Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-10-22
.Rut Kate is not Wanda!,,

Tears she could not repress.
1T seems but the other day." he con-
tinued, fretfully, that good old Bladon
brought me to Glastonbury. The physi-
clan had said that change of scene
would do me good--fancy change of
scene for a blind man, Wanda-and I
cared not where 1 went, for all places
were the same to me. But the smell of
the pines was pleasant, and felt the
presence of the river. Little did think
that there was in store for me such a
year of happiness as 1 have enjoyed.
What a lucky day it was for me when
Harry Evesham found me laundering
along in my poor, helpless way right in
front of a runaway horse and took me
to his home. Then how generously
Mrs. Eyesham received me into her
family circle, and i met you, Wanda!"
Yes, yes!" the girl said, hurriedly;
but he could not see the quivering of
her lip nor the deep crimson of her
blush. ''Alone as you were in the
world, it must have been a pleasant ex-
pericncc for you"
"-Ah, you may well say so. 1 never
knew how sweet a one till now. But
let us not waste words, Wanda, for this
| may be the last chance may enjoy for
months of speaking with you alone.
You and 1 are similarly situated-waifs
and strays in the world
Then he added with sad smile: "You
have given me the priceless blessing of
a sisters love-alas, with my affection,
I dare not ask for more"
"a sisters love I give you freely"
Then her face lit up with smile as
she said: "You promised to tell me
about yourself, George. Now, be a
good boy and crafty my curiosity
'"Well, sister mine," he said, 81 will
give you my autobiography. I cannot
say in the orthodox manner of story
| tellers that was born of poor but re-
| spectacle parents for I am afraid mine
4 were automatically we'll to do. The
early past is yelled in much obscurity
| have dim recollection of a happy
! homo across the seas s. of time when
I could see all the beautiful things on
earth-of a long illness which left me in
| total darllness-of frantic father hur-
rying me away from the place of my
| birth-of long years of restless travel
and-that is all, Wanda
| But, your father?"
| "Ah he was the dearest, kindest man
| who ever breathed the breath of life"
| 'Did he never speak to you of your
| childhood?"
Never - on the contrary he forbade
1 any allusion to it. For years he hur-
ried me from place to place with rest
less persistency, always accompanied
| by old William Bladon, who seemed to
| be more trusted friend than servant to
him"
| ~ oh 1,o
! ing such nomad life?"
| THAT is more than I can tell YOU. AS
got older I fancied he was flying from
some terrible trouble - he seemed in
such constant dread of recognition or
pursuit"
GLOW stranger
WAS it not? Well, the climax came
at last. just a year ago we reached Chi
cago from the far west. I was tired
with travel, and my dear father was
| anxious about my health, for no woman
could have been tenderer in her solici-
tudo than he was of me. One day we
were walking down State state, he, in
gayer mood than usual, describing to
me the stores and the sights. Suddenly
felt his grasp tighten on my arm and
l a thrill of emotion shake his frame-you
4 see we blind are very sensitive, Wanda
| then, a groan escaped his lips, l
knew he was suffering from some great
| shock. Father, what is it?' I said.
| Then l heard a woman's voice quite
close to us. so, we meet at last, Ar
thur Arundel it criedin clear, music
al tone, which nevertheless had a ring
Of anger in it, but which my quick per-
| ccption recognized as the voice of a
I
poor father fell prone on the pavement;
a crowd gathered; and he was carried
to the hotel where he died in less than
an hour"
without recovering consciousness?'
Wanda asked, her eyes moist with tears
of sympathy.
mot quite so bad as that. He man
aged to say few words to me before
he died. My son. he said, 4 am go
ing where the wicked cease from troub.
ling; but you will be left to be a
shaft for their evil Vaccinations.
cannot even put you on your GUARD
against them. Trust implicitly in Bla
don. 1t lies in my power to give YOU
great wealth and high station, but the
risk of acquisition would be ruinous
to your peace of mind, and bequeatI
you sufficient for all your needs-a hun
dred thousand dollars is deposited tx
your credit in the First national banl
to New York Then he relapsed into
state of coma, only reviving for mo
ment to whisper in my ear: IF evel
you meet Wanda, tell her that her Sc
cret lies buried with me. 1t may allay
her bitterness "
'Wandar' the girl cried. "Hov
strange! Why, am Wanda"
but not the Wanda he meant. Hi
Wanda fancy was some cruel enemy
perhaps the very woman whose pres
ence caused his death. Oh, if my poo
father could only have seen my Wan
T da!"
. do you think he would have love,
me, George?"
who could be with you and not Low
l you. child?"
2 CHAPTER VI
, RLADoN PLAYS MENTOR.