The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1890-04-16
BLIND.

All uIiS was oppTSSscu b1 Cnu'
overpowering heat which often pre-
cedes July storm. Low rumb.
lings of thunder, like the distant
roaring of a lion in the desert, kept
coming nearer, until the storm
clouds broke with the sharp crash.
ing noise of splitting planks.
The next minute large rain drops
began to pelt the faces of the pass
ers, and to speckle with gray drops
the dusty granite of the sidewalks
A pretty brunette about twenty
years old, overtaken by the unex-
pected shower, FASTENED to seek re
lage in Il hospitablc door way.
Her clothing was not such as
could be very seriously injured by
the inAeinent weather; indeed hel
attire was ,extremcly simple, and in,
dicative of the strictest possible
economy. a plaaA dress of black
merino, well fitted and tastefully
made, and straw hat trimmed with
poppies, showed her to be one .ot
those little sewing girls whose hon.
est poverty obliges them to make
there own clothes. Martha Dufiou
such was the young girls name, was
pink of neatness, from her bore
white hands to her carefully polished
low shoes.
1t was only ten o'clock at night
aud the street was almost deserted
a young man came lIurrying along
and :&athough he had an umbrella
he ran fog shelter from the rain tC
the doorway where Martha stood
He was SO absorbed in watching the
progress of the hhaRder, storm thai
he had hardly netieed tie girl wher
Il dazzling flash of lighting, Gpllowed
Immediately by a terrible peal o
thunder, Illuminated the street, .and
at the same instant u shrill cry rang
through tho air.
"Merciful Heaven!" exclaimed the
young girl, 81 cannot see-it is al
dark-the lightning has burnt my
eyes-I am blindT'
Instances of this kind, though
comparatively rare, arc by no means
unknown in The history of medicine
sudden blindness caused by stroke
OF tightening is sometimes curable
bu4 sShen it results from paralysi,
of the optic nerve there is but little
chance OF fFecovery.
a food ,of 4.aars followed the sighs
and means of kAe terrified girl as
she reflected that she could no long.
er earn her living. SHE could not
even find her way hone without
help-what was to become af her
must she beg her breadq
Bertrand Camusard was youag
elsrk, and being accustomed to the
d1ssspations of Paris, was ever
or the watch for u trick. When
Therefore, the young girl bemoaned
her i''etc, he looked at her curiously
Her zee was not in the least dis
figured, the large dark eyes shone
brilliantly, slight flush relieved
the whitene. IS OF her skin, and hel
features were small and regular
she was very pl city, he found.
ais there no one to help me2' she
said, piteously, extending her band
"Do not cry; Mad emoiselle," an
swered Bertrand in oothing tone
81 will take you home u $ if / were
your dog"
"Oh, thank you SIR"
"Where do you liver"
VAT l26 Lacondamine street"
"That is close to my house," said
Bertrand to himself, and then lie add,
ed aloud, "the rain has stopped, will
you take my arm?"
As they walked, the young man
looked at his fair charge in surprise;
if she was acting part she was do.
ing it to perfection. Leaning on
his arm, in a charmingly confding
way, she told him that she was an
orphan, that she had lately arrived
from the country with no baggage
excepting n letter of rccommenda.
ton to large establishment where
she had received employment.
Her listener paid but little heed tc
her recital and made few jesting
remarks about the whitenes of hel
dimpled hands, and the becoming
ness of her costume, for he was firm
ly convinced that the girl was try