The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1886-02-11
with that soft, lovely light still on her

face.
am foolish old woman, know but
| caught. myself hoping he was not too
blind to see it.
"Miss verinder, will you not let me
get you some tea?" broke in the Cam
bridge man, Mr.. Hoare, as l found out
his name was. He had been watching
che changes in-the girls face all through
the singing.
Well, he was old enough to be her
father, and he was grave and odd-looking
beside, while she was the sweetest, fresh
est bit of maidenhood. Young even for
her twenty years. And get somehow
these two, Mr.. Gorst and Alice Verinder,
were drawn to each other that very first
night, think Perhaps il was Jack, per-
haps it was the music, or that the child's
sweet womanly heart was moved to pity
the lonely afflicted man. She was so
watchfuI of him at meal times, would try
in her pretty way to interest him, to drive
the shadows from his face; would pay
him. such sweet deferefce. He was al
ways quiet, always silent and reserved.
1t did not seem to me he took much no.
tice of what would have raised young
man to the seventh heaven Of happiness.
l came on them one morning out amongst
the fowers-he walking up and down
slowly and carefully, as an almost blind
man does, she springing out in her joyous
way, fresh as the morning itself, in a
dark blue gown all ruffled with embroidery
a wide hat shading her sweet face, the sun
light on the mass of crisp hair beneath
They said "good morning" to each other,
and then she spoke to the dog
Between her two admirers, Miss Yer
inder ought to have acquired much use
ful information during that sweet summer
holiday. Young Hoare took possession
of her at once. hear her blithe laugh
as she answered some remark OF his. They
made handsome couple, thought she
so fair and slim, he so tall and dark and
broad shouldered, and both with that
wonderful light of youth on their faces
{" He is handsome fellow" Mr.. Gorst
said, and | knew he had OWNED my
thought; he was wonderfully sharp, for
all his blindness.
scarcely knew how long had been
writing. 1t was a letter to dear old
friend of mine, and l had for little
while forgotten my surroundings, when
Mrs. Colquhoun's wearisolne voice forced
itself upon my attention.
She had exhausted her newspaper, and
Mrs. Verinder having just come in, she
had thrilling piece of gossip to unfold
to her.
"Quite shocking Mrs. Verinder! l was
SO frightened | could not sleep again. Mr..
Gorst, you know he came down the cor
ridor last night perfectly drunk, stumb-
ling over everything. He tried to burst
into my room, but fortunately | always
keep the door locked and he felt about
his room and talked to himself half the
night. Quite shocking, is it not? These
professional sort of people are always un-
steady, and being blind seems to make it
so much worse. Really, Mrs. Verinder,
don't you think we ladies' ought to take
some steps to show what we think of
such conduct?''
Mrs. Verinder made some feeble sound
of horror. | was too petrified to say any
thing.
If this was a story, it was rather a
worse one than usual; if it was true
But what was this indignant young
figure that started up from my side?
&C 1t is not true, mother-I am sure it is
not true. Oh, it is shame to tell such
stories Of any one! Mr.. Gorst is gen
tleman; he would scorn to do such
things. Oh, it is cruel! People ought
to spare him at least"
The child looked transformed, her
cheeks blazing, her brown eyes spark
ling.
"Alice, Alice - said her mother.
1t is the injustice of it, mother-that
is what mind"
Mrs. Colquhoun was strengthening her
spectacles and looking up at the indig-
nant girl with malicious smile.
knew what story she would make
of this, and, though l could not but adj
mire Alice's generous championship,
felt sorry she should have drawn this
woman's unscrupulous tongue upon her.
She was still standing there with her
tall young figure drawn up, and her
scornful face, and Mrs. Colquhoun had
just opened her lips for crushing retort,
when behold standing among US Mr..
Gorst himself, perfectly calm and un-
moved to all outward appearance.
Had a thunderbolt fallen among us we
| cOuiu not nave lOOkcu more dSCOniSucu
Mrs. Colquhoun's face flushed crimson, as
well it might, Poor, pretty Alice grew
snow white, and all the fire went out of
her eyes
"I cannot thank you sufficiently, Miss
Vernder," he said, "for taking the
trouble to defend me. Pray let me apollo
gize," he went on then to Mrs. Colqu-
houn, for having unintentionally heard
so much about myself. Twas writing let
tiers in the other bay, and had no inten-
tion of listening, when my own name
caught my ear. 1t is fnlfillment of the
old proverb; but have no doubt you
will be greatly pleased to hear you have
made most unfortunate mistake. My
room was changed last night; the gas
was not lit; my luggage was all about
the middle of The floor. In my halt or
three-quarters blind condition, certainly
did stumble good deal about, and had
also to speak good deal to my dog
through the night; he is always restless
in strange quarters As for being drunk,
have been water drinker all my life. l
must express my great regret for having
so disturbed your rest, but | am sure your
distress of mind last night must be more
than compensated this morning by your
relief at finding out l am not such de-
PRAYED character as you had feared"