Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-05

not see, that she was looking at me
intently. Presently l heard a stif1ed
/ sob and felt the small hand that
/ clasped my own culver and relax it's
hold.
why, my poor little Maudr' I ex-
claimed, what has come over you?
Dent, please; it pains me to hear your
and l CROPPED about to try and find the
! little hand again.
/ 'Oh, dear, l cannot help it, Henry,
Mr.. Roland. 1t is so dreadful to see
you dishgured in this way anG to think
that you cannot see; that the remain
der of your life may be passed in dark
ness, and that henceforth this beauti-
ful world, with all its wonders, may
be sealed book to you"
When she had ceased to cry I asked
her how it happened that she had not
left for her home, together with the
other members of the company. to
which question, after moments hest
tation, she replied:
II could not bear to think Of your
being left here all, all alone among
strangers without friend to look after
you or tend you in your affection. So
l wrote and told mother all about the
accident and that I was going to STAY
and take care of you, as you had
always been so good and kind to me.
None of the other members of the COM
pany would stay and some of them
made very unkind remarks about me
when I said that l would not leave
you alone in your present condition
and that I had made up my mind to
stay behind with you, but do not
mind that and l am sure that my dear.
good mother will approve of my de-
cision.
l was of course astonished and felt
deeply grateful to this young and
beautiful girl who had taken such
warm interest in my welfare. How
ever, l thought it my duty to try and
dissuade her from carrying out this
plan and induce her to return at once
to her home, telling her that, though
her presence would be a source of COM
fort and pleasure to me, could not
think of permitting her to make such
a sacrifice on my account. But all my
arguments were in vain, and | was
forced to let her have her way, as she
insisted upon remaining, at least for
the present.
After a week of confinement to my
room the doctor ordered me to take a
little outdoor exercise, and Maud, who
by her sunny presence had helped to
make my pitiable lot somewhat bear
able during that long week of dark
ness, elected to be my guide.
The first day we went out, she lead
ing me by the arm and watching every
step l took, I felt dazed and nervous
and could only advance very slowly.
And, as we were crossing the principal
street of the town, where there was a.
good deal of traffic, became suddenly
confused, and somehow we got in be-
tween two passing wagons, when Maud
uttered a frightened cry and tried to
drag me forward I felt the hub of a
wheel Craze past my legs as [ bent my
knees forward in order to avoid it, and
then the sharp-edged, heavy iron tire,
came down upon my heel, almost tear
ing the shoe from my foot, and causing
a slight abrasion of the skin, without,
however, doing any further injury,
though it was a narrow escape.
My poor little companion was terri
bly, shocked and distressed at this &C
cident, and blamed herself Tor her
carelessness, but I assured her that |
was not hurt and that | alone was to
blame for not having needed her
timely warning. In our subsequent
walks we avoided the busy thorough
fares and directed our steps toward
the open country.
At the end of three weeks | had al
most recovered my sight, and during
all that time little Maud had tcon my
constant companion, my guide and
my comforter. She had also been my
teacher, in more ways than one, Tor [
had grown to love her passionatelyy
and that love had brought all the good
that lay in my nature to the surface
Her noble character, pure heart and
gentle words had struck responsive
chords in my heart that might other
wise have lain forever dormant. | saw
the world and my fellow-men in a
different light than formerly; and it
appeared to me that with my return
ing sight, brighter and purer under
standing had entered my spirit
Maud was overjoyed when the
doctor announced that I was in i fair
way to recover the use of my eyes;
and when the bandages were first re-
moved and I told her I could see her,
she made me describe the dress she
wore and put me through a regular
course of tests in order to satisfy her
self that I could really see.
A week later my sight was almost
as good as ever it had been, though
my eyes were still weak aid suscep-
tible to strong light or a high wind.
Maud then, thinking that her mis-
sion was ended, and her home lying in
a different direction to my proposed
destination, had come to bid me good
by as she was leaving that morning.
She looked somewhat paler than usual
and there was troubled expression
upon her features. She came forward
slowly and extending both her little
gloved hands, being, in an unsteady
voice:
"Good-by, Mr.. Rolandr
Then the warm tears stole into her
eyes and stopped short.
I caught the look in those beautiful
oad cvpc and read the