The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-12-25


him, he was so strong, so full of life and
| the JOYS of life lie came here to get
away from the world and his friends,
but the loneliness is terrible"
| She talked as one pleased to have a
| listener, and Nell looked so fair and
| sympathetic.
You will not object to giving him at
{ least one hour, occasionally. if he de-
sires your company, will you? know
! it is a great favor to ask, but anything
! to amuse and interest him, will do. "
| 1t will be pleasure to me-" said
| the girl earnestly.
| Mr.. Chichester welcomed her with q
smile.
''1ou have come to cheer the ogre's
loneliness again. have you, little friend?
What is your name? Oh. YES, Nell. l
may call You HELL, may l not?"
Certainly, sir" and Mrs. Lanel
nodded approval.
Then come sit near me Nell, and
read in this book if you are not tired"
| So she settled herself in low chair
near him, while Mrs. Lanel took seat
| by the front window.
She read a while, and then Mr.. Chi
chester asked her some questions about
her school-studies. and finally began to
tell her of places and people seen
abroad.
I'm not over thirty myself, Nell, and
before this terrible darkness fell on me,
/ loved life as ardently as any one
could"
He was good talker, and Nell felt
that in listening to him, she was repaid
for her kindness.
The ladies of the village called on
Mrs. Lanel, but none of them except
Mrs. Blakesly, Nell's mother, saw the
master of the house.
She was good woman and not Civ
en- to ambitious dreams, but she could
not help looking forward to the future,
and thinking how this acquaintance be-
tween her young daughter and Edward
Chichester might end should his sight
be restored.
1t was a summer never to be forgot
ten by Nell Blakesly. From being one
OF the widest, most daring girls in the
school, she became one of the quietest.
The girls teased her good deal,
but she only laughed good-humoredly
at it.
Early in autumn the doctors ordered
MIR. Chichester abroad. He would
spend the winter in Italy and go on to
Paris in the spring, where famous oc-
ulist had promised to try his skill on
his eyes.
Il wish I could adopt you and take
you with me, Nell.''
''Wait till next year, and you can
come back for her, Edward, said his
aunt.
Yes, if the doctors do me any good,
and even if they do not, feel that you
ought to belong to me now. How old
are you, Nell?f
She blushed scarlet, and looked ap-
pealingly at Mrs. Lanel.
"She is seventeen, Edward
Seventeen" he cried in astonish-
ment. why, thought her child of
twelve or thirteen"
He became silent, and, after waiting
a little, the girl approached him.
You are not angry, sir, because 1
did not tell you?"
Angry, sweet friend, no; but must
adjust myself to the new condition of
things. L must plan a different fu-
ture."
He stretched out his hand grasping-
ly, and Nell laid hers in it. He car
ried the slender fingers to his lips.
Can | ever repay you, Nell?"
''Oh, sir, you have more than repaid
me already" she said, her tears fall
ing. They were tears of pity for him,
and tears of grief for herself There
was dreadful pain at her heart, and
che felt almost frightened at the CLEAN
Of the future. What should she do
when her occupation was gone?
The Ogre's Castle looked very desc
late when he went away. and Nell oft
en- paused at the gate to look in. and to
sigh for.the time when the ogre would
return.
1t was just year from the time he
went away till he came back. Nell
saw the carriage coming up the street,
and ran to the window. but its closed
windows made her heart sink. Alas!
he came back as he went-blind.
The girl had developed wonderfully
in body and mind that year. Her
schoOl-days were over now, and she
might have had lovers in plenty. but
her true heart remained faithful to that
friend SO far away. And it did not fall
ter now when her hopes were crushed.
In the evening Mrs. Lanel came after
her, and without question she hasten.
ed to make ready for the visit. She put
OH her prettiest white dress, and fast
9ned roses in her hair, Just as though
he would see her.
at is a foolish whim, but | cannot
1elp it,"
She could not trust herself to ask
how he bore the disappointment of not
having his sight restored, and Mrs.
Lanel, for once, did not mention his
In, ch OH llsar,l lNr ci-
lent on the subject, and ushering Nell
into the parlor, went away.
A lamp burned softly on the table,
and there in the armchair sat Mr.. Chi
chester, his head bent down, a bandage
the girl advanced towards him.
MIR. Chichester.
'.Nellr'
He raised his head and stretched out
his hands to her.
.'Oh, sir, l am SO glad to see you
againr'
.Ah, Nell, it has been the strongest
desire of my life to see, now for year!
Come closer; let me put my hand on
your head"
She knelt down before him, and he
passed his hand slowly, caressingly
over her head.
"You are not a schoolgirl now. You
will not care to read or talk to the ogre
any more"
His helpnessness put her shyness to
flight.
Il will always care to be of service
to you, sir"
''Would You be willing to sacrifice
your life for the pleasure of blind
man-waste your youth in attending to
the whims and idle fancies?'
ut would not be wasted" she said
in a low firm tone,
"Will you be my wife, Nella"
''Yes sir" unhesitatingly.
From pity; all yesn'
mo, sir.
''Nell, my love, my darling, kiss me!
All, there is, after all, some cOmpensa-
ton in being blind" he said, as he
| folded her tn his breast