The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-09
CHAPTER IL

" You, father" she said, in tone of de-
light, returned 81 soon! How kind and
good of you to get your business done so
early" Sir Lawrence had not been ex-
pecsed until later in the day.
did she only guess the reason that took
me away" was his inward comment,
would she greet me like this" For Nellie
had drawn him to chair, and, kneeling
beside him, gave him warm welcome.
"You have missed me thenp
missed you, fatberl Every moment you
are away from me l miss you more and
more. All, don't doubt it, even to-mor-
row. Because you give me to Leo so I'M
selfshly 1 do not give you up. l have love
enough for you both, and we shall just be
one happy happy family"
''Ah, Nell, If only you knew how little
deserve your love" he replied, recalling his
part in the late scene. and how nearly he
had imperiled the happiness of which she
spoke, by keeping back from her lover, in
fear, the kno Wedge of his innocence.
You are my father, and that is all
know or care she said, tenderly-twining
her arms round his neck, and leaning her
head on his breast, as if by thus claiming
his support she would have made him for
get the infirmities to which she believed he
referred.
"You are happy Nell?' be asked, suddenly,
after moment.
Happy I" she replied, lifting to his q smil-
ing face, which was in itself an answer.
$50 happy ! scarcely dare to think a5outit
all too much, for fear that it should fade
away like my dreams before | found you.
So happy that it seems even tomorrow.
when / shall be Leo's wife, cannot make mo
happier. My wedding day tomorrow, and
you ask me IL | am happy. W hat traitor
you are to Loop Then more earnestly ;
''Look into my face, father. What does it
show your
'Smiles and sunshine. l used to think
your mother was an angel, Nellie, but you
are more like one even than she was.n
No comparison could have pleased the
little blind girl better, especially just then.
Had he likened her 10 some picture, or some
one, however beautiful, she must have felt
the pain Of never seeing for herself the like
ness. As it was, to be called the image of
the mother whom she could never see, but
revered in heaven, was very dear to her in-
deed.
But" went on her father. still holding
her sweet face between his hands and look
ing down searchingly into it., 'if there is
sunshine now-thGre are traces as well of
tears gone by. You say you are so happy,
Nellie, and yet you have beeu crying"
90, that was long while ago. l had al
most forgotten all about it. 1t was nothing
replied the girl, pressing her head against
his breast as if to try TO hide from his vigi-
lance. He held her closely to him, but
would not be denied.
"Nellie. dear, don't try to deceive me-
Remember am mother and father both to
you. Tell me your trouble and let me chase
il away entirely"
"Ah! No one, not even you, can do that, y
she replied, quickly, surrendering at once
to his will. despite her wish not to pain him.
mo one can chase away this only shadow
on my sunshine"
Her fathers face paled, and into it stole
look of agonized remorse, such as it was
well she could not see.
"You mean your blindness, Nelliep he
asked in voice sti1ed with pain for he felt
this consequence of his rash attempt to ac-
complish good through evil even worse TO
bear than the knowledge of Leo's suffering
which after all a word would end as no
power on earth, as Nellie had said, could
end her pain.
"Yes, father, ~ she replied, clinging vet
more closely TO him as if asking mute for
glveness for giving him sorrow IN reveal
ing her own, little guessing IL was not only
sorrow but remOrse that was soaring his
heart. "Ah, have tried 80 often to forget
that other people see; that l could once.
often at morning when have been dream
ing of the past, for then l have my eyes, l
see the flowers, the fields, the sky, the sun
shine-I see them all again"
Heart-,orn by this piteous avowal the
first time that Nellie had ever betrayed
even to him the great burden her affection
was to her-Sir Lawrence could only press
his lips to the eyes whose sight be had de-
stroyed-his agony too great for words But
after a moment he burst out earnestly:
Child if you could only have my ewes! |
would be blind a thousand times-in dark
ness forever without hope or memory OF
the light, if could only give you back your
sight again.
81 know, father, | know" she replied,
quickly, but that You CANNOT do. / try 80
hard TO be pRtient-to hide this sorrow
from you when you have given me so much
all, all-save this that you cannot give,
but sometimes 1t seems more than can bear
alone. The darkness frightens me-makes
me feel suddenly how all alone and helpless
am. All, if you knew how terrible it is
how terrible when wake and find it all
dark; think at first it is then l am dream
Ing terrible dream. And whel | know |
am really awake l think am mistaken and
1t is stlll night after all. Yes, / tell myself
II is still night, but the day will soon come
the day always loved, but never so much
as now, when, sOmeho x, IL seems so far of.
But 1t Will come-l must have patience, and
the sun will shine, and | shall see it and all
the other beautiful things. l say it over
and over agaiu-aud hope and hope-but
the day never comes for me. There is no
hght-no tiowers-no sky-no sunshine no
day for me any more-only darkness
darkness all around and ywhere-like
great black clOak-R shroud. l try to
pierce Ito tear-to wrench it apart-to
gain one little ray of light, only one tinv
CLEAN. But IL only seems tO wrap me
closer and closer. and know
then the TRUTH am blind
am blind. And then l cry out.
Shrek aIoud-'My eyes. All, give me back
my eyes; want them so very much; give
them back to me-my eyes, my dear, dear
eYes-ah, give them back to me-give me
back my eyes But no one hears-no one
answers. 1t Is night still and always. And
tEen l pray as have never prayed before
except that might find you, my father.
that might sleep aRain-sleep and never
wake to be blind and helpless and all alone
IN the darkness any more-pray to 90 on
sleeping forever, if it is to die: for then see
then at least-I shall have my ewes and
see!n "''O
AT the first heart-torn by this piteous re
cital which for the first time, betrayed TO
MN now much greater was the burden he
mad put upon his Guild than even he in all
ms selt-reproach had dreamed-the wretched
rather had pressed his lips to the poor
blghtIess eyes-striving his utmost TO re-
hn Il 81