St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-11
EAR-SIGHTED.

am near-sighted and an old maid I am
well, no matter how old. At the age of IL
years 1 was Frustrated with the measles, and
they left me short-sighted. You fortunate
people who have good eyes know nothing of
the trials and perils of near-sighted person.
All through my girlhood was engaged in
picking up pins and needles, which proved
to be straws; bowling to people | had never
seen before, upsetting invisible cans and
baskets, and hurrying by my best friends,
never dreaming of their propinquity. shook
hands with the governor of the state once
under the impression that it was my uncle
Jefferson, and astonished him beyond mea-
sure by inquiring how Aunt Polly's rheuma-
tism was, and if she had good luck with her
last boiling of soft soap. have searched
half the day for some particular store or shop
which l had passed twenty times without be-
ing able to read the sign.
Nature had endowed me with good voice
and was needed to sing in our.choir, but,
goodness! | was so near-sighted that could
not see to read the music unless held the
book close to my eyes, and then the whole
congregation would ignore the singing, and
whisper loud enough for every one to hear
one to another-''How near-sighted Agnes
Graymond is"
l could not bear the notoriety, so | left the
choir. If | made an appointment anywhere
l was invariably an hour too late, or as much
too early because, if it had been to save the
city, Icould not have told the time by the
town clock.
Inever dared to 60 out nights-not on ac-
count CT ghosts, for / might have gone di
rectly through a ghost without ever seeing it
but because | was liable to dash my brains
out against any lamp post that happened to
stand in the way. My friends deserted me.
used to pass them blindly by, and once ran
away from my own father, thinking him a
pickpocket.
l stumbled over poor old Mr.. Blake, my
mothers most revered minister, as I was
coming down the stairs-never seeing him
until l heard the noise of his fall.
Once went into strange church, and
there being no sexton, very gravely took
my seat with the deacons, greatly to the scan
dial of the congregation. was not to blame,
The church was dark, and / certainly took
the white head of the tallest deacon for a
woman's white bonnet and veil.a
At last I fell in love. Perhaps you wonder
how ever came near enough to any man to
fall in love with him. this Thornwell Creigh-
ton was my music teacher, and had to sit
near him in order to see the notes. Mr.
Creighton was lawyer in good practice
man Of wealth and influence. AT the urgent
solicitation of my father he consented to give
me Notwithstanding result was just
what might have been anticipated. At the
end OF three weeks we were betrothed Mr..
Creighton was handsome and intelligent and
kind-hearted, but he had one terrible fault.
He was jealous. used to drive him nearly
frantic by my attentions to other men, as. he
called my lolling my head this way and that,
to find who l should speak to and who l
should ignore.
When we had been two months betrothed
Mr.. Creighton was called to New York on
business. We had very affecting parting,
and after he was gone time never dragged so
slowly. He went away on Thursday, and
would return the ensuing Wednesday.
Wednesday arrived at last. The train from
New York was due at 10 a. M, and by the
time the clock struck the hour I was in the
front hall waiting for him. | had dressed
myself with great care in his favorite colors.
He came even before l expected him.
saw him coming up the street at a rapid pace
- OpCHCu Iut uOOr 6JOOu Oh Tue IuTtSu-
Old ready to greet him. He ran up the steps
i rushed forward and threw myself into his
arms, crying out:
''Oh, | am so rejoiced to see youl' and
then | flung my arms around his neck and
kissed him. Kissed him more than once
| am afraid. He did not speak, but Rugged
me with considerable impressment. Just
then there was wild shrek from some one
OF Il ~,
and commenced beating me over the head
with market basket. The basket contained
turkey, some potatoes, lettuce, and pack
ages of tea and sugar. And about my de-
voted head they fell in lavish profusion.
'I'll learn you to kiss other women's hus-
bands in broad daylightln yelled the wom-
an, slapping me in the face with the unfor-
tunate turkey, ''hain't you satisfied with one
sweetheart that you must be a seducing of
my husband''
| looked into the face of the gentleman |
had been greeting, and goodness me, it was
an entire stranger! And, at the same mo-
ment, met the eyes of Mr.. Creighton look
ing over the strangers shoulder. He was
black as a thunder-cloudl
agnes he said, ~ have seen all
Wretched girl allow me to bid you fare
welln
''Thornellr' I cried, ooh, Thornell! it
was all a mistake l did not know this man
l am innocent-I--''
"Agnes, saw for myself" he said cold
iy. ''Good-by."
He turned and left me. apologized as
well as was able to the strange gentleman,
who proved to be the ''oil man." apologized
to his wife; went up to my chamber and had
a good cry.
have never met Mr.. Creighton since
save in company He was married to an
amiable woman, who is not near-sighted
Since then | have had offers, but have
thought best to decline. l was afraid of
another mistake with some other woman's
husband.
So | can end as l began-I am a near
sighted old maid.