Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1895-03-23

noSSl bic that 1t should have been, during
the latter portion at least of his absence.
Guickened by the inspection of photo
graphs. The dead mans features were
so wildly present in his own memory
that he failed to realize that they could
not be equally stamped on Phyllis
The knowledge that they were not
was brought home to him, not by the
rational exercise of the powers with
which he had been gifted, but by to-
tally outside happening.
The all important day dawned, waxed
and waned as other days. The oculist,
a tiny man with reputation which 1T
took two continents to hold, came and
did his work and went his way, leaving
behind him success, joy and the GER
tainty. humanity speaking, of permanent
cure. For months to come the utmost
care, quiet and caution were enjoined,
and then. if all things should go we'll
the night of years would give place to
the blessedness of sunshine.
During the operation the patient had
been held under an anodyne, and when
she came again to herself it was to find
the bandage still over her eyes and all
external circumstances much as they
had BEEN Her disappointment was in
tense.
you did not let me see" she said re-
proachfully, land | wanted to see-just
one little blessed glimpse of light after
all this long darkness"
They comforted her with reports of
the success of the operation and the ocu-
lists cheering forecast, and preached pa
thence to her, as though she needed 1t,
and also us though the flag end of siege
of patience were not just the hardest part
of all
Royals plans for departure had been
made and announced, but he fingered
for a day or two. treating his resolution.
and anxious likewise for little rest be-
| fore more happenings should come.
You had better go and be done with
| it." Mrs Hart insisted "YOu can't tell
| her vet. because she's woman and will
certainly weep when told, and tears at
| this juncture would be ruinOus. You'll
| be obliged to come back in a couple of
months to meet the executors, and then
YOU can make clean breast all around.
Even Phyllis was sensible about it,
great deal too sensible, Royal thought.
| He would have liked to see her manifest
more desire to keep him with her. In
his rapidly growing absorption in his
new emotion he neglected to allow for
the fact that the girls heart was too full
of the gloria in excelsis over her own de-
| Iiverance to admit of much fretting over
trif1es. But, then, when did an absence
of months from the side of the beloved
ever appear trife in the eyes of Il man
in love? To Royals thinking the women
but particularly Phyllis-displayed a
callousness that was indecent. Love, as
we'll as amour propre, was wounded, and
he felt sore, resentful, and very low in
his mind.
"Do you think she'll ever forgive me?"
he gloomily inquired of Mrs. Hart on the
eve of his departure. 81 don't see how
she can myself. 1t seems such horrid
job to have put up on woman! 1t
didn't look that way at the time to me,
or to John Royal either, that I'll swear.
1t looks Tremendously different now from
what it did then"
| Which is not to be wondered at, con-
sidering that love had provided him with
the capacity for another point of view.
Mrs. Hart turned her head away and
laughed in secret places. She saw how
it was with him, and gloated over it.
The solution of the difficulty would
come in the natural and soul satisfying
way dear to the heart of woman who
healthily loved romance.
"There is no reason under heaven why
she shouldn't forgive you," she respond
ed cheeringly. "You did a crazy, wit
less thing, but you did it with good in
tentions and entangled yourself as badly
as you did her. And you are certainly
doing your utmost to redeem your fool
ishness. Don't be disheartened. When
Phyllis shall have gotten over the shock
of your change of identity things will
adjust themselves and she'll adopt you.
Come back when the fruition of her hope
is fresh on her, and you'll find her in too
softened and thankful mood to admit
of harsh Judgment"
Royal gravely regarded her.
After all" he observed speculatively.
"a live dog is better than dead lion"
IF you like to put it that way" she
laughed. ITO me it sounds unfatter-
ing and do not admit the inference"
Then they spoke of other matters
The light in the parlor was subdued,
for the shades were lowered. 1t was
irksome to Phyllis to be confined to one
room, and troublesome to other people
to run about and lower shades, so Mrs.
| Hart kant the whnla honsa darlnnnd