Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1877-07-06
sTAUNToN, VIRGINIA, FRIDAY. JULY 6, 1877.

In the library, WneFo UeOISe UOou"Iu
had spoken his love tale to Maggie, there
were seated, eight years later, an old gen
tlemen and young, fair lady in deep
mourning.
"Your mother must have missed your
letter, Maggie" DR.. East said. "She
would never have left home expecting your
return.''
81 found my last letter unopened on her
table. All was so sudden at the last, I'M
cles Edward was SO we'll when I wrote
before, that do not think the idea of my
return occurred to her. It is so lonely at
home. came at once to you, hoping to
stay till father and mother return
''You know, dear child. how glad I am
to have you with me. Maggie, there is
something to tell you we did not write of,
thinking it would only grieve you. George
has been deeply atfilc ted"
George? He is here, is he not ?'
| Railways. 1 will tell you all. You hears
soon after your arrival in Italy, did you
not, of the dreadful accident at the new
building just out Of the village? Many
were killed and wounded by the premature
fall Of large quantity of brick and NOR
tar. Every one fastened to the spot to
the spot to aid the sufferers, supposing all
danger was over. George went down to
the building, superintendent the removal
of the unfortunate wounded. and [ re-
ceived them in the long stonecutter's shed
above, and dressed theirWounds. All was
removed but the dead, and George was
still in the building when second fall
came that Mortified us all.''
"Oh, uncle! George?''
s'He was taken up insensible. Apparent
ly his injuries were slight, but as he re-
covered cons ciousness we found blow
upon his head which, with the nervous
shock, had totally destroyed his eyesight."
''Not incurably?''
eyes, dear. Every effort skill could sug-
gest or money procure has been made. We
have had the advice of the first surgeons
in the country, and all remedies have been
faithfully tried. All has been IN vain. He
is hopelessly blnd.'
Maggie's tears were falling so fast she
could not speak: and her uncle continued:
''He bears his trial with fortitude, but it
is II grief none can appreciate, except UNI
der similar affection. Hush he is coming"
''Don't say I am here. 1 cannot speak
to him YETI whispered Maggie, rising
softly and taking a seat in a further cor.
ner of the room, where she watched
Georges entrance with painful earnest
ness.
He came in very slowly, his arms out
stretched, and his step uncertain. Maggie
longed to offer her support, but could not
control her voice to speak.
care you here, DR.. East?" George ask
ed; and the deep, sweet voice struck upon
Maggie's ear.
II am here, in my old place."
s'Let me find my chair. All here.it Isl"
and he sank down YEARLY in the chair.
II have glad but still sad news for you,"
said Dr. East.
''Sad and glad! News from abroad?'
eyes. The sad news of Edward Glover.
He died in Italy last month";
"And Maggie is coming home, that is
your glad news?"
eyes. Poor Maggie!"
There was Il deep silence. Then George
spoke in a meditating tone, as if following
aloud a train of thought: "Better to be
widowed than to have been burdened as
she would have been, had my life been
blessed as I once hoped. May heaven bless
and comfort her in her sorrow!"
81 love her while life remains. can
never cease to love Maggie. When is she
coming home, doctor?"
"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 up as he bent for
ward eagerly, his hands outstretched and
his features working with EN- otion: "Here,
here, Maggie!' He had forgotten his
blindness, her widowhood, every thing, but
the fact that Maggie was near him. II
cannot see you. Maggie, darling,'' 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 affiictlon, George" she re-
piled, sis a new sorrow to me-" They
talked together for 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.
a. hnf l,o II
her old place in the home cirle 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 car
riage; it was Maggie who read to him,
sang for him, made the hours fly with
merry descriptions of her travels.
Maggie had opened drawer in Georges
desk, searching for some papers he wished
to see, when she said, suddenly:
"What are all these loose papers,
George? There is an immensely of pages,
He replied, very sadly: 'sThat is the
wreck of my ambition, Maggie
"Tell me about it -
"You cannot realize the temptation
| there is for 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 l
could give my fellow-students some valu-
able information upon diseases of the
brain, and 1 had written what you see
when my labors were stopped and be-
came the useless log am now"
ABut the book, George; have you for
gotten it2''