The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1877-07-19

To George, new and perhaps hap
pier life had opened. Maggie again
was his sweet, tender, loving-hearted
sister. 1t was Maggie who drove him
out in the carriage, 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 pa
pers he wished her to see, when she
SAID, suddenly:
sWhat are all these loose papers.
George? There are an immensity OF
pages
.He replied, very sadly:
sThat is the wreck of my ambition,
Maggie
Tell me about it,
sYou cannot realize the tempta,i ion
there is for = student of medicine to de
vote all his energy to some special
branch of the profession, and study all
tha: bears upon it. 1t was my fancy
that could give my fellow students
some valuable information upon dis
eases of the brain, and l had written
what you see when my labors were
stOpped, and ! became the useless log
am now.'
George, you really must not feel so.
Are you not my poor uncle's greatest
help and comfort?'
1T is his kindness, not my value,
Maggie, dear, that makes him think
| So
but the book, George; have you
forgotten it ?
Forgotten? Never! 1t is clearer
and more distinct in my darkened life
than ever before. Ny mind, in my
solitary hour, has dwelt on each phase
of the various treatment Of the dis
eases, till / find my blindness q mis-.
fortune for others as well as myself.
sBut, George, why should you cease
to work Can not you dictate to me ?
Maggie, is it right to tie you down
to such drudgery
'It will not be drudgery. Let me
arrange these papers now, and read
them to you, and you can continue thu
work Tomorrow
Il know it is selfish, but the tempt.
alton is too great. Maggie, you are
my guardian angel
The work progressed rapidly. and
DR.. East watched, with loving glad
ness, the change in George. Maggie
wrote for 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 il
was ready for the press. and they were
rewarded at last by package con
tanning the handsomely boundvolume
Maggie was in the library alone
when Dr.. East entered with the book
Look at it, Maggie, darling, while
l find George
Il am here, DOCTOR said George
entering. Let me feel it. Maggie
dear, please read me the title page
Slowly she read the page, even te
the figures that announced the date OF
publication.
1854 she said, as if pondering. Il,
is leap year.
George looked UP. Despite his
blindness, he had never lost the habi,
of turning his face towards any object
of interest. Now his face was pale
eager, yet radiant.
Leap year, Maggie continued
when ladies may offer their hands to
gentlemen. George, will you take
mine5'
Maggie, do not mock me. You are
young, beautiful, and wealthy. Wha
am 2
What you are to Others said Mag
gle. Ht the universal love you NEE
testify. What you are to me. l car
never tell you. You love me, George ?
with my whole heart and SOUL
Let your love, then, read mine
'Oh, Maggie-Maggie, can it be
true? You love me, blind, helpless
useless
Hush, George!
You are my eyes--my fingers my
inspirationH
'Then you will have me ? said Mag.
gle, merrily.
l have no answer
DIR. East stole softly away, blessing
them in his heart, as he did audibly
when the wedding came. For they
were married, and the honeymoon has
not yet waned.