The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-10-17
ALONE IN THE DARK.
Beautiful Eyes Restored to Sight by
Love and Skill.


remember, this did not happen suddenly; the
sense Of sight became ohscured by degrees.
slight mist seemed at first to vail my eyes, the
outlines Of objects became blurred and indis-
tiuct colOrs lost their vividness and blended
confusedly with each other, and was startled
nc times bV flashes OF almost intolerable bright
ness Gradually the mist deepened into twi-
light, and twilight into the blackness OF night.
was too young to realize fully the extent OF
Che calamity which had befallen me. MY
mother disliked talking abont it, and always
endeavored 10 evade my questions. Only now
and then / could hear her weeping quietly TO
herself At first was terribly frightened. /
thought in my childish mind that the sun had
departed for ever, and that eternal darkness
enveloped mankind. Gradually the truth
dawned upon me. ] only aud few other
unfortunates &c would seem, were to be ex-
eluded from the light of day. Others could
zee: for them the sun and the stars con-
tinued 10 shine; for them the leaves grew green
in Summer, aud brown and gold in Autumn,
and still the world was fair. From me, alas,
even the familiar face of my dearly-loved
mother was hidden, and she became a voice and
presence heard aud felt, indeed, but unseen.
was alone in the dark.
In imagination Z saw stretched before me the
long, melancholy vista Of my life Life under
q ban, set apart and indescribably solitary. TO
be lived through somehow amid deep gloom
until il merged at last into the proiounder
shadow of DEATH Many time / have thought
al would be better TO die at once and be done
with It.; many time j have rebelled lndlg-
nantly against my fate and shed bitter tears
over it, SO unmerited did it seem TO me, SO I'M
just
And then slowly. almost imperce9tibly,
new world began toopen out for me. mystic
rious world, full of surprises aud revelations,
of incredible things. A strange world, In
which every variation Of texture, every in
Election Of sound carried with il new and
Hrlnn n
tsismau and bearing was the Keystone OF
knowledge and over which music ruled with
indisputable sway, the sole source OF consola-
ton and delight.
The specialists who had been consulted
about my case held out little prospect of ulti-
mate recovery, but hope never entirely died
within me. Now and then faint glimmers
passed across my eyes like the first ftrations
OF light at earliest dawn; but these departed
as they came, aud left me in my accustomed
darkness. Always they brought with them
thrill Of wild delight and longing, and
were followed by the reaction Of profound
despair.
As year after year passed away and brought
no change in my condition, j grew by degrees
resigned, and even, in O half-bearted way, con-
tented with my lot.
Occasionally had relapse. / remember on
my 2lst birthday i sat before my useless
lOOkiDg-glass twisting and untwisting the long
time in my life. what / was like. Ii may seem
strange that i bad never speculated on this
before, but il was really so. Good looks and
and bad looks had. IN fact, no significance for
me. The voice only was OF importance; by
that judged character and formed my lkings
and anfipathies.
But on this particular day I felt an over
widening desire to know in what guise pre-
scented myself 10 the outer world. was faull-
lar with the shape Of my face as far as could
judge OF it from touch. Ny nose seemed
straight, my mouth small my hair soft and
abundant But these things conveyed little
tangible impression to my mind. i longed des-
peraiely TO sec myself, If only for an instant,
20 lift Tor brief second the everlasting vail Of
night which hung over me. PlaciRg my ell
bows on the table ! strained my eyes at the
glass. IeZerted all the force Of my will. Was
successfully by nerves throbbed, aud across
my eyes passed faint, CHASTITY glimmer. Ii
grew brighter brighter than ] had ever seen
il before, and then faded slowly away into
darkness.
II was sad disappointment laid my head
down on the table and flooded those useless,
signifies orbs OF mine with tears.
ny mother came in and found me weeping
What, crying, Conny2n she said with sur
prise. for ] was not often taken so: land on
your birthday. TOO! My dear child, what is
the matter1"
She sat down beside me and put her arms
round me in her motheFly. comforting way.
IT is only that i am foolish. mother and
cant resign myself 70 the inevitable. You will
laugh wbeB tell you that actually tried to
see myself-yes 70 see myself in the glass
Presumption wasn't it2 And ] cried because
i couldn't
Poor childl Poor COMFY" said my mother
kissing me. at Is very, very sad for you; but
thought you had got used to it, dear, after all
these years"
There are some things one can't Get psad IN
mother. But never mind that now I want
% bear what am like. Am beautiful pretty
simply passabe. or downright Hglyl You never
viii tel me- but Pm q to-day, and think
fits gsite time knew"
Ny child, 70 nc you viii always be beauti-
fol"
DO you know, mother. that is q most un-
Eatisfgctory snsWerg IL sounds very pretty, but
it tells me just nothing"
You vii and out all about IL, some day,
ny dear"
you are keeping II from me TO spare my feel
tnEs."
Ny mother laughed softly 10 herself
don't think anyone could call you ugly,
ConnF." she said.
And that was all could get out OF herewith
this dubious information I was Obliged 70 he
eOntented. From that time forward took IL
for granted that i was a very plain young
woman, and began 20 think IL was Just as well
] could not see my image in the glass Per-
hsps this was the very impression which nv
mother, who was a wise woman IN her wav
wished 70 convey 70 me. Plain or pretty how
ever IL mattered very little; marriage for me
was out Of the question, had / been as fair "A
Cleopatra What man but would prefer a
baDely wife with pair Of useful eyes in her
head 10 the most beautiful blind woman ia the
world.
AZ my mother declined 10 give me any def.
mite information, was compelled perforce "a
remain IN ignorance upon the interesting cues.
tlon Of my personal appearance. knew Of nc
one else whom j could consult on the subject
The dull little country town In which we lived
did not afford much material IN the way of 30.
cietg, and perhaps we had neglected 10 make
fail use OF our opportunities. Ny father. 3
medical man, had been dead many years. and
lay buried IN a crowded London cemetery
while the 200 year which we inherited on
his death, though IL suficed 10 keep Us IN de
cent comfort, was far from enabling US 10 max.
figure even in cur own Insignificant prOyin
cal circle.
With the exception of the curate, who called
iTregularly 10 look after our spiritual welfare
our only visitor was DIR. Browne a veteran
medical practitioner and an old friend q, IN,
fathers lie was the only link which con
Dected as with the outside world, aud upor
him we depended entirely for our knowledg
Of he doings. By and by even this link wa
severed; the good old doctor died, and our iso
lation became complete. His practice afte
being advertised for three months in the Lance