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

e On hiH = , :: hshdsOne-and what haadso.s
che has eyes JUS like yours Charlotte"
'A MIiie u,neo,
ment 1dw ~ Oh, AOw,beaitifulhpchaarge
AitSsssh 6haflosse wa. syias..sy slstetsd
&c es ssGity IS but sis sas
or tive sftershe returned: 4
.YsS fried ChsE,stsS e syes sse . Likely
tefestfn her. She's n6t . Beauty, but she has
>something about her that is very attractive,
The dreaded hour finally came and passed in
manner satisfactory, It seemed, 10 the opera
tor and his assistant, Waltenstein. OF the uiti-
mste result they said they could not judgS with
certainty under about two weeks, and that, IN
any event, would have to be kept in q dark
room, with my left eye bandaged, for perhaps
At first, was not allowed to see any one, i.e.,
Mothef'remained with me ali that time; father
and Carl came always once, and sometimes
twice in the course Of the day. But when the
Charlotte were allowed to come. The latter in
sisted on being permitted from this time on to
take my mothers place for part of the TIME,
was greatly needed at home. And so il was Ar
ranged; For the might've engaged nurse, and,
as for the day, Charlotte spent usually nearly
came frequently, but never more than two at a
time in obedience to the doctors wishes. ;
During the first days, the surgeon who operat-
ed on me came accompanied by his assistant
then the latter came alone. His visits soon be-
came very welcome; his manner was very soft
ana sympathetic, and his voice exceedingly
agreeable. He had looked, hardly had an
idea idea, for l scarcely knew him, although he
long had me in his eye as good. subject upon
which to exercise his art. He often prolonged
his visits, especially when he CHANGED to find
Carl there, Of which 1 was always glad, as, when
ne was present, the conversation always took q
higher range and became. more animated.
myself took very little part in these CONVEX
Sa x b lor they were always carried ON behind
turn my face from the window, while NV yisi
tors naturally gathered together directly before
II, where At was light enough to see tolerably
there she usually sat with her knitting, or come
Ssa, kind Of work that did not require much
Carl, certainly, ought not to have found his
vislts tedious, had he spent the time he devoted
to them beside me, If it was not 90 lieht: but
thought that, perhaps, he did not think It in
and that he wanted to show his gratitude to her
for her kindness in devoting herself SO faith
fully TO his hetrothed, and certainly it was very
the long hours she spent with me.
was surprised only. at the familiar, banterinq
tone they 80 quickly fell into. Charlotte was
always, inclined to be little ungracious, and
was panied to discover that Carl had a kindred
trait in his character. Neither OF them was
without wit, and, rather than lose a clever con-
cert, there was hardly any one they would have
In all things else tn ought them wholly diff
ierent, for knew Eberhard only as an earnest.
thoughtful man, a man who, like my father,
as those of the mind. 1t was thus he had an,
peared to us all during our short ACQUAINTANCE
with him: Charlotte, on the contrary, had no
ity, very ignorant. At school, it had always
been very difficult for her to learn, and she had
not supplied her want of aptitude by industry,
to her hands. She and 1, for ali that. had 90
much In common that always found her an
agreeable companion; but that Eberh ard should
also, be drawn toward her surprised me. 1 sup
posed It required something in woman, quite
0ther than what she possessed, to interest him;
but now saw her lead him easily into domain
that rarely ever rose above the trivial.
In consequence OF the operation, and of being
deprived Of fresh air and exercise, I had become
someW nat nervous and irritable, and, therefore,
was sometimes affected unpleasantly by tests
ana witticisms that, under ordinary cfrcum-
never seemed to tire of taking Charlotte s ball
OF thread, and doing all kinds of mischief with
1t. Al one time he would unwind it till she
, MOuio scola then ne would wind it up to her
=
TO watch his opportunity and slip the bali into
her pocket, and then after a while to take IL
Cuttings, which 1, of course. did not see, but
which CharlOtte's circumstances, blow on his
hands, etc., enabled me to divine. They would
often laugh heartily, when could not imagine
me cause and, IL asked the reason II Is doubt
ful whether they always answered truthfully
On one of these occasions, I remember he
came behind the screen that separated me from
the rest of the room, and said: "YOu must not
allow our nonsense to make you nervous.
Ezzie!" '
pressed his hand nervously, and cried: "Ah.
Carl how glad shall be when get out Of
"And how much admire the patiept res,y.
nation with which you endure this imprson-
ment for you cannot call it anything else lie
replied "Only woman could do It. con-
dess rev minutes in the sombre hole is quite
"And am, I assure you, not SO selfish as to
want to detain you longer than your inclnations
aoM%p' you 70 remain" said |, releasing his
longer than am compelled to, assure yOu.''
And that will not be long. You will soon he
released, and Mise Charlotte too" he replied,
dow. ~-0 WIN
This confinement has already robbed Won of
some 20 OF your color, Fraulein," Iheard him say
"Ha! how can You tell any thing about Char
lotte's complexion In the dark?'' I cried out TO
him, in q jocular tone.
True; but met her yesterday near the
square, and, )" he added, somewhat 6esitatingly.
1T seemed to me, "and walked home with her.i'
Which was quite unnecessary" Charlotte
informed him, very emphatically, and there
upon they fell into their usual bantering Tone
while reflected that Carl, on his way to see me.
had turned back to escort her. "Heaven grant !"
L said to myself, "that may not be a sickiy
endured"
Then suddenly the question suggested itself
why he did not come to me after seeing her
home, and the reply came to me quite as readi-
ly: because he knew Charlotte was not here
. The thought was like dagger-thrust that
reaches the heart. Now, much that had seemed
strange and unaccountable, appeared to me in
midday distinctness.
From this moment suffered all the torments
OF Jealousy and wounded pride, Of which, how
ever, no one had the least suspicion, although
was never really calm except when my father or
mother was with me. They always sat beside
me; they found no difiiculty in breathing behind
my screen. and my mother, whose hands were
80 rarely idle, rested willingly where it was too
dark to see to do any thing. Even Albert seemed
to think 1t perfectly natural to sit beside ma
when he came, and amuse me by caricaturino
his teachers, and telling me Of the pranks of the
scholars.
True, no one spent so much time with me as
Charlotte, and I vas compelled to preserve the
semblance Of gratitude, although 1 knew that
hers was not a self-sacrificing nature and that
when any thing ceased to amuse her. she soon
tired Of 1t. When we were alone together. there
were, very naturally, long pauses In our CONVEX
sation; but it seemed to me that she became
daily more laxative, although became daily
more silent When, however, Eberhard came