Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-04-20

Answer me. Is there some one else ?''
he asks.
She hesitates for a moment, then her
answer comes, soft and tender: ayes, Dick,
there is some one else" And then turns
walks quickly away.
And | sit in the summer house as though
turned to stone. Outside | hear Dick s
sobs. He is only boy, after all.
Next morning uncle Robert tells us
Dick has gone to India, without word OF
farewell to me. He had hidden the boys
good-by the night before.
Kathleen starts out for her ride alone
and chooses Eclipse" the widest of my
uncle's horses; on her return he lectures
her mildly upon her daring habits.
"Oh ! nonsense! Uncle Bob; l am al.
ways quite safe, besides" with slight
culver in her vote, "what does it matter il
| do break my neck ?"
Then suddenly laughing, she sings:
II care for nobody
Nobody cares for me-
"Ah child" replies my uncle, "you dc
not know"
Something in his voice causes me to
look up in wonder. Kathleen's eyes drooI
before his, and the warm crimson blood
mounts to cheek and brow, to the sweet
round chin, and tinges the pretty ears and
throat. She stands for a moment, and
then, with nervous little laugh, leaves
the room.
Uncle Robert signs deeply, and sits with
his head resting upon his hand.
"Oh uncle! not you," / cry, "surely not
you" He turned to me with start. SIS
it you, little woman?"
Eyes, uncle; and you are keeping a
secret from your little woman"
Minnie, you are witch, and so you
have guessed it! 1t is rather foolish for an
old fogy like me, isn't it, to love beau
tiful girl, young enough to be my daugh-
ter? What does my wise little woman
think OF Itch, Minnie?"
You are not an old fogy," l reply; 'but
as handsome and grand as any king; and
she is not half beautiful nor good enough
for you"
Uncle Robert pats my cheek and laughs
"The world does not think as you do, pet,
and, even if it did, l could never hope to
win her."
"And why not pray ?" l asked, indig-
nautly.
'In the first place, Kathleen is an or
phan, an heiress, and under my projections
and another, and equally good reason, is
she could never love met would be i'm,
possible"
"Uncle Robert" 1 reply, ~ don't know
what makes me think so, but do think
and am sure, Kathleen loves you"
A look of Joy flashes his face for an in
slant. would to God it were so, Minnie
but fear not"
Nothing further was said, and in the
course of week the boys start off to col.
lege. And then comes an invitation for
kathleen to pay visit to Ireland
which she accepts. So and Uncle Robert
are left alone.
1t is a beautiful sunshiny morning. l
am standing at the window and watch
Uncle Robert as he rides away on Eclipse,
looking so grand and noble Kathleen
has been away now nearly month, and /
feel the big house lonely and deserted
without her. Uncle Robert, too, misses
her. | watch him in the evenings, sitting
thinking, and know in my heart he is
longing to hear the sweet voice of his
ward.
/ take up book and become deeply in
terested. | may have read an hour or
more, when old Stevens, the butler,
rushes into the room, with a face pale as
death. ooh, Miss Minnie! My poor
master p
/ spring to my feet in an instant.
"What is it? Speak quick" ask, but he
only beckons me to follow. l do SO, and
in tho ha1 COO cop,a tbraa ~ fo,,r 49,.
who bear between them my uncle, pale
and motlonless.
"What has happened? Is he dead ?"
cry. ooh, Uncle Robert; dearest uncle,
speak to me-"
One of the men touched my arm.
flush, miss; he is not dead, but mighty
near it. The only chance he has now is
to get him into bed as soon as possible.
The doctor has already been sent for"
''But how did it happen% ask.
His horse threw him." replied the man.
In short time the doctor arrives and ex-
amines Uncle Robert, who still lies in a
heavy stupor. He orders the room kept
dark and quiet. vainly beg to be al
lowed to nurse him. But the doctor
gravely shakes his head. sMy dear
young lady, this case requires skillful
nursing. | cannot quite tell lust how
severe the injury may be, but your uncle
must have couple of trained nurses"
The next morning the doctor meets
me with smiling face. ''We had all
our fears for nothing, Miss Minnie Your
uncle is as well as ever he was in his
life; he has come out of the stupor, and
remembers everything"
The relief is so great, after the terri
bic suspense l have endured, 1 burst into
tears of joy.
''Oh doctor, may 60 to him ?" / ask.
"Yes, certainly" he replies, .only don't
talk too much and tire him."
With that advice l am off to Uncle
Roberts room, which l enter softly.
bend over the pillow and kiss his fore
head. "Uncle, dear, l have had such a
fright, and am so glad you are better"
Yes, little woman, | am quite well
again, but it was nasty fall Eclipse
gave me. The doctor has ordered me to
lay still for a couple of hours. When it
gets little lighter / will dress"
Lighter ?" | repeat, ewhy, uncle, it is
broad daylight. Seeg" / raise the heavy
curtains, and the light floods the room.
liz passes HIS hdIu quickly over MS
eyes. Strange, but l can see nothing but
total darkness"
With shuddering sense of fear and
horror. turn back to the bed "Uncle,
Uncler' | cry, at cannot be. Oh dear,
merciful Godl Not that; anything, any
thing but thatw
My uncle's hand rests upon my head.
"Hush, Minnie, little woman. Remem-
Der, HIS will be DONE"
at cannot be- | sob. at must not be.
What have you ever done to be punished
SO cruellyg'
Uncle Robert shakes his head sadly. at
is His will, child. He knows best"
And so, when the doctor returns, he pro-
nounces Uncle Robert blind-hopelessly
blind. From the jar of the fall, he ex-
planned. The cord of the sight gave
away, and my uncle's beautiful kind eyes,