Birmingham age-herald., 1894-12-02

ing forward and crossing over to him. There was a curious thrill in her voice. She took his wrist as it lay limp and helpless beside him.
 And you're very feyerish to-day" she went on, responsibility; ''what have they been saying to you? Why can't they keep you quiet. and-and not let you be worried?"
 She knelt down by him, gazing with her tender woman's eyes at the poor disfgurcd face She longed to take him in her arms and sooth him, but the image of Mrs. Leadam came between them. What right she asked herself, had she, forsooth, to this man, whose past was wrapped up with that of another woman, woman who had loved him enough to do this horrible thing? And the sulphuric acid, she re- membered, with shudder, had been intended for her. Had it not been for Dick it would have been she who would have been lying here, her beauty spoilt, her very eyesight threatened.
 "Oh, no, there's nothing to worry aboutip groaned Dick "I'm a brute and Q fool to let-to let you see that I'm suffering. Betty, I'm going away to- night, he said, suddenly. "Ican't stand it any longer. You must let me go"
 He wanted to go then. Tel go, per- haps, and join that others woman. Well, she could say nothing. Under what pretext could she detain him? Indeed, she had heard the doctor one day urging as speedy a journey to Wiesbaden as possible, in order to have the patients eyes examined by a cele- hrated oculist, so that he hpd an ex- cuse ready to his hand if he really wanted to leave them.
 "Haven't-haven't we looked after you?" faltered the girl.
 You've been a white angel from Heaven!" said Dick, seizing her hand.
 'Then stay, do stay until. you are better" she whispered. "Mother and I wouldn't like you to leave us until you were quite we'll"
 ''No. Every day makes it harder for me-" he said, gravely.
 "You want to go," she said, softly, drawing away her fingers from his grasp. You have other tics. You want, perhaps, to see that poor crea- ture. Think how she must have suf- fered before she did anything so ter rible, Dick; how she must have loved you," she said, dreamily. "Poor thing poor thing. We'll I am powerless to keep you," she added, as she turned to leave the room. 'i can only say good by and God bless you"
 Another instant and the embroidered portiere was dropped to, and Betty was gone. Dicks heart was beating furiously. Her voice, her tone un- manned him, and he could think of nothing but his passion, of this love which he had hidden in his heart for all these weary months. There was a faint sound from an inner room. Dick, groping his way through the draped doorway, found Betty in corner, sob ping into the window curtains
 He drew the girl close to him, and led her gently back into the little room. The only sound was that of the plash- ing fountain in the courtyard, where the afternoon sunshine was making the shadow of a great palm into ribbonlike blue patches on the tesselated pave. ment. There was tense silence. Dick caught his breath. He was aware that the time had come when he must speak out the truth about Rose Lead am, or spoil his life, and, perhaps who knows-that of the trembling girl in his arms.
 Half an hour later Betty announced, with something of her old manner: q shan't mind bit your not being quite as handsome as you were. Real. ly, don't want to marry young man that I've got to dispute with every other woman I come across. And as to your being little-a little bit short sighted, Dick"
 Blind, 1 suppose you mean" said Dick. "Did you really think should be such brute as to ask girl to mar. ry me if thought was going blind?'
 "I didn't know" she faltered "1 would have-oh, Dick, wanted you anyway!"
 ''No, that German fellow has just told me that my eyes will be well again in a month";
 She was kneeling on the divan beside him, as he sat there, with one arm wound tightly around her
 Dear heart," whispered the girl, resting her elbows on his two shoul. ders while she gently frightened the bandage round his eyes. Then she kissed the top of his close-cropped head. Dear heart" she muttered, ''it is only I-only who have been blind
 Careful Man.
 Greathart-And you saw him insult