The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-11-30

They were so blitbe, So fall Of real
Wit in all The little details pe her home
life, annoysnccs seeming IN turn to
tests in her bright prese nee. Every
line was full of encouragement for the
absent brother. anil through all the
animation. the lively sallies. there
was a thread of thought that showed
Isabel was A Christian woman. as well
a. a loving. swee, pirl finding the sill.
YER lining TO all the clouds oyerhanr.
inc her Young life.
"Sbe Il inst what her letters psint
her y Edward said n. I took nm the
,en N w,;tc nj. Ie,,er .,be deores,
little sunbeam that ever gladdeped A
hom. She /. rorv small verv ,re,.
~. and with the most meaere allow.
ance ALWAYS coptriyessto look neat.
Poor little Isabel How I have hoped
to throw some real brightness into her
life. NOT leave il all TO her own CHEEKY
shirt to makel"
I wrote the letter. that was to add
one more burden to the young girls
heart. rs Edward dictated; but after
that was written. I could not refrain
from adding a few lines in my own
name. assuring Isabel Hopeton of my
earnest friendship for her brother, and
bepuinp her TO feel certain that he
would bav, the most tender care until
such time rs he wished to return to
New York At the time of writing
he was still under the care Of an emf
nent oculist
The letter once mailed, Ned talked
to me more freely than he had ever
done before. His salary from the
magazine, carefully economical, would
suffi,e for his simple wants for a few
months, and he would learn some art
for his hands, if possible. lie realiz-
ed fully the hopelessness of his case.
-"It has been 80 gradual" he said,
.growing always steadily worse, that
I know there is no hope Of recovery.
God help me to bear it,
I could only echo the PRAYER. 1t
was SIMPLY cruel now to raise false
hopes. Two more letters came from
Isabel before we could have looked for
a reply to mine. and I wrote again as
Ned dictated. The growth of the
disease in poor Ned's ewes was more
rapid. aggravated | felt sure. by his
mental dependency, and before my
first letter could have crossed the
ocean. he was totally blind.
Something ofthe old stubborn pride
left him when he had to take my arEl
for a daily stroll, to wait for my hand
to prepare the food upon his plate
and ne allowed me to consult Other
oculists in his behalf, and to ado
some luxuries to our simple. but com
Portable room.
We were alone together one morn
ing. and had been reading aloud
when reference to some other worl
in the one was reading. sent me I,
my own room To look for the volum,
quoted. Our studio had bedroom a
each end, but we had used one for oul
dinins-room. and shared the other a
bedroom. While was tossing owe
the books in a great trunk, | heard ,
knock at the studio door, and arose t.
open il. But before could cross tn,
bedroom, Ned cried: Come in," an,
the door opened.
A little figure in deep mournin,
stood for one moment on the thresh
old, then crossed the room swiftly an,
stood beside Ned. One little han,
was placed. oh, so tenderly, upor
Ned's head, aud a quick cry answered
the touch.
Isabel, oh, Isabel"
| saw her sink into his open arms
and then | closed the door. | heard
the murmur of low voices ms | hurri
edlv dressed to 20 out, and left then