Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1892-03-30

ceeding Mays recitation, Professor
Thornton arose and said:
"As the program announces, there
is yet one more competitor to be
Judged. shall not tax your pa
thence by any superhuous words in
regard to the secrecy maintained by
her. You will understand the rea-
son for this when | make her known
to YOU"
Stepping from the stage Profess
sor Thornton approached the blind
girl, while keenest expectancy was
depicted on every face. As he led
her out he said:
BE brave, Ruth; there is nothing
to fear; be simply yourself and you
will not fail"
She was pale but collected.
IL will do my BEST" she answer
ed.
In the almost painful silence he
said aloud:
ALLOW me now to introduce to
you Miss Ruth Elliot, who will IA
vor us with The Blind Girl of POM
peii.'" And Ruth was left alone
on the stage.
Never was that wistful, appealing
look on her face more strongly
marked than tonight; and as
she stood before them, her
straight figure clad in white, with
bunch of wild violets at her throat
and belt, her sightless eyes fixed on
vacancy, a thrill of intense feeling
ran through the large assembly
She stood motionless for few sec
onds, summoning all her self-con.
troll; then the deep quiet was broker
by a sweet voice, low, but so distinct
that it could be heard all over tn,
large hall.
Ruth could not have made bet
ter selection. It was vivid por
trayal of the trials of blind girl
and her own personal experience
greatly aided her Interpretation o.
the authors meaning. One suprem,
thought had urged her to the &C
complishment Of the victory, ant
now at the last she must not fail
And she did not; for from the tim
she uttered the first word until tn,
last syllable dropped from her lips
she held the audience entranced
and when she was led from tn
stage the applause that burst fortl
almost shook the building.
The academy girls gathered roun'
her, and she was fairly overwhelme,
with kisses and congratulations.
Ruth" exclaimed May, ''yo,
have exploded bombshell over on
heads! Whoever would have dream
ed of such power being conceale
in your quiet little bodyp Oh, III
so glad! And you would not te
us because you feared we might nc
do our best if we knew. You wer
right there, my dear"
ayes, was afraid your deep sym
pathy for me would outweigh you
ambition; and | felt that if | coul
not honestly and truly win | di
not want the prize at all. Do yo
really think | did wellp"
THAT doesn't half express il
Ruth" declared May, as she thre'
her arms around the girl, and CAV
her another kiss. "And we are al
most as proud of you as your moth
er is"
The judges awarded the prize t
Ruth, and not one spark of eny
was felt in the hearts of the othe
competitors, for all knew that sh
had justly won it.
When the gentlemen learne
what had induced Ruth to enter tn
contest, they kindly offered to tax
her to the city with them and kee,
her in their care while under medi
cal treatment. Mrs. Elliot accom-
panied her daughter, and when tn
physician examined the girls eye
and told her that in a little Will
she would be able to see, Ruth
Joy knew no bounds.
The operation was successful
and when the next term begar
Ruth was one of the academy pupil.