The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-04-03

1
| uounCement such as / had never before felt
| from any cause. i registered n VOW then and
there that would devote my life to caring for
her and making her happy. Like her, was
| entirely alone in the world, and had no claims
| upon me that would interfere with carrying
out my resolve / engaged the doctor to attend
20 her as long as she needed medical assistance,
aud, taking Mrs. Olesen with me, won't TO a
houSe-tnrnishing store, and procured whatever
was necessary 10 tit up another room IN the
house with comfort, even elegance. Mrs. Ole
sen entered heartily into my scheme, aud Ma
rvs own mother could not have felt q deeper
interest than was manifested by the tender
hearted Norwegian woman.
" For weeks Mary lay PROSTATE with q fever
resulting from the terrible shock to her system.
Mrs 0lcsen attended her with untiring care,
aud as she began 70 recover was admitted to
the room for gradually lengthening periods each
evening 60 read aloud TO her. Tho doctor was
sure that this relief 10 the todium Of her Soi-
tary confinement would help toward her re-
covery. She expressed boundloSs gratitude to
me for this, and / soon found that the main
interest of the day conferred upon this occupa-
ton for the evening. Lumber aud-lath trans
actions became of small consequence alongside
oil the selection of something 20 read that would
specially interest Der, and the business hours
formerly all too short for what | wanted 10 &C
complish-now dragged wearisomey until /
could be released to so TO her bedside.
" As her strength OF mind aud body returned,
she began 60 realize the extent of her misfortune
and be overwhelmed with distress at her obi
cation la mere strangers.
"One raw evening, early in December, l
found her upon my entrance sObbing violently.
For long time she refused to tell me the
reason. At last she yielded to my entrcaties.'
The doctor" she said. has told me to-day
that must remain here a burden upon your
kindness for weeks yet. He says that if l
leave this room before that time it will be at
the peril of my life, hut / feel tIat / would
rather dare all tho danger than TO remain, but
Mrs. Oiesen has said, when i insisted to-day on
going. that she had all my clothes locked up,
aud not thing would she give me to put on
until you said that you were willing TO have
me 90"
Those were my instructions TO her" said
gravely. But why aro you so anxious to goy
- l must 90, she sobbod. cannot consent
to be burden upon strangers any longer. ]
have already received thousaudtold moro
from you than can ever repay"
" Nonsense / said. ave are very glad to
have you with US. I've never done anything
in my life that has given me so much pleasure
as taking care Of yOu7that is, as little of the
taking care as ] have been allowed to do"
20. know ALL" she broke in. Mrs. Ole
sen has told me how you have furnished this
room for me, and provided everything that has
made my sickness endurablo. How good aud
uohle you are"
"More nonsense" said angrily. "Mrs OLE
sen talks entirely too much | repeat that you
are not under the slightest obligations to me,
but tho contrary. You have given me rare
happiness in allowing mo TO feel that ! was of
real use 20 some other human being than my
unsatisfactory self. / want to continue that
happiness"
81 must 60" she reiterated. 81 can not
stay here another week. You will not be so
cruel as 10 oblige me TO-"
Where in the world will you goP" asked.
You have no relatives here or anywhere.
You do not even know anybody"
" I've heard that there are institutions where
they take care of blind people. / can go
there"
=" Indeed you shall not. shall not permit
it."
You viii not7" she asked In astonishment
May ask what right you have TO stop mo ,"
Two sufficient rights" answered. 1.-THE
first is that ms | saved your life on the night OF
the fire ! think ] gained some rights In you,
inasmach as no one else has any. The next IL,
that love you. and will marry you IL you
viii have me, aud do not propose 10 let my
intended vito become the inmate Of public
institution"
80 You marry met" she repeated. 10 astouish.
mcnt. You young successful business man
-yon see. Mrs. OlesPn has told me all about
=
burden to you as long AS she liVesf No. it is
impossible"
1t is possible,"I said at Is even more
than possible, it is actually so. Listen: We
are on an equality so far affi iction goes. The
gArrnlous Mrs. OLSEN must have told yon in
the course Of her condolences, that Am terribly
disiigured. SO that / dare not willingly take my
hldeous face among women. Give me your
hand. There. you can feel the scar made by
the strong armed rebels saber. Now you know
| alt IL you will take a manned soldier for your
husband, i shall be more than happy to take
| siEhtless girl-but one whom ] would not ex-
change for peerless beauty--for my wife, aud
J think ! should be an immense gamer by the
| Transaction"
she gave me her hand. which / covered
/ with kisses. did not read any that evening
| but sat and talked with my ueRly-gained
treasure until Mrs. Olcscn came in aud die
missed the 10 prepare Mary for the night.
\ week later We were married, aud as soon
/ as Mary Was able to travel / sent her of 10
/ Florida, with Mrs. OLSEN as a nurse aud com
| panion. 10 remain mill her health was entirely
restored. Every day during the long Winter
aud tardy Spring | received loving message
| from her, written in Mrs Olesen's Gothic an
guiar penmanshp aud fall OF that worthy
| woman's futile attempts to master the dilicai-
| ties OF our Orthography, in which sho gave
cheering accounts 81 her rapid restoration to
HtatsAAS ott1 bSeEI2 40 40 hiio8Lu 10 GOiut b4t&
10 me. But did not dare trust her 10 our
churIish weather until May was we'll advanced.
| and then she came by the next train after the
enc which carried my letter OF recall
In the meanwhile had bought this house
| and furnished 10 ready for her reception. On
| the day she was 20 arrive WAS waiting AZ the
train an hour before it was time for it to pull
ia. My eager eyes caught sight of her among
The crowd Of passengers, leaning on Mrs
Oiesen's arm. low lovely she oOkcdl ! had
never seen her equal among all the women
upon whom my eyes had rested. Her eyes
were shaded by colored glasses. which, however
did not .detract from her beauty. We drove al
once 90 the house aud l formally installed her
as mistress 0f our home. After the first bursl
Of raptnr0us excitement was over and we had
seated ourselves ia our siGting.room for a chat
! was amazed 10 see her pull off her gasses aud
deliberately gcrutinize my face.
why did you Gb 50 outrage0usly TO inc
about your being 80 terribly dis1gured2" she
said at length. % think you arc the hand.
soInest man ever met, a. well as the dearest
aud BOblest"
4" That's because you cannot eco me, dear" !
answered.
" But / can sec you, sir. can see just a.
well as you or anybody else, I'd have you
know. ] met a celebrated Gculist in Jackson.
vile. who took much interest ia my case
did not dare tell you a word of it, because wa
50 excited that feared might arouse hone,
I fE.s ,.otttd and e, hitter