South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1878-05-31

Ancn seeing me, l am sure be made
some awkward explanation about
money investments. but Eta grew
very silent, and soon after I heard a
pencil over paper. Albert was writing.
"A lew minutes later he left the room,
ana very soon Eta asked me to excuse
her Tor a moment, and followed him. 1
CROPPED my way to the table, where 1
was sure | bad heard Albert writing
Nothing there. felt about till q small
piece OF paper was found close beside
Etta's chair. She had trusted to nv
blindness for its remaining und;scoy-
cred.
l was half mad with jealous pain, and
somehow got to Mr.. Raymond's study
VIII you read that to me?" asked.
without other answer he read:
u must speak to you. Will wait in
the summer-house."
THANK your said.
What is it?" he asked.
The wrong note. / will End the 9th.
cr."
went away then to the summer
house, softly as thief, guarding nv
steps on the frozen ground. They were
there, and could hear Alberts voice.
AS l came near heard Eta say, ..Ah.
Albert, l will love you all nv life for
this J"
She was crying too 1 could tell that
by her broken voice.
turned away and went home. It
was cold day, and was utterly miser.
able. Aunt llilda insisted upon nurs-
ing me. and | 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 SO
long. l 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 me. She was the light Of my
lie. 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. / had no
courage to tell her suspected her Sec
ret, and only in my lonely hours did l
dwell upon the remembrance Of Albert's
visit.
The long winter wore away, the early
spring was gone, and when May bios.
SONS were bursting Eta came one morn
ing to see me.
do you remember Doctor Sander.
SOM" she asked
Your cousins friend?"
Yes. He is a great oculist."
My heart seemed 70 stand still.
lie came from New York solely to
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 possible?'
lie thinks it more than possible. If
you improve in strength as you have.
done all the winter, ne was certain he
could successfully operate this month
could not speak. Very gently Eta
told me of her cousins Kindness. He
had gone to the city solely to find this
doctor. who was no more his friend than
he was the friend Of any other patient.
He had brought him TO see me, and then
burdened my Eta with his secret in~
structions. Even Mr.. Raymond and
Aunt IIilda were ignorant. of this loving
conspiracy.
1t Inundated me to think Of the part
had taken, the unworthy construction l
had placed upon Etta's outburst of graft.
tude. But she should never know had
doubted her, even for an hour.
Tell me- said, when this doctor
will come again
He is here, waiting to see YOU
lie came in soon after, and there was
no reluctance then in my answers TO his
searching questions. lie examined nv
eyes closely, and gave me promise of
sight in less than two months.
And he kept his word After the
operation he gave strict directions for
bandaging and confinement in a dark
room, till, at the end OF six long weeks.
he came again. and let me see once
more the blessed day light and Etta's
face.
From that hour | gainel hope and
courage again, ard when my eyes were
perfectly restored returned TO New York.
| was expressly forbidden to resume nv
old duties, but the firm gave me n
position as salesman and good SAL
airy.
Eta waited another year for me. wher
my great uncle left me a legacy that en-.
abled me to marry, having sure in
come.
II was not until we had been married
over year that Eta asked me one day
II l could spare her seven hundred dol.
lars.
Certainly replied.
DO you wonder what / want OF so
much money!? she asked.
/ did wonder, for VIC had no &C.
crets in our life, and my wife usually
told me where she spent her money.
Il will tell you she said. Il want TO !
buy back my pearl cross.
'You sold tbatP cried. L thought !
you valued that above all your possess
ions |"
But not above your eyesightl DIR. |
Sanderson was paid $500 for the opera.
ton, not the $50 you supposed.
Eta
That was part Of our secret, Albert