The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-07-12

its strength and beauty forever crippled.
lhcy lay him Oh narrow bed in c, DIVIDED
hospital. The gentle hands of Sister of
Charity dressed the terrible wounds, and as
she looks at him she murmurs, pityingly.
"Poor fellow, he is blind!"
Ninon has listened all day to the sound
OF that terrible cannonading, waited all
night i'll frightened surprise for news from
the scene OF battle-for tidings from Ar
mand de Rochcc~ur. In the morning no
word has come, and the suspense grows
more and more intolcable every moment
lark circles have appeared under the brown
eyes, and their biilliancy is all faded, gone
out IN that long night of Watching. Rest
lcssly Ninon PAGES The long salon. EinaiIv
sudden impulse sciZcs her. 81 will 20
and find him."
1t was long and weary search. They
direct her from one place to another. The
streets are filled with Il hurrying, eager
crowd, each intent upon his own affairs.
! ana IL Is long before she can lind any one
who can tell her where to look for him
AL last they direct her to the hospital where
ne IS lying NinOn passes between the
long rows OF beds, sees the suffering faces
OF the men that fill them, listens to the
groahs OF the suffering and dying, and the
tears I'LL her eyes and roll down upon her
blanchng checks. cit is too much for
madame to Witness" suggests Young sur
geon. "No, no; if they must suffer il.
why should Inot sec it," and the spoilcd
Child of luxury braces up her nerves and
goes on 20 meet the sorrow that lies before
her.
She finds him at last. AS she approaches
his bedside she trcmblcs. She looks at thc
whlte oandages that lie upon his eyes and
SHOULDERS. Then she speaks to him, and
inc glad smile that fits across his lips re-
assures her. His single hand goes out to
meet hcrs, and he tries to speak. A warn
Ing gesture from the nurse attracts Ninon's
attention, and she whispers, ''Do not talk,
Armand, you must get we'll first /"
From an old soldier who watched over
nm Ninon learned the history of the sortic.
AS she listened to the story of how bravrlv
the young soldier bore himself on thot
dreadful day, and how he fell when, goadcd
TO tury by the dcscrtion of his men. he
rushed forward alone upon the Prussion
line, Nlnon's heart swells with a new and
sweet emotion. The lovely mouth wears
It's happlcst smile. There is a look of new
y found happiness in the brown eyes. Sud
denly they fill with tears, and the little Inns
murmur softly, 81 have found him.
the prince" '
Then the Sister of Charity comes and
Whispers gently and pityingly, "Madamc,
he will be blind"
All the horror contained in that dreadful
sentence sinks into Nnon's soul, and viii,
voice whose uttcrance is chok cd with sobs
youI' ~'' "''p
Then she lifts her tear stained face, lit up
and looking at tic sympathetic countenancc
OF the poor sister, whispers, ''Hc shall see
with my eyes"
The sister looks into the depths of the
lovely eyes raised to hers and thinks, Gle
is not so much to be pitied, the brave man" "
Through long nights of fever and days of
weary restlessness Ninon watches by her
lovers side. Strength returns to the Grip
pied body, but the sorrowful eyes wear al
ways that helpless, vacant expression pccu-
liar to the blind, and the strong right arm
is represented only by an empty sleeve.
He is not forbidden to speak now; and
one day as lie hears Ninon's footstcp by his
bedside, and the soft rustic of her dress as
she bends over him, he says, "You are al
ways with me, Ninon, arc you not, or do
dream il 2"
81 am always with you, Armand"
'What brings you herc2"
sBccausc love you, dear"
Hovc mcY-but am a cripple and
blind"
eyes, Armand. Your right arm and
your eyes you have given to France. Will
you give the rest to mc2''
"Ninon!" and the left arm, the only one
he has, draws her quickly and passionately
to his side. Her soft breath plays against
his check, and as his lips NEE, hers she
whispers, "Armand, my prince, | love
YOU"