The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1878-03-26
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him home, though l offered to escort her
over q little later.
1t was week after this, and Albert
had been. away when be returned sud
denly. Coming into the room be said
.Etta it will be all right"
Then Seeing me, l am sure, he made
some awkward explanation about MONEY
Investments; but Eta grew very silent,
aad soon after heard pencil running
over paper. Albert was writing! A
few minutes later he left the room, and
very soon Eta asked me to excuse her
for a moment, and followed him. |
CROPPED my way to the table where was
Isure had heard Albert writing Moth
ing there! l felt about till small piece
OF paper was found close beside Eta s
chair She hal trusted to my blindness
for its remaining undiscovered.
was half mad with jealous pain, and
somehow got to Mr. Rsymond's study
"Will you read that to mel p l asked
Without other answer be read
81 must speak to you. Will wait in
the summer house"
"Thank you." / said.
"What is it ?" he asked.
"The wrong note I will find the 9TH
err" -s
l went away then, to the summer
house, softly as thief, guarding my
steps on the frozen ground. They were
there, and could hear Albert's voice =
As | came near I heard Eta say:
"Ah, Albert, l will love you all my
life for this !"
| She was crying, too; l could tell that
| by her broken voice.
| turned away and went home; it was
la cold day and was utterly miserable.
| Aunt Hilda insisted upon nursing me,
and submitted, brooding over my Sc.
cret pain, seeking no sympathy.
l. was bnt natural Eta should turn
from the blind lover, who was but dis
appointment, to the handsome young
man of fortune who had loved her so
long. ! would try to give her up, not
In anger, but teuderly.
u But / could not Albert returned to
, Chicago, and every day Eta became
i dearer to me. 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 tosbe passed together. i had
no courage TO tell her / suspected her
secret, and only in my lonely hours did
: l dwell upon the remembrance OF AL
, berts visit. .
, The loug winter wore away, the early
! spring was gone and when May bios.
E SONS were bursting Eta came one morn
ing to see me.
do You remember DR.. Sanderson p
she asked. .e
stYour cousins friendP"
: :, Yes; be is great occulist."
II Ny heart seemed TO stand still. rse
: "He came from New York solely tc
see you, and he warned US that we mus
: igive you no exciting hope for some
months; perfect tranquility, he told US
1 was the great hope for the recovery o
]; Iyoar sight.
Recovery Of my sight," I cried. I" III
I thinks that possible
n "He thinks 1t more than possible; i
J. lyou improved in strength as you hav'
s done all the Writer, he was certain b,
8 could successfully operate this month I"
XII I could not speak. Very gently Eft,
I told me Of her Cousins kindness he hat
K gone to the city solely to find this doc
ltor, who was no more his friend than n
: was the friend of any other patient; b.
q bad brought him to see me, and thel
l burdened nv Eta with his secret in
: structions Even Mr.. Raymond ant
Aunt Hilda we're ignorant Of this lovin!
ri conspiracy.
y II humiliated me to think of the par
e I bad taken, the unworthy construction
n I had placed upon E,ta's outburst o
o gratitude; but she should never kno,
l. that had doubted her even for an houl
VI "Tell me-" I said, "when this docto
Twill come again."
rel "He is here, waiting to see you"
gi He came boon after and there was n,
l. reluctance then in my answers to hi
d searching questions. He examined NJ
J. eyes closely, and gave me promise Q
re sight in less than two mouths.
le And be kept his word After the or
y Grafton he gave strict directions for ban
u daging and close confinement in dar
sr room. till, at the end OF six long weeks
y he came again, and let me see ono
y more the blessed daylight and Eta
o face.
ID From that hour gained hope an
courage agaih, and when my eyes wei
ID perfectly restored returned to New Yorl
ID I was expressly forbidden to resume m
er old duties, but the firm gave me pos
le tion as salesman at good salary.
Eta waited another year for me, ,whe
1t my great uncle left me legacy that Ell
W abled me 10 marry, having a sure il
IN come.
9, 1t was not until we had been marie
as over year that Eta asked me one da
liz I could spare her seven hundred do
8 lars
it "Certainly," I replied.
m "Do you wonder what want of s
I'd much money!" she asked.
is I did wonder, for we had no secre
to in our life, and my wife usually told n
o, where she spent her money.
oy II will tell you" she said. 81 wal
to buy back my pearl cross"
,rt "Yuu sold that ~ I cried II thoug
ly you valued that above all your posse
&c sions!"
as "But not above your eyesight. D
m. Sanderson was paid $500 for tae oper
sw ton, not the $50 you supposed"
en- Ettao'
lat 'That was part of our secret. Albe
nd would have given me the money, but
en- would not let you owe your sight to al
one save me. So he took my cross al
he sold it for s700 here in New York; ii
srt man who bought it agreed to keep it f
le, a time for me, and to-day Albert told n
ID, he could get 1t again"
its shall always think the cross had ne
of er been out of Albert's possession, oil
or he was too delicate to give it again
8, Eta. But he was in New York on
ed wedding tour, about to sail to Euror
is aud he gave his cousin the opportuni
to redeem the heirloom.
TX. NV wife wears the pearl cross whe
W. ever she is in gala dress, and never 8