The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1881-12-03

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bass tones. he. disappeared. Inc gEl
rose to her feet with kindling cheeks
and an angry light in her blue eyes
II soon't come to it, she said, ener-
getically. al hate hard things. I'm
always the worse for 'em. Why can I
have good times, m why did you nave
to be blind, Nathan%
She went over to him impulslveiy
where he stood by the window, with the
silver cornet in his hand.
"Neyer mind what father says,
Louise. He only meant that there
the making of grand woman In you
Don't talk that way. It's more on your
account than anything else that want
my sight" =.
His voice trembled and lowered lit
tie in these last words, and Mrs. Skeele,
from her vantage ground behind the
coffee-pot, where she was leisurely end
ing her breakfast, looked at the two
sharply. LIZ,
" hope he don't banker after that
fiutter-budget," she said to herself,
with much inward trepidation. g BE
Just like her to lead him on N make a
fool of him, n then fly off in a tangent.
o dear. what simpletons young folks be!
But L must have charity. Wal. wal, !"
she calculated aloud, pushing back her
chair, "there' the second bell, children.
You don't want to take Nathan along
to meetin', do you, LoezeP You know
father had to hurry off. He can go
alone wal enough, but | ruther hate to
have him in the Storm a
Louise did not answer at first. She
stood irresolute, with variety of ex-
pressions fitting over her fair face. At
length she stamped her little foot in
sudden determination, and gathering
her wraps about her, said in petulant
tone, "No, l can't, Mrs. Skeele. II
don want to. l amt your kind. He
thinks amt good enough for him.
and in moment she had left the house
and stood in the midst of the fast in
creasing storm. But sscme new infu-
ence was at work in the undisplined
heart. She had now reached
the postoffice, and very much to her
own amazement she walked in, and see
ing the clerk preparing to close the
door, went close to him and said, with
downcast eyes: ...
" Mr.. Renfrew, won't you look in the
box m take out letter put in there
a little while agoP 1t was directed to
to Mr.. Jack Huntington, m l want it
again" l-..
&c You don't say! Wal now! l am
glad of it, child" said the clerk, look
ing at her in fatherly way over his
spectacles. There's no good comes
O writin' to fellers like him, m l
wouldn' do it # was you. | do know
what your mother'r thinkin' of to let
ye."
" 1t amt mothers fault" answered
Louise, pocketing her letter with Grim
son face, " she'd feel dreadfully if she
knew it. But you needn't worry,
Mr.. Renfrew, I'll never write to him
again" .. .H
She stood in the sheltered entrance
and looked back at the Skeele house.
The blind man was just issuing from the
gate, guided by his mother. Having
seen him safe to the sidewalk she gave
him little loving pat on the shoulder
and went back to the doorstep to sweep
off the gathering snow. The church
was not two streets distant, and Nathan,
with the help of his stick, could easily
lind his way. 1t was two years now
since his, sight had failed, and sent the.
ambitious young scholar home to mac
tivity and darkness. At first the blow
had stunned him, and then came open
rebellion, but out of the great calamity
he finally emerged into absolute acqui-
escence.
But within the last six months a new
cloud had crepti into his narrow horizon.
Louise Raymond had been his school
mate in the academy, and after his mis-
fortune had come every day to read to
him.
81 wish she had never come" he said,
as with a pathetic hesitation he CROPPED
his way down the hill. "What business
have to love any girlP rmnot a man
to protect her, as Heaven knows |
would if 1 could. Louise ought to have
a strong man to love her n take care
of her. My poor little Lu. She's get
ting into dangerous ways, Pm afraid. l
don't like her going with that Jack
Huntington, m the village folks begin
to talk about her. But what can do?
If could see. 1 believe l could make
her care for me, m oh, what a queen
she should be! But now she mustn't
suspect that love her. l should only
drag her down. She needs more than
| can give her, N. l have no right to
think of marriage. o, it is hard when
| might save herp' n.
The hating steps drew near the post
office, when suddenly his beloved cor
net slipped from its bag under his arm
and rolled down the snow covered walk.
He stopped in dismay, and began TO
grope aimlessly and vainly about him.
At that moment a voice close by said
breathlessly, "Here it is Nathan; I'm
real sorry was so mean to you. Will
you let me help you the rest of the
way?" Ir...4..
A little warm hand clasped his arm,
and the trembling voice went on:
81 don't know what makes me, Ma
than, but l want to tell you something.
I've been a silly girl, and oh, should
think you'd be glad you couldn't see
me, for I've been fooling with Jack
Huntington, m writing him letters,
and everything. There! But I've got
through with him." she continued.
land I'm so ashamed. didn't mean
to be mad at you, I'm truly sorry.n
Her hand on his arm unconsciously
emphasized the astonishing worde onJ