"Never mind about the bedrooms or any
Of the rooms, for that matter, if you please,
Mr.. Rossiture. Remember that you gave
me carte blanche about this furnishing. and
mean to show YOU IN original house. with
no stereotyped colors or styles. just conlide
in my taste, and keep your purse string
open !"
"To the extent of their capacity, my dear.
And, of course, | wouldn't dare to venture
to question wOman's taste, least of all this
little woman's. But your eyes, Flossy, your
eyes. You hadn't developed your very in
tcresting intention of becoming blind when |
gave You the carte blanche, you know. Why,
suspect when the docter has done with
you, you won't be able to distinguish be
tween Il Metternich green and a Dagmar
blue -
The eyes thus alluded to flashed laughing
reproach at this teasing speech.
"Now, Fred. it is too bad of you to remind
me of what have to undergo, just as was
trying to get my courage up by forgetting it
for Il moment. And when did you turn man
milliner, | should like to know? You ought
to be ashamed to know one color from
another. and don't believe you do, either.
shan't let you choose 4 thing; it's quite
enough for you to have the honor Of paying
the bills
'IIush, Flossy here is the DOCTOR Now
do be brave dear" interrupted her compan-
ion, in changed voice; and Flossy turned
white, and looked piteously round,
The door of the private room opened, and
Il tall, grave looking man advanced into the
ante-room. He was holding by the hand a
closely over her eyes, and his new patient
noticed how trustingly the little thing clung
to him, despite the pain he had probably just
inflicted upon her; and it inspired her with
Il feeling Of confidence on her own part.
Still she trclnbled and grew quite cold, when
having dismissed the child at the door with a
CHEEKY good-by, the oracle who was to decide
the fate of those pretty blue eyes Of hers,
approached herself and her companion, and,
bowing, desired to know their commands.
''We have been referred to you by our
family physician, as a most skillful oculist,
DIR. Buchanan, said Mr.. Rossiturc, present
ing his card. II wish to consult you on be-
half of myths lady. He apprehends some
serious difficulty with her eyes. Will you be
good enough to examine them for yourself"
and leading the way into the inner room, re-
qucsted the lady to be seated in the ''patient's
chair" But poor Flossy grew whittier still,
and looked piteously at Fred, who laughed
newously, and at the doctor, who answered
with 4 rcaSsurng smile. Then she rose
with Il mighty effort, shook out her sashes,
stepped doubtiully through the door, as
though she were crossing the threshold of
the inquistion, and let herself down into the
great leathcrn receptacle as gingerly as
though is were the rack itself.
"Oh-O" she exclaimed, with a little
irrepressiblc nervous cry, as the doctor ad-
iusted the chair so rs to move her head back
ward Fred laughed again ut this, and the
doctor looked around; and Flossy, ashamed
of her babyishncss, seated herself rcsolutely
in the dreadful chair set her little teeth,
clenchcd her kiddcd fingers, and-shut her
eyes tight determined to bear like Il woman
and Il heroine, whatever fate might be in
store for her.
''But | must see your eyes, if you please
madam said the doctor.
Flossy opened them with q flash, reddenine
furously at her own stupidity. Then SHE
laughed, and the two gentlemen joined her
and after that they all felt more at their ease
and doctor Buchanan proceeded quietly tC
make the examination.
Very keen and intelligent was the search
ing gaze of his clear gray eyes: very firm
though gentle, the touch of his strong, slender
| fingers; and Flossy felt an instructive conf
4encc that his verdict, be it what it might
would be final and tremblcd inwardly while
she awaited it.
1t was bad enough, but not so bad rs i
might be, when it came at length: econ
yicted but not condemned" might be render
ed as the summing up. There was Ger
tainty of reprieve, and q hope of ultimate
rescuc but meanwhile the pcnance Of tota
idlencss, and daily subiecion to medica
treatment, was adudged
Flossy drew a long breath of relief; it wa!
SO much better than she had feared; ant
Fred, the big, tender-hearted fellow, rllshc(
up with tears in his eyes. and embraced hcl
regardless of appearances. The little lady
colored violently, and pushed him hastily
away
'.For shame, Fred!' she eXpostulatcd, il
y vehement whisper; and then to concca
her embarrassment, said gaily to the doctor
''Do, pray, give us again the nice lone
name of what you said was the matter witt
my eyes People will be sure to ask. and
shall feel so learned when tell them"
Dr. Buchanan replied gravely, and dis
crcetly assumed to have seen nothing of wha
had happened.
But he had seen, nevertheless, and envict
while he saw; and even after the pair had
departed with hearts wonderfully lightcned
to forget their fears in the delightful mys
teries of diminishing, and even while h'
himself was busy with innumerable eases o
ophthalmia. amaurosis, and heaven know!
what unuttcrable ailments of unfortunate
optics, the remembrance of the comical touch
ing scene came back to him more than once
and with it q hope that he might not have te
do any thing very terrible to those soft, blu,
eyes that had looked up SO wistfully to his
for it was very evident that whatever pan
was inflicted on them would duplicate itsel
in the heart of the fond young lover or hlls
band whichever he WAS.
Meanwhile, said 'probematic character
was deep with Flossy in the mysteries o