The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1895-02-08
NEARSIGHTED.

IN Ia L AIJOs
Mrs. Stanton was little wi1cw who
thought herself inconsolable
She was convinced that there never
had been and that there never would be
such another man as her late la.nented
husband. She believed that he had been
created, raised to manhood and endowed
with every amiable quality for the ex-
press purpose of completing her happi-
ness, and now that he was gone she felt
assured that her earthly felicity was
over. She mourned for him so inces-
sanity that her health broke down, and
she was obliged to leave her home and
seek restoration at water cure.
1t was very small establishment in
one of the eastern States and it con-
tanned the usual complement of broken
down ministers, men of business and
spinsters, with very few young cpl
leptic, cataleptic OR dyspeptic patients.
Among the latter was a certain Mr..
Charles Weeks He was about "a or 25,
rather tall and spare, yet we'll proper
toned. He had regular features and a
neat, dark mustache. He was not only
nice looking, but his face was the index
of a kindly disposition, and he had a
very sweet smile.
These advantages were offset by two
defects He was very nearsighted, and
he was desperately bashful.
This amiable young man had lately
lost beloved mother. He had been her
idol, and she had been his friend and
companion, and indeed had supplied
him with all the society he was con-
scious of needing.
They had lived alone together for
years, and when she was ill he had
nursed her as tenderly as if he were her
daughter. He was now mourning her
loss very deeply.
Mrs. Stanton arrived at the water
cure by a very late train; consequently
she did not make her appearance in
public until the next day at breakfast.
She was then placed at the table at
which Mr.. Weeks was seated, but on
the opposite side and farther down.
Next to Weeks sat young Hardie, who,
although a dyspeptic, broken down at
college, was the life of the house. He
was merry, rollicking young fellow,
with good humored face and spar
king black eye-indeed two of them.
When the little widow took her place,
he nudged his companion and whis-
pered: "Hello, Weeks, here is a new
comer Very taking face-very. Seems
to be an elderly lady. Must be widow. !"
Weeks, i'll an agony lest the lady
should overhear. glanced across the ta-
bic, but could only see blurred, indefi-
mite, palish splotch, crowned by awhite
film, which he took to be widow S
cap, as indeed it was
So he said, II suppose she is.
= 4 T.
Mrs Stanton spent her days as quiet
ly as if she were in her own house. Here
the formula was water, water, nothing
but water, hot, cold, externally, inter
nally and eternally." The regular life,
simple diet and bracing mountain air
soon proved OF great benefit to her. She
was oro~- I'd by the good doctors to rest
as much as possible out of doors on cot.
At other times she took as long walks
as she could.
Now, young Mr.. Weeks bashfulness
did not extend to elderly ladies, and
when, a day or two after Mrs. Stanton s
arrival, he found her sitting under a
tree in the grove he recognized by her
cap that she must be the widow lately
arrived, and his natural politeness
prompted him to stop and say, ''The air
is very fine today, madam"
AS he uttered this commonplace,
with his attractive smile, the lady could
not help recognizing well bred and
kindly young gentleman, SO she an
swered him with equal suavity and in a
sweet and winning voice.
Mr.. Weeks was sensitive to voices
and he honored all elderly ladies for his
dear mothers sake He told himself
that Mrs. Stanton reminded him of her
whom he had so tenderly loved, and al
most before he knew it he had seated
himself upon an opposite bench and was
talking pleasantly.
At the end of half an hour, when the
| ringing of the treatment bell cut short
their interview, he said to himself that
he had not met SO charming person
since his mother died. Mrs. Stanton S
gentle voice and sympathetic manner
and the spirit Of kindliness which in
| spired all she said found a ready re-
| sponse in his own warm heart.
From that time they were frequently
seen together. Sometimes he would
meet her Oh her walks, when he would
So.,
sist her over rough part of the road
| If they climbed hill, he accommodate
ed his pace to hers and begged her to
lean upon him for support They spent
hours together in the grove. Weeks was
fine reader, though, as he would not
wear glasses, he was obliged to hold his
book so close to his face that it almost
touched his nose. He used to read aloud
while she lay in her hammock
Thus their intimacy grew so gradual
~ that ther, was nothing in it to alarm
the most scrupulous little widow in the
world. She told herself that, although
she could never love again, she was glad
that friendship was still possible to
her. Besides she considered Mr.. Weeks
q mere boy and felt motherly interest
i'll him. His manner became more defer
ential as they advanced in intimacy.
They discovered that their tastes were
very congenial. In word, they never
bored each other.
Under the influence of her pleasant
surroundings Mrs Stanton became re-
signed and cheerful.