The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1878-03-06

new pursuit to win bread, or depend up
on charity. was well again and strong,
and every drop of my young blood was
in revolt at my enforced idleness.
AT Christmas time, Mr.. Raymond's
only son came from Chicago for a visit.
had heard of Albert Raymond from
Aunt Hilda. From his mother he had
inherited fortune, and he had loved
his cousin Eta. Because OF her refusal
to be his wife he had gone to Chicago,
where he was adding to his heritage by
successful land speculations.
1 was prepared to be jealous of Al
bert Raymond, for Eta always spoke
kindly of him, giving him warm sisterly
affection. But after he came, though he
was cordially pleasant with me, hated
him. Before he had been home a week
l knew that he and Eta had some secret
between them. could grope my way
by that time to several of the neighbor-
ing houses, and was often Etta's visitor.
as she had been mine when 1 was get
ting well.
More than once coming across the
garden, l could hear Eta and Albert
conversing in an animated, eager tone,
to stop abruptly the moment 1 appeared,
or awkwardly to introduce general SUBJ
jects l was sure were not the subjects of
the original conversation. A visitor
came from New York to Mr.. Raymond's,
a friend of Albert's and Eta insisted
upon my inviting him to my aunt's
house.
He was gruff-spoken man, and talke !
necessarily of my affiiction. Knowing
how I shrank from any conversation,
from any sympathy upon his subject,
Eta had always delicately led all such
talk away from it. But, to my surprise,
she encouraged this stranger, and fairly
wrung from me every symptom, both
pending and during my illness.
When he went away, she accompanied
him home, though l offered to escort
her over little later.
1t was week after this, and Albert had
been away, when he returned suddenly.
Coming into the room, he said "Etta,
it will be all right"
Then seeing me, am sure, he made
some awkward explanation about money
Investments. But Eta grew very silent,
and soon after I heard pencil over
paper. Albert was writing A few
minutes later he left the room, and very
soon Eta asked me to excuse her for q
moment, and followed him. I groped
my way to the table, where was sure l
had heard Albert writing. Nothing
there !! l felt about, till small piece of
paper was found close beside Etta's
chair. She had trusted to my blindness
for its remaining undiscovered.
I was half mad with jealous pain, and
I somehow got to Mr.. Raymond's study.
"Will you read that to me ?" asked.
Without other answer, he read
" I must speak to you. Will wait in
the summer-house."
"Thank you !" I said,
"What is it ?" he asked.
"The wrong note. I will find the
other"
l went away then, to the summer
house, softly as thief, guarding my
steps on the frozen ground. They were
there, and 1 could hear Albert's voice
As 1 came near, heard Eta" All,
Albert, will love you all my life for
this p
She was crying too. I could tell that
by her broken voice.
I turned away and went home. 1t was
a cold day, and was utterly miserable.
Aunt Hilda insisted upon nursing me,
and I submitted, brooding over my
secret pain, seeking no sympathy.
1t was but natural Eta should turn
from the blind lover, who was but dis
appointment, to the handsome young
man of fortune who had loved her 80
long. I would try to give her up, not
in anger, but tenderly.
But could not. Albert returned to
Chicago, and every day Eta became
dearer to nae. She was the light of my
life. She gave me every hour she
could spare from her duties to her
uncle and his house, and she spoke of
our future as surely to be passed
together. I had no courage to tell her
I suspected her secret, and only in my
lonely hours did dwell upon the re.
membrance of Albert's visit.
The long winter wore away, the early
spring was gone, and when May bios
SONS were bursting Eta came one
morning to see me.
"Do you remember Dr. Sanderson p
she asked.
"Your cousins friend?"
eyes, He is great oculist. "
Ny heart seemed 10 stand stiH.
"He came from New York solely tc
see you, and he warned us that we must
give you no exciting hope for some
months. Perfect tranquility, he told
us, was the great hope for the recovery
of your sight.
Recovery of my sight," / cried
"He thinks that possible9"
"He thinks it more than possible
, If you improved in strength as yor
have done all the winter, he was certain
he could successfully operate thi
| month"
could not speak. Very gently Ett'
, told me of her cousins kindness. 81,