Frederick citizen., 1895-01-25

every Aour must be counted. Marian
was aware Of the change. 1t did no.
displease her. If the poor fellow
should really become blind-she loved
him now, 2nd she would marry him
with delight. But how would papa
regard it? Clement said he wished her
to marry Dick. But Dick had gone off
he never returned from Ireland after
missing his brother, nor intended to
do so, apparently, until he came to bid
goodbye. And then she remembered
that curious expression of papa's-that
she must strain a point, if necessary"
to keep up Fred's spirits What could
that signify. unless to accord him
hope, at least? Dick had fled in des-
pair; the family perhaps had trans
ferred its good wishes to his brother
So the love making went on, uncheck-
ed, but it was distant and timid. of
course. A man threatened with blind
ness cannot seriously engage in court
ship.
During the whole comedy no real
hitch occurred, from the moment of its
inception until the crash 1t is to be
remembered that Marian never went
out" Dick might go anywhere and do
anything in propria persona, west OF
Regent street. If he took care to avoid
her path, as she left home and re
turned, at fixed hours. Indeed, he
could never have formed such a wild
plot had Marian led the life of other
girls.
But though no hitch occurred, there
was a constant difficulty. If he got
medical works and studied them, so
did she; and, Of course, under such car
cumstances, she insisted on a daily
consultation. Dick made acquaintance
with some eminent ophthalmists, gath
cred hints from them, and used their
names recklessly. Marian became puz-
zled and alarmed. Her director was
still absent--she longed for his raturn.
Thus two months passed, and 1t was
absolutely necessary to concert the de
nouement, but none could Dick find
which satisfied him a bit Though
modestly assured of hrs cousins love
for Fred, threatened with blindness
the revelation of the truth would be
n perilous shock indeed Another
week went by, and another, but q
fortnight remained. Dick grew pale
with dread and sleeplessness He beg
ged Clement and the General to relieve
him of this awful duty, and Marian
was proportionately distressed. They
vehemently declined.
But Fate came to the rescue with a
vengeance. Father Powell returned.
and forthwith Marian confided her
anxieties to him. He saw it must be
an unprecedented case. and old inter
ests were stirred. Without delay he
called on Doctor Molyneux, a former
friend, and was much surprised at the
inquiry. He had no acquaintance
with Mr.. Frederick Mathres, of the
Royal Shannon Regiment, but Mr
Richard Mathers, v. c., he had often
met lately, a pleasant, funny fellow.
who showed much curiosity about dis
eases of the eye. 'I have misunder
stood Sister Marian somehow"
thought the director, and he went to
another of the specialists whom Dick
had named, receiving the same answer
there. Reused to suspicion, he tried a
third, with the like result. And then.
as luck would have it, he me: The
General in Pail Mali, and told him
these odd circumstances.
The veteran did not think it fitting
that a spiritual adviser, however
agreeable personally, should meddle in
his family affairs. Brusquely he told
Mr. Powell to mind his own business.
and that gentleman, after pondering.
decided that it was his business to let
Sister Marian know this strange state
of things. And he wrote at length.
Before the letter came to hand an
other incident arose. This was Satur-
day. Dick had warned her that he
would not pay his call until late in
the afternoon, and accordingly Marian
started upon one of her charitable mis-
sions. AS she left the house a country
aunt, whom she had not seen for
months, drove up.
I'm going to take you to the the
atre," cried Mrs. Beauchamp, after
embraces. "Off with that hideous and
ridiculous disguise, and show us the
pretty girl of the period which Heaven
made YOU"
"Oh. aunt! cannot go to the the,
atre"
"Oh, niece! say you shall! Where's
the General?"
"At lunch. 1t Is quite impossible
dear Aunt Mary"
Mrs Beauchamp was an imperious
dame of large fortune. She seized
Marian and dragged her into the din
ing room.
I'm going to take my niece to see
Miss Mary Anderson. Philip. I've
heard of her extravagances and
mean to put stop to them"
do. Mary. but there's no need to
bully Glen or me. You have all our
sympathies."
But 1 mustn't. papa" Marian ex-
ciaimad a1most crvfnp
"Fiddle-dee-dee! Wouldn't you like
to see Mary Anderson"
"Yes-but-"
you shall! suppose she has some
dresses fit for a girl in our position.
Philip? Go and put one on, child"
Go, go. dear, for Heavens sakew
cried the General.
Mrs. Beauchamp seized her again.
carried her upstairs in a whirl, and
presently drove off with her, fearful.
but not ungracefully submissive.
1t was Miss Anderson's first matinee
In a new character. and the house was
crowded. When Marian had so far
overcome her agitation as to look
about, she recognized Fred in the
stalls, sitting between two bronzed
warriors of his own age-evidently
Fred. not Dick with his beard shaved
off! She could not make a mistake.
The girl shrank back and watched.
1t was quite clear he could see-see
as well as man need. His eyes were
as keen as a hawks. The comrades
with him showed nothing of that read
iness to point out and explain and
describe which they would naturally
have felt had his sight been impaired.
He had recovered then, but to keep up
his interest he concealed the fact. II