The Hickman courier., 1877-06-29

Geoige % 0A"-SS WIN te'A NeAAO'N
W1Asry slowly. his arms out
step uncertain. Mag
% 5ffer her support, but could
not control her voice to speak.
care you here, DIR. East?' George
asked; and the deep, sweet voice struck
upon Maggie's ear
II am here, in my old place. p"
Let me find my chair. All here it
chair.
Il have glad but still sad news for
you, said Dr. East
"Sad and glad News from abroad?"
Yes. The sad news of Edward
Glover. He died in Italy last month. "
And Maggie is coming home, that is
your glad news?"
Yes. Poor Maggie"
There was deep silence. Then George
spoke in meditating tone, as if follow
ing aloud train of thought: Better
to be widowed than to have been bur
dened as she would have been, had my
life been blessed as once hoped. May
heaven bless and comfort her in her sor-
row 7"
You loved her very truly, George ?"
q love her while life remains. ! can
never cease to love Maggie. When is she
coming home, doctor?"
3" She has come.
But her parents are away"
She is here, George.
1t was painful to see how the sad face
of the afflicted man lighted upas he bent
forward eagerly, his hands outstretched
aud his features working with emotion.
'' Here here, Maggie !" He had forgot
ten his blindness, her widowhood every
thing, but the fact that Maggie was near
him. "I cannot see you, Maggie, dar-
ling. he said, with emotion. Speak
to me. She came softly to him, her
tears falling fast.
Oh, Maggie !" he remarked, " have
no word to comfort your sorrow.
'' And your affiiction, George, she
re piled - is a new sorrow to me. They
ts1Eed foGetner Tor considerable time.
There was much to tell by both parties,
and each sympathized with the other for
the sorrows which had fallen upon them
during their separation.
1t was not long before Maggie had found
her old place in the home circle as if she
had never left it.
To George a new and perhaps happier
life had opened. Maggie again was his
sweet, tender, loving hearted sister. 1t
was Maggie who drove him out in the
it was Maggie who read to him,
sang for him, made the hours fly with
merry descriptions of her travels.
Maggie bad opened a drawer in
Georges desk, searching for some papers
he wished to see, when she sal j. suddenly:
What are all these loose papers,
George? There are an immensity of
papers"
He replied, very sadly: "That is the
wreck of my ambition, Maggie"
Tell me about IT,"
You cannot realize the temptation
there is for a student of medicine to de-
vote all his energy to some special branch
Of the profession, and to study all that
bears upon it. 1t was my fancy that I
could give my fellow students some val
liable information upon diseases of the
brain, and / had written what you see
when my labors were stopped and l be-
came the useless log l am now."
But the book, George; have you for
gotten it?"
Forgotten Never! 1t is clearer and
more distinct in my darkened life than
ever before. My mind, in my solitary
hours, has dwelt on Z 5h phrase of the
various treatment of the diseases till
find my blindness misfortune for others
As great as for myself"
But, George, why should you cease
your work? Cannot you dictate to me ?''
Maggie, is it right to tie you down
to such SSgdgery ?"
- 1t wnI not be drudgery. Let me ar
range these papers now, and read them to
you, and you can continue the work to-
b" l know it is selfish, but the tempta-
ton is too great. Maggie, you are my
guardian angel"
The work progressed Irapidly, and Dr.
East watched with loving gladness the
change in George. Maggie wrote fro
him and read the extracts he dictated.
entering with her whole heart into the
work.
A year passed away from the day the
work was commenced before it was ready
for the press, and they were rewarded at
last by a package containing the hand
somely bound volume.
Maggie was in the library alone when
DR.. East entered with the book.
"Look at it, Maggie, darling, while I
find George"
"I am here, Doctor" said George, en-
tering. "Let me feel it. Maggie, dear,
please read me the title page"
Slowly she read the page, even to the
figures that announced the date of pub
lea tion. "1S64," she answered, as if
pondering cit is leap year."
George looked up. Despite his blind
ness he hsd never lost the habit of turn
ng his aoe toward any object of interest.
Now his hce was pale, eager and yet ra-
liant.
Leap year, continued Maggie when
aides NAV offer their hands to gentle
men. Gorge, will you take mine?'
Maggie, Go not mock me. You are
young, beautiful and wealthy. What
i'm II"
Whttyou are TO Others said Mag
gle, LEI the universal love and respect
you NEST testify. What you are TO me