The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1892-01-20

himself must bear the tidings to william
Bladon.
He found that worthy as usual, in
dulging in his evening smoke in the
orchard For the last few days there
had been a marked GOODNESS between
these fine old fellows. OF course,
Bladon had treated his young masters
friend with marked respect, but they
had evidently avoided each other.
Mr. Hardcastle's face was beaming
with qualification.
"Bladon," he said cheerily, IT called
you the other day a cross-grained old
sinner, and l don't take back the ex.
preston, but / know how attached you
are to Mr.. Arundel, and couldn't help
coming to tell you some grand and glori.
GUS news"
"Of Master George, sir?"
eyes, of Master George"
Bladon looked by. no means elated.
81 suppose thee rt going to say, sir,
as the bonnie young lady has let her
self be persuaded to wear gold ring
on her pretty finger"
II was not going to say any such
thing, you obstinate old reprobate. In
deed I'd good mind not to tell you any
thing at all about it for your perver-
sity."
Then Bladon's eyes twinlled. "Ah,"
he chuclSled, 81 see what thee meanest.
Good news o. Master Harry Why,
thoust come to tell me that this other
lass, Miss Kate, is bespoke, an that she
can't be, after all, nothing more nor u
sister to him."
Mr.. Hardcastle did not lose his
patience, but simply turned on Bladon
and said:
What would you say, man, If told
you that George Arundel was going to
regain the use Of his eyes?"
81 should say that thou vert MAX
ing game of me-"
''But it is true" Mr.. Hardcastle cried
excitedly. "0h! it is true! jacobson,
the great oculist, has seen him, and
pronounced his blindness curable."
Then in torrent of joyful words he
poured forth the whole story into the
ears of the wondering old servant.
When he had finished Bladons eyes
were full of tears and his chest heaved
with suppressed emotion.
"Now thank the Lord for His mercy"
were all the words he could utter.
When the excitement had somewhat
subsidized, Mr., Hardcastle continued:
"You must bring Mr.. Arundel TO nv
house in Brooklyn. If it is possible
shall persuade the ladies to come, too;
for our hopes lie in keeping the patient
In a cheerful frame of mind; and am
convinced that their presence will tend
largely to his recovery"
Bladon frowned. He did not dare TO
speak, realizing as he did the debt of
obligation he owed this grand old man.
Thus 1t befell that Mr.. Hardcastle re-
turned home with the promise that in a
couple of weeks Mr.. Arundel and his
faithful servant would follow him and
make their home under his hospitable
roof.
Then the genial old gentleman wrote
TO each of the ladies imploring them to
sacrifice their summer happiness TO
George Arundcl's interest and be
guests of his until the result Of the oper-
alton was known.
"Of course we will CO." Wanda cried
with flashing eyes
I'VE might be Of service to poor Mr..
Arundel" Kate confessed with blush
ing checks.
Mrs. Evesham hesitated. She did not
think it was quite proper to invade a
bachelors residence in this matter.
"Oh, mamma" Kate laughed: "To
even hint at such thing at his time Of
life"
Really, Kate, you speak of Mr.. Hard
castle as if he was a patriarch. am
sure to hear him talk you quite forget
his years, which after all ere not SO
many" Mrs. Evesham corrected;
whereupon Miss Wanda smiled mis-
chievously and said Kate ought to be
ashamed of herself. That remark of
Mrs. Evesham was exceedingly graft
flying to the young lady, especially as
1t was followed by decision TO accept
the proffered hospitality.