The record-union., 1896-01-15
THE BLIND HERMIT.
(Written for the Record Union" by
ReseIe0a

CWritten for the Record Union by
BeseIena)
At the age of 21 Ivan Tremayne was
stricken with an illness which left him
totally blind. So sudden, so unexpected
was the blow, that for days he did not
realize the great affiiction which had
ccme upon him. The first impression
was that he was in a bad dream from
which he would presently awaken, and
he waited patiently, but when day sue
ceeded day, and that awful blank dark
ness still surrounded him, then he real
lied the truth of the great calamity
which had come into his life, and, with
heart-rending groan, he turned his
face to the wall and lay motionless with
closed eyes for several hours, fighting
the bitterest battle of his life. His con-
valescence was slow but sure When he
was able to be around again, he assem-
bled his servants together and dis
missed them, with the exception of old
Louis, who had been in the family since
his birth. Ivan did not have the heart
to turn him away, but, before consent
ing to have the old man join his for
tunes with his own, he told him of the
| life he intended to lead hereafter.
There is no one save yourself who
cares for me now" he said sadly, when
they were left alone in the empty house.
My life is ruined At the outset of my
career T find myself helpless, hope
lessly blind man. The only ambition /
| have left is to get as far away from
civilization as possible. / am going up
in the mountains to live a hermit's ex-
istence Nevermore do / want to be
within the sound of mans voice. am
so alone in the world that 1 can do with
myself as please, but l cannot consent
/ that you should share my miserable ex-
istence. 1t is best that you should leave
me before it is too late.
| In vain Louis begged and pleaded.
TIemayne was inflexible, his resolu-
| ton could not be altered. Then the old
man arose, and, placing his arm ten
derly around the shoulders of his young
master he told him that wherever he
would go there he would follow.
| A few days after this they left the
city and went up in the mountains,
and there 1.-THE faithfuE Louis built
them a primitive house, where they
lived for almost twenty years. The hut
was built on the side of a steep hill
overlooking a green and fertile valley,
dotted here and there with farm houses.
One day an enterprising real estate
agent saw the pleasant, peaceful val
ley. Tt would be just the spot for
summer hotel, he thought 1t was not
long after this before a big wooden
structure was built, which was soon
filled with happy, careless pleasure
seekers, who looked up with awe at
the hernit's hut. perched upon the
mountain side. From that time on Ivan
knew no more peace. His solitude was
disturbed by the ceaseless chatter and
laughter of the guests at the sum
mer hotel When he had listened to
the sounds of their voices until he was
almost maddened, then he would rush
away through the forest until exhaust
ed he would fall and lie painting and
breathleSS on the cool brown earth;
then Louis would come and take him
home. One day, when the sound of the
voices became more uncomfortable than
ever, he rushed as usual madly through
the forest, not caring which way he
went. Many times the sharp branches
of the trees thrust out their treacher-
Gus arms, and he would fall face down
ward, where he would lie stunned for
a moment, then he would gradually
recover and rush onward. Presently
his feet lurched from under him, his
body toppled forward, instinctively he
threw out his arms to save himself,
but it was too late; he felt himself
going. In another moment he would
be over the brink; at that instant
strong hand grasped him and he was
pulled back, a little bit dazed from the
| shock He stood helpleSSIy rooted to
the spot.
why did you do it?" speaks a
woman's voice presently. Didn't you
know if you fell from the cliff you
would be killed?"
Tremayne turned his poor sightless
eyes and gazed in the direction whence
the voice came. 81 thank you for saw
ing me, madame" he said simply, for
I am blind"
There was an instant's pause, then he
felt the pressure of a gentle hand upon
his arm, and sweet, low voice filled
with wbmauly sympathy said close
beside him, "I am very, very sorry. ;.
Then, after another pause, But you
should not be out alone"
Tremayne bent his head in recogni-
ton of the just rebukel He was
ashamed to tell this new found friend
that it was a wild, mad, unreasoning
rebellion against fate that had brought
him to the spot. He felt that she would
not understand, and so stood silent
and abashed before her. After a while
he found himself seated under tall
pine tree with the stranger beside him,
and into her sympathetic ear he was
pouring his life's sad history. The
very idea of cOnfiding in anyone seemed
repugnant before, but after he was
once started the sweet consolation Of
fered by this woman was inexpres-
sibly dear.
Long they sat upon the hillside and
it was not until the shadows deepened
in the valley below that hand in hand
| they walked slowly toward Tremayne's
little house Louis saw them coming
and fed precipitately into the house,
where he viewed the astonishing sight
from a secluded window. They paused
before the door and talked until the
golden sun like a great ball of fire sank
behind the purple tipped western hills;
then only did they separate.
The next day and for many days
after this the young lady came and
always the blind man seemed to ex-
pect her. A strange, sweet, subtle
something stirred in the hermit's heart
when in her presence So vague, so
indistinct was it, that it would be diff
ficult to give it a name, and yet by
some unforeseen power Tremayne was
able to tell when she was near, even
without her speaking.
At last there came day, after he