Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-07-02

A MUTUAL MISTAKE.

'Drab and cherry for the parlors, with
satinwood, don't you think, Flossy? And
blue instead of the inevitable green for the
dining room. As for the bedroom"
"Never mind about the bedrooms, or
any ofthe other rooms, for that matter, if
you please, Mr.. Rossitur. Remember you
gave me carte blanch about this furnish
ing, and l mean to show you an original
house, with no stereotyped colors or styles.
Just confide in my taste, and keep your
purse-strings open!'
''To the extent of their capacity, my
dear. And, of course, / wouldn't dare to
venture to question a woman's taste, least
of all this little woman's. But your eyes,
Flossy. your eyes! You hadn't developed
your interesting intention of becoming
blind when l gave you that carte blanche,
you know. Why, suspect when the doc
tor has done with you, you won't be able
to distinguish between Metternich green
and dagmar blue ~
The eyes thus disrespectfully alluded
to flashed laughing reproach at this
teasing speech.
"Now Fred, il is too bad of you to re-
mind me of what have got to undergo,
just as l was trying to get my courage up
by forgetting it for 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. l shant let you
choose thing; it's quite enough for you
to have the honor of paying the bills"
"Hush Flossy here is the doctor. Now
do be brave, dear" interrupted her COM
panion, in changed voice; and Flossy
turned white, and looked piteously
around.
The door of the private room opened,
and a tall, grave-looking man advanced
into the ante-room. He was holding by
the hand pale little girl with green
shade bound 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 on her;
and it inspired her with feeling of conf
dence on her part. Still. she trembled and
grew quite cold, having dismissed the
child at the door with a CHEEKY goodbye,
the oracle who was to decide the fate of
those pretty blue eyes of hers approached
herself and her companion, and, bowling
desired to know their commands.
I'VE have been referred to you by our
family physician, as most skillful ocu-
list. DR.. Buchanan said Mr.. Rossitur,
presenting his card, 81 wish to consult
you on behalf of myths lady. He ap-
prehends some serious difficulty with her
eyes. Will you be good enough to exam
inc them for yourseltP"
The doctor bowed with professional
gravity, and leading the way into the in
ner room requested the lady to be seated
in the patients chair" But poor Flossy
grew whittier still, and looked piteously at
Fred, who laughed nervously, and at the
doctor, who answered with II re-assuring
smile Then she rose with mighty ef-
fort. shook out her sashes, stepped doubt
fully through the door, as though she was
crossing the threshold of the Inquisition,
and let herself down into the great leath-
ern receptacle as gingerly as though it
were the rack itself.
"Oh-oh ~ she exclaimed, with little
rrepressible nervous cry, as the doctor
adjusted the chair so as to move her head
backward. Fred laughed again at this,
and the doctor looked amused; and Flossy
ashamed of her babyishness, seated her
self resolutely in the dreadful chair, set
her little teeth, clinched her kidded fingers
and,-shut her eyes tight determined to
bear like woman and a heroine, what
ever tate must be in store tor her.
But l must see your eyes, if you please
madam said the doctor.
Flossy opened them with flash, red
dening furiously at her own stupidity.
Then she laughed, and the two gentlemen
joined her; and after that they all felt
more at their ease, and DR.. Buchanan
proceeded quietly to make the eXamina-
ton.
Very keen and intelligent was the
searching gaze of his clear gray eyes;
very firm, though gentle, the touch of his
strong slender fingers; and Flossy felt an
instructive confidence that his verdict, be
1t what it might, would be final, and
trembled inwardly while she awaited it.
1t was bad enough, but not as bad as it
might be, when it came at length: "Con-
victed but not condemned" might be ren.
dered as the summing up. There was
certainty of reprieve, and hope of ulti-
mate rescue; but, meanwhile, the penance
of total idleness, and daily subsection to
medical treatment was adjudged.
Flossy drew long breath of relief it
was so much better than she had feared
and Fred, the big tender-hearted fellow,
rushed up with tears in his eyes, and en-
braced her regardless of appearances.
The little lady colored violently, and
pushed him away.
For shame, Fred ~ she expostulated
in vehement whisper; and then, to con-
ceal her embarrassment, said gaily to the
Doctor:
"Do, pray, give us again the nice long
name of what you said was the matter
with my eyes. People will be sure to ask,
and | shall feel SO learned when tell
them"
Dr. Buchanan replied gravely. and dis
creetly assumed to have seen nothing of
what had happened.
But he had seen, nevertheless, and envied
while he saw; and even after the pair de.
parted, with hearts wonderfully lightened.
to forget their fears in the delightful mys-
teries of house furnishing; and even while
he himself was very busy with innumera-
BILE cases of ophthalmia, amaurosis, and
Heaven knows what unfortunate ailments
Of optics, the remembrance of the comical,
touching scene came back to him more than
once, and with hope that he might not
have to do anything very terrible to those
soft, blue eyes that had looked up so wist-
fully 10 his for it was evident that what