St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1894-03-18
Here she would remain for hours
s,heltered from the fierce rays OF the

tropical sun by the friendly branches of
huge tamarin tree. either gazing idly
out over the waters watching the curious
little lateen sailed boats of the HindOo
fishermen, as they would glide away
over the blue surface of the ocean To
where the lighter blue of the summer
skv came down and encircled the
beholder in a great azure
ring beyond which the eve
could not reach. 1t was here that she
read her favOrite authors and studied
her most difficult lessons. On the
afternoon of the hurricane she was ill
her favOrte nook, so absorbed in an
interesting book that she needed not
approaching danger, although the sigma!
guns of the old citadel fortress doomed
their warnings over the bay, causing the
cautious ship masters to either drop
extra anchors or slip their cables and
put to sea to ride out the hurricane. The
storm burst with fury that was ire
Sistible, and the great rock that formed
the floor of her bower was torn from its
faSteningS, and went crashing through
the tree tops down the mountain side
and disappeared in the waters below,
leaving the poor girl, torn and bleeding,
among the branches of great tree that
had lodged just above the coast line.
Here she was found by her father
eho q SSoiSh patty VI uClSupOiS
and farm servants, and taken back
to her home, where she remained I'M
conscious throughout the entire night.
her spirit lowering between this and
the unknown world until induced to
remain in its earthly tenement by the
powerful restOrativeS applied by the
family doctor, who remained by her
side throughout the long night, and in
answer to her fathers anxious inquiries
answered that she would live, but would
he forever SO fearfully diSfigured as to
be All object of pity. The early morning
brought young De Muir to the house, he
having ridden over from his fathers
plantation to inquire how the colonel
and his household had passed through
the fearful storm. When Blanche'S
condition was explained to him he in
sisted upon seeing her at once. and
demanded the privilege of remaining
by her side until she recovered, but
the medical man denied him adj
mission to the climber of his
patient until she had recovered
dition, fearing that the meeting
| might cause so much grief and
excitement as to prove fatal. Through
| out the long day and the longer night
| that followed. the brOken-hearted lover
lowered near the door that separated
him from the one he adored, waiting for
news concerning her. The manner of
the colonel and the doctor. who fire.
quently discussed Blancne's condition,
convinced him that a change had taken
place, and he pteously begged them not
to conceal her true state from him.
When the father tearfully informed him
that as soon as his daughter realized
the fearful extent of her injury she
had insisted upon having hand-glasS
brought to her. and, in spite of the re-
monStranceS of the doctor, she had care
fully studied her diShgured features,
and then requested that WORT be sent to
Henri that her great love for him would
make it impossible for him to ever see
her again on earth. stating that she
could not survive his looks of horror
when he first saw her poor mutilated
features, and that she would continue
to love him while life lasted, but that as
soon as she was sufficiently recovered
she would enter convent and pass the
remainder of her days in seciuSiOn.
Prayers aud entreaticS failed 10
change her resolution, and the young
man silently and sadly mounted his
horse and rode away to his fathers
plantation.
Late in the afternoon of the following
dalt he Old-faShiOued numbering family
NoA io5S vi liiC DC Az III was SCCu W
enter the grounds and drive up to the
door Of Col. Montgomery's house, when
Squire De Muir alighted and helped his
son out OF the carriage and uD the steps
TO the veranda. where the colonel was
standing to receive them. Tne young
man asked Blanche's father to tell him
how much his daughter had improved.
and, on being informed that she was
better, demanded to be taken to her side
at once, for, said he, colonel, | cannot
see now she is changed, for | am blind.
L will always see her i'll memory as she
was before this terrible accident. |
must touch her hand and hear her voice
or shall go mad. Take me to her at
once"
Squire DeMuir ex planned that his son
had returned nome and spent the night
writing and arranging his affairs. With
the first streak of morning light he had
walked out into the lawn, and around
the old place and taken last look at the
beloved scenes of his boyhOud, after
which he HAD retired to his room and
totally destroyed the sight of his eyes
with the juice of all herb. provided by
mis- old Hindoo valet, who at his COM
mand had aided him, and fled after ac-
cOmpllShing only too we'll his terrible
task.
The meeting between the lovers was
unwitnessed, and when the two fathers
were called in they learned that it was
the desire of their children that the
marriage ceremony be performed in
private immediately. AS soon as the
legal formalities were arranged this was
done, and for years afterwards visitor
to this curious land might see heavily
yelled lady leading blind man about
the grounds of the most beautiful resi-
dence in the suburbs of Port Louis, and
the story of the loves of Blanche and
Henri is more often told on the island
than is the tale of Paul and Virginia,
and it is universally conceded that true
love can rise to no height more sublime
than did that of Henri de Muir.