Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1889-04-04
"No. No. she will soon come"


woman. The blind man stopped her.
II was not able 70 watch over my
daughter he said. This is misfortune
for which We are not responsible. l can
not challenge this man. who would have
only contempt for my impotens rage, but
tell her. if you know where she is, that |
forbid her to enter my house. Hence
forth let me never hear her name"
His orders was obeyed. Paralysis
seized him, other infirmities followed, his
sight became more dim. Only faint
smiles showed the happiness that he felt
at knowing that his one daughter was al
ways near him, tender and devoted.
One day some one was dying in the
blind mana house. 1t was not the old
man, who did dwell so long near the
donb, it was not the mother with her
willowy form aud her youthful face, SO
weary and sad-it was the angel, the be-
loved daughter, Lucienne, the faithful
child.
She was afflicted with a fever, and her
death was question of but few days.
The sig htless father, brok heart ted and
stunned by this last blow took to his bed.
Gloom hung over the house, enveloping it
like a Grape veil, from cellar to roof. The
doctors visits ceased. Of what avail to
make charges against these poor people,
besides science could do nothing for them.
The childs disease was fatal, and the
father would die of grief.
1t was the twilight of a winter day,
when the door-bel rang, and moment
after, a form entered the sick girls room.
1t vas Adrienne.
81 ask for you," said her sister.
eyes, thank you," she answered, press
ing her lips to the forehead of the dying
one,-"thank you!' Otherwise 1 would
never have dared to come"
"You knew that 1 would expect You,
that would call You. She was willing to
let me see YOU"
Adrienne took Lucienne's long, trans
parent fingers and held them against her
lips. Then she buried her quivering,
frightened face in her sisters fair, golden
locks-so like her own!
"Why am not I, the guilty one, in your
placer" she sobbed.
Lucienne made gesture full of ten
derness and said: "You! Oh, so good and
so faithful"
And after this, in the great silence that
neither dared te break, for fear of
destroying the charm that they felt at
being so near together, they fell into
gentle SLEEP, hand in hand, their heads
resting upon the same pillow.
care you happy?" aske the dying
girl, after they awoke.
"No."
"Has he deserted your"
"Soma day he will leave me; I have
aspired too high, while he has looked too
low. Another future calls him."
"And your"
'sOh God!"
'Ah! Adrienue, in following our own
desires, We often tear away the happiness
of those who love u.s."
"My sister!"
eyes, yes,-you are right; what is done
is done. Our fathers misfortune fell
upon us. We could never have been hap
py. Poor Adrienne! Adrienne! are you
indeed AdrIenne"
She raised her eyes, and Lucienne con-
tinued, ooh! today you are here, but
to morrow"
"To-morrow I shall come again."
eyes, Yes"
For week they saw each other every
day. Death did the N this kindness.
my mother does not love me-" said
Adrienne one day, "otherwise, she would
be here when I come"
"The poor woman is overwhelmed with
grief" answered Lucienne.
"And our father?"
"Biind, paraly zed, dying. Yesterday
he came to kiss me. We could not speak
to each other for anguish. 1 thought we
would die together here"
Adrienne felt herself seized with a
great pain. ooh! it is natural that they
should hate mel" she cried.
"No, but think of their feelings at los.
ing both of us! One must remain"
''It cannot be me-"
cit must be you"
81 do not understand"
"Think how closely we resemble each
other"
sob, $50 unworthy"
'You have never been so to me, you
shall not be so to him."
"But my motherY"
"She shall say nothing"
"And her"
"He,- cannot see."
yes, but II shall know"
! "This shall be your oross-and your
crown"
1t was day break. The blind man had
been kept awake 81 night by walking.
81 shall get up" he said to his wife, 'ahd
go tie see her"
"Get up! You cannot" sold his wife;
"besides, the doctor has told US not to
disturb her. She has been sleeping nat
uraIly for two hours"
Naturally" he cried, "then she will
recover"
"Do not rejoice too MUCH" said Mrs.
Dornoy, shut she IS certainly much bet
ter than she was yesterday"
The following day she said-"She is
improving; Courage the doctor said as
he left her."
"That meant" exclaimed the father,
"that we may hope"
Outsids of the room; the poor woman's
sobs burst forth, as she rar to the bedside
of her daughter, whose agony, sweet and
calm, had lasted since morning. She ar
rived in time to see her breathe her last
she pressed a kiss to the cold brow of
the dead girls, and then sinking down,
gave way TO her dispair.
A form came forth from behind the
great white curtain. The mother made 6
gesture of epulsion, as the young girl,
pale and sad stood before her, and said
slowly:
II am now Lucisnne."
The next day, while the church bells
tolled, and all the weeping neighbors
walked behind a white bier laden with
flowers, the blind man shut up in his
darkened room, dreamed tuat Lucienne
was cured, and that she stood before him.
SIT is oest that he should never know
of her dea.h,'' said the neighbors, who
shared In the secret.
The following Cay the blind man, feel
-, Tod ia