The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-12-18
G R A Q e M o o R e;
THE BLIND MANS WARD.


long Corridors, leading one scarce knew
whittier. 1t was surrounded by grounds,
once In the highest state OF cultiVation,
but now sadly neglected.
In the drawing room, furnished with
almost Eastern splendor, sat Mr..
Gleason, the master of all this wealth !;
the crimson cushions OF the couch he oc-
cupied brought into bold relief the hand
some profile. A grand face it was, with
the midnight eyes and raven hair, the
broad white brow, and mouth tender as
a woman's. But the face had liues Of
care, as of one who had learnt to suffer
and be strong; the light Of the beautiful
eyes had gone out years ago, and all
had been darkness thenceforth. He was
betrothed to lovely woman, and their
marriage was soon to take place, when
the darkness fell, shutting out the
beautiful world; and the naughty belle,
refusing to walk in the shadow which
had fallen upon his life, left him in his
desolation.
With a heart embittered, and faith
outraged, he had retired to his country
seat, resolved, to mingle no more with
the world, Here he had dWelt for three
years, with only his seryants-his faith
lul valet, Lewis, being his only COM
panion, except when a few friends
sought him out, which was seldom, for
the dark, silent rooms, and the cold, re-
served master chilled them. In part he
had learned forgetfulness, and the old
pain mad died out of his heart, while the
picture SO long enshrined there mad be-
come indistinct, and had not the power
| to move it as of old, ... 49,, %
He wa S thinking of all this as he sat
waiting the arrival of his ward, Grace
fnt thnr 1tyfn Had
| pointed him her guardian, and he could
not refuse, though he shFank from the
change which her coming must make In
the quiet of Gleasonwood. ....,,
| "M.rss Moore has come. Shall / show
| her up" announced Lewis, breaking in
| upon his train of thought. h+
"Certainly. Show her up Immediate
| Iy," .
| And he waited with a little futter of
| the heart till soft football sounded on
the carpet, and a little hand was laid in
| his, while voice of sweetest music
said, "Mr. Gleason, my guardian, / be-
llieveW .........
rThe same. And this is my ward
Grace Moore?" he said, clasping her
|. hand warmly.
"Rather troublesome one, fear, you
will find me. l can't be digniied, SO
YOU must not expect it. L am SO glad
that you are nottold and ugly, as iinag-
ined all guardians were. Iknow shall
like you, and you must love me little.
Won't your .a..
II think that will be an easy matter,
Miss Moore" .. - q. 'a5.
"Oh! please call me Grace. Papa al
ways did"
And the sweet voice had an undertone
OF pain: ...
""We.l, Grace it shall be. But pray he
seated. How do you like GleasonW0od? +?
Is it not rather pretty prison?"
s'Tis beautiful! more so than any,
thing my imagination ever pictured. l
should be content to stay here always"
81 used TO think it very beautiful; but
now"
He sighed, and left the sentence unfin.
'ished.
II am 80 very sorry for youw said
Grace, with culver OF tears in her
voice, while tear fell on the hand of
the blind man. ... '...
flushed and paled alternately; and when
he spoke his voice was strangely husky,
"No tears tor me, Grace; 1 do not
need them" 1t was hard at first but l
40 not mind it SO much now. l have
rare pictures stored away in my mem-
ory OF the blue sky and sunshine, the
green fields, and Gleasonwood as it was
then. miss my books more than can
tell" asa-.. .. n,
"It will be pleasure to read to you,
if you will permit me-" II :,
II shall be happy to have you. But
tits near our dinner hour, though 'tis
scarcely worth while to dress for dinner
when you will only meet blind man."
"On, but it is, thought will dress,
and Lewis will tell you how look. So
dN reU0tfls h.
Ana Lne little witch tripped I'D stairs
to her room, humming gay air.
SHOW very handsome he isl I do
wish he could see," she said, with a lit
tie sigh, as she surveyed herself in the.
mirror. IT,
A pretty reflection it was of a slight
form, a fair sweet face, framed in Gu urls
Of golden brown, clear, truthful eyes
of the same hue, the sweet mouth with
its twin rosebuds, revealing the pearly
teeth, and over all the picture a kind OF
radiance, an emanation of the purity
within. Changing her heavy travelling
dress tor fairy-ltke texture of blue,
and twining few roses in her curls,
she descended to the drawing-room and
stood a little proudly, waiting for Lewis
w RlNO hAo OpthAOhs
"Well, Lewis, what is it? Surely you
have made decision," said Mr.. 'Gea-
son. laughingiy. oH ~i
II scarcely know, sir. The young
lady is more like that picture OF the
M Madonna than any thing can liken her
t 'a"'' a.
THANK you." said Grace; and she
took the arm OF Mr.! Gleason, and guided
has steps to the hedinlng-room.
3 A pieasan companion she was, with
her cneery, sunshiuy nature and
sweet voice, she was, withal.
and informed, winning
that grave man from mis- gloomy sorrow
ere he was aware OF it, and his happy
laugh rang out as IN the elGen time. F..
"A very sunbeam she was. charming
all in the house. Her bird-like voice
rang through the long, silent rooms,
making sweet music for slhe blind man,
to whom she was fast becoming dearer
thau lite. The broken tendrlls oil the
old love had tWIned around this fair
young creature with II true, ,lervent love,
beside wnicuth ola 81 emed but a weak
passion. llto every fiber OF MS heart
she crept Win her sweet ways; and, well
he cherished the image as the
most sacred thing in life. Very tender
and kind SIZE Was, reading an singing
Ior hun, guiding his steps thr, Il sh The
cold recesses oi the beautiful Forests
mHH