Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-02-08

hever ashed myself this direct question, but,
= the a,setims ny young life, found my
- imssis1SioS. ~ the perfection Of ni1siy
sss IN ~ - ca ESs sa %an' ps''''''n and
III. 70
The day before Eberhard was to leave our
house, SAT q The asaal hour under the iindens,
With nv cOffee-appalAtus before me. Iwas
alone, but knew Albeft would be there Son,
and the assessor never Kept us waiting. He came
.sDo YOU see that window yonder to the right
of the church, he asked; ''the one with the red
eyes, she it. whyPr < 81 = &
.That is one of the windows of my new
$50 mother told me-"
81 shall often Sit there and look over here" Z
MADAME Justice, am sure, wiz be very
"Oh, Madame Justice WIN not be the attrac-
ton; but Miss Eizabeth-".
"Or, more literally, Miss Elisabeth's coffee,"
VIII detect its aroma even at that distance; but
whether they do or not, you know the hour, aud
wiz always be honestly SeIsoms:" " =,
There was Q serious tremuiousness in the tone
of his voice that startled me. looked up, and
the gravity Of the situation flashed upon me so
lose control of myself, so great was my agita-
ton. i made an effort to continue my coffee
making, but found had not strength to lift
the Kettle In which was boiling the water. Eb
effort, and, clasping 1t in both of his, he asked,
in a tone full of passion:
MAY II come again, Elizabeth-nay II" He
pressed my hand hastily to his lips, and released
It, for we heard Albert coming.
nodded '.yes;" I was too full to intrust the
monosyllable to my lips.
moment afterward Albert emerged from
a clump Of lilac bushes near by, singing one of
his college-sengs, and so occupied with a bunch
OF flowers he had in his hand as to prevent his
noticing my agitation. Eberhard had hastily
opposite direction, and thus time was given me
to recover my self-possession before my father
and mother came and Eberhard returned.
A little more than two weeks afterward we
ardor Of my fmpuisive nature; the whole world
appeared to me In the tints of cloudless Nav
morning; till then It seemed to me I had never
known what it was to be happy.
If there was anything that prevented my be-
ing perfectly blissful, Il was certain resIgna-
ton with which my father consented to my be-
marry, and said he would have been better
pleased to have seen me remain single at least
four or five years longer; but that he had only
my welfare at heart, and trusted that al my
OF this had not doubt, what fance ever
had? True, knew only too well that failed
to answer all the conditions my betrothed had
for his wife, but believed they were forgotten
by him rs they were by me, and that Eberhard
was content with me as was. 1 was in error.
One day, as Carl said to me, 'My angel" and
L laughed and corrected him, only cross-eyed
don't like to hear it."
''Why nOt9" asked.
"Well, think it is very natural should not
like to be reminded of the unfortunate blemish
to your beauty" he replied.
"Ah. Carl, in the course of time you will get
hQf vrIy will r,af &
''Do you think so? doubt it, said he, in a
tone that, it seemed to me, for a moment fairly
stopped the pulsations of my heart.
i looked at him anna Zed.
81 mean only" 1 stammered-''I mean mo-
ther says she never notices my being cross
eyed except when some one calls her attention
"Your mother-yes, perhaps that is possible:
but" He paused, and added in propitia,
tory tone, "but you are beautiful, my dear, If
the axes If your eyes are not parallel"
81 know very well am not beautiful, nor am i
"Child. what nonsense! Have 1 ever seemed
to care whether you wer rich or not?'
"No matter, have heard you say YOU would
never marry woman who was not rich"
"Fie! fie! what does the tongue not saw when
1t Is unchecked by the heart! And you-did /
think you would never marry any one but
prince, or a baron, at least?''
That was true, and could not helm laughing.
81 think we have sufficient proof Of our ma-
tual love-" he continued, "snce you are not
rich, and l am not even baron; and as for your
beauty" The words seemed to stick in his
throat.
"Ah; my eyes" cried, and buried my face
In my hands; "what source Of unhappiness
they have always been to me!'
y "But, my dear Lizzie, that is your own fault"
"Perhaps; but can. help thinking of
them"
"Nor would have you help thinking of them:
on the contrary, would have you think of them
TN YOU o can get up courage to have the defect
let my hands, which till now had covered
my race, sink into my lap, and looked up at
Eberhard inquiringly. He made gesture as
stood his pantomimic reply perfectly, but did
not look down, or this time even SIDEWAYS; /
was too DESTROYS to read the expression Of his
face.
"What do you mean, CARP" asked.
why, mean-i mean that you should sub
My lips trembled, and 1 was deathly pale
IL IL had been standing, believe should have
Eberhard took my hand and wanted to caress
me, but invOluntarily drew it away from him
''Do YOU know" said L, and was startled at
the sound Of my own vOice-''dO you know that
the operation would be attended with great
danger?''
"Yes, 1 know; but-but-there is ALWAYS
more or less danger attending every impor-
tant surgical operation;r he stammered As
1 made no reply, he began again, after some
''But, my dear Lizzie, you are such a per-
feet little beauty that this defect is like single
speck In an otherwise spOtlcss marble statue;
and love you so, so fOndly, that 1 would see
in you that perfection Nature intended you to
possess"
was still silent.
"Speak, Lizzie, dol" he entreated but two
big tears that rolled down my cheeks were my
only response.
''What! you weep? Oh, what q barbarian
AMI he cried. "COme, come, my love, we will
talk no more about it. Forget what 1 have
to-day at least. 1 viii not
eyes, yes, we will talk of it," interrupted,
FOR / had formed an unalterable resolution. /
was 80 deeply agitated that could not continue
Immediately. During the pause, Eberhard fixed
his eyes on me with an expression Of intense
sOlicitude. watched him closely.
81 am ready-n0, no." and 1 motioned him
not to touch me; az am ready,"I continued,
'.provided the physicians will undertake it. and
my parents do not oppose it, to do as you would
have me-"
Now, in spite of me, he threw his arms
around me, and cried in parOxysm Of de-
light:
1'What better proof than this could have of
your love for me? Never, never in my life will
I forget this. How beautiful you win be, and
how delighted you will be with yourself! And,
as for the danger, DIR. Waltenstein assures me
that, In his opinion, it is not great. He SAYS
he is almost certain the operation win be sue
discovered, therefore, that Eberhard was
dangers attending an operation, and the proba-
bilfiea REGARDING itS resulf-vyhich sl,o h,vv