The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1892-04-15

1 Z Y
81 THINK, HARDcAsTLE, I MIGHT VEN
TURE ON AN EXAMINATION"
data for The Romance of the Aris-
tocracy' from this learned literary
duction. Tell him Miss Arlington's
story; it might awaken "reminiscences.
I also send herewith draft; and, talk
ing of drafts, let me advise you to hunt
up one Hugh McAllister, who keeps the
Knights Hospitallern tavern in st.
Johns wood, and tell him from me to
give you bowl of his glenlivet punch;
it will be a revelation to to you.
Your faithful friend,
ALEXANDER HARDcAsTLE."
1t is necessary here to give the
reader a little clearer insight into Mr..
Hardcastle's movements than that gen.
tleman has accorded to Harry.
After his extraordinary interview
with Wanda Arlington, when. the pos
sibility of his securing the hand of Mrs
Evesham had been broachel and dis
cussed, he had shruni like a bashful
schoolgirl from all further allusion to
the delicate subject, though he had de-
layed the day of his departure, Now
it happened that this procrastination
was fraught with extraordinary events,
for he read one morning in the Detroit
Free Press, which he assuredly never
would have done if he had returned.
home when he first intended, that DR..
Isaac jacobson, the distinguished New
York oculist, was visiting the great
lakes.
"By Jove!' cried Mr.. Hardcast1e, ex-
citedly, 1--WE must intercept him at
Detroit and bring him to see George
Arundel"
White and trembling, Kate Evesham
caught the tenor of his words.
sOh, Mr., Hardcastle!' she gasped.
"You do not think there is hope that
George-that Mr.. Arundel may recover
his sight?''
81 know nothing at all about it, my
DEAR was the grave reply, ''but Jacob.
son is wonderful man with great
reputation, and with the help of you
ladies I'm going to give the lad the BEN
eft of the chancn,"
s.But perhaps he will not care to un-
dertake any professional duties on a
/ pleasure trip" Mrs. Evesham hazarded.
HE is an old friend of mine. . Mr.. Hard
castle said, simply, land will manage
| all that. The only thing that troubles
me is how to bring about an interview.
without arousing hopes in Arundel's
mind which may never be fulfilled"
s.Suppose you invited him here to.
spend the day and asked Mr.. Arundel.
to meet him." Wanda suggested.
spoken like a sphinx, young lady.
That shall be our plan."
So the great man came and the blind
man sat beside him at the dinner table
81 think, Hardcastle, might venture
on an examination" DIR. jacobson
whispered to his host as they repaired
to the sitting-room.
And the examination was made, and
the oculist said that if George Arundel
was placed under his immediate care
for the next few months after his re-
turn to New York he felt justified in
promising him, at any rate, partial
restoration of vision.
Then you may be sure there was
great rejoicing at the Evesham cottage.
The most composed among them was
George Arundel, who bore his congrat-
ulations with a quiet gratitude that
was irresistibly touching.
Then, when the great man was gone,
nothing must do but Mr.. Hardcastle
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. s.T called
you the other day q cress-grained old
sinper, and 1 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 glpri-
GUS news"
-"Of Master George, sir?'. :
| EYES, of Master George"
Bladon looked by no means elated.
II suppose thee 'rt going to say, sir,
as the bonnie young lady has let her
self be persuaded, to wear Q gold ring
on her pretty fqgers"
II was not going to say any such
thing, you obstinate old reprobate. In
deed I'd a good mind not to tell you any
thing at all about it for your perver-
sity."
Then Bladon's. eyes twinlkled. "Ah,"
he chuckled, 81 see what thee meanest.
i Good news. o Master Harry Why,
thou'st come 70 tell me that this other
lass. Miss Kate, is bespoke, an that she
i can't be, after all, nothing more nor a
/ 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 WA6 going TO
regain the use OF his eyes?''
u. should say that thou vert maxi
ing game of me-"
"Bnt it is true, = Mr.. Hardcastle cried
excitedly. .Ohl it is trpe Jacobson,
the great oculist, has seen. him. and
pronounced his blindness curable.n
Then in torrent Of joyful words he
poured forth the whole. story into the
faAre of the xsror,darinrr old earvanf