The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1892-07-27
A PORTLAND ROMANCE.
A Man Dying Leaves An Annuity to
Woman He Never Saw.

ago, was the author of many kind deeds
but it is not generally known that there
is one to be laid to his credit that's high
ly favored with romance. A PRESS re-
porter in conversation with an intimate
friend of Mr.. Cores, yesterday, learned
the facts connected with the case.
A number of years ago two sisters were
employed as diamond cutters by large
Boston jewelry house. They were or
phans, the children of a gentleman who
had enjoyed all the social advantages
that come with large means and thorough
education, but who met with reverses OF
fortune and left his daughters entirely
dependent on their own resources. The
girls struggled hard to earn a livelihood
in various ways, gradually but steadily
dropped out of the view of their old
social friends and finally, by the teach
ing of a skilled diamond cutter, whose
acquaintance they had made, became as
we have stated cutters for the Boston
house, with wages sufficient, when taken
together, to give them fairly comfort
able livelihood.
One day one of the sisters had trouble
with her eyes. She thought it a trif1ing
matter and paid little attention to it,
But the annoyance increased. Further
more, the other sister was taken with an
acute attack of a serious malady and
died, leaving the living sister entirely
alone in the world. Notwithstanding
her affection and other troubles the sur
viving girl bravely bore up, and worked all
the harder at her diamond cutting to
secure delicacies for and pay the doctors
bills of the sick sister before her death,
while the trouble with her eyes became
more and more pronounced.
AS soon as she got chance the work
ing girl called ona celebrated oculist and
asked what allied her eyes. The doctor
told her she should take long leave of
absence and give her eyes a complete
rest. ssHow long rest?" she asked. cat
least two months said the oculist. The
girl went to the firm and stated the case
but said she couldn't afford to take the
rest demanded as she had incurred so
many expenses. The firm told her to
take the two months and her pay should
go on just the same.
A few days after the girl left on her va
cation the member of the firm, who gave
her leave of absence, happened to meet
the oculist who had examined the girls
eyes, land asked him what he thought of
the case. ''Poor GIRL replied the ocu-
list, 81 couldn't bear to tell her. She is
sure to be blind in few months and she
is alone in the world, proud, high
spirited and with nothing for her sup
port"
The next night the member of the firm
happened to visit his club at the West
End, and in conversation with several
friends he met, stated her sad case this
way. He further said he had been to the
blind asylum to see what provision
coul be made for the girl but ascertained
that by the rules of the asylum she was
too old to be admitted to its benefits.
There was one thing however this asylum
woul do. If the girl could get an
income of $500 year so that she could
have home near by the asylum they
would take care of her. The gentleman
said he would agree to give $50 a year
for term of years. Four other gentle
men pledged $50 year for the same
length of time. 1t happened that Mr..
Gore was present, guest of one of the
gentlemen and he Immediately said, ''put
me down for the remaining $50" The
$500 was then raised and when the poor
girl returned to Boston with almost total
lack of vision, she found home made
ready for her with kind people to look
out for and comfort her.
Years rolled on and the term of years
for which the income of this blind girl
had been subscribed was near it's end
within four weeks in fact-although the
girl herself was unaware of it. Several
of the subscribers had died and made no
pIOflSlOu lOI ullO COAIlultduSC VI ouO
fund Mr.. Gore sickened aud died. His
will was opened and it was there found
til at he had left an annuity of $500 to tn
poor blind girl, now woman, for the use
of her natural life and instructions to his
executors to make the sum larger, if in
their opinion it was advisable. The
principal executor was a man Portland
knows full well. His own charities are
many but they are not blazoned from the
housetops. He has made a point of
visiting the blind woman from time to
time to see how she is getting along.
One day he said to her after a converse
ton in which her well stored mind and
delicate, refined manner had made him
pass pleasant hour, ''Don't you. get
very lonely sitting here, even if you do
have the accompaniment of birds and
flowers, and the conversation of
friends?'' "There are two things she
said, 81 should like, if had the means
and could afford it, that is should like
to hear good concert occasionally or