Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1896-09-10
BLIND EYES.


crimson, in its pristine brilliancy must
have been wonderful to behold, but it had
dimmed and faded until it wore the pre-
vnding tone of the apartment. The walls
were hung with motley collection Of pict-
ures in cheap frames, and plaster figure |
of Venus, which had been given a coat of |
gold paint, adorned pedestal in one cor
ner. A semi-grand piano, whose embroid- |
cred cover was Uttered over with loose |
sheets of music, stood against the folding |
doors, and the whole room, with its air
Of degenerate grandeur, was reflected in
the depths of long and very dusty mirror
which hung between the windows.
An untidy looking colored woman had
just lighted the gas, and as she turned to
leave the room she almost ran against a
young lady who had entered noiselessly.
"Dear sakes, Miss Rushl Yo' done give
me de horrors! Feared like yo' was a
spook creeping in dat ar way"
The girl laughed. Il am sorry scared
you, Sally"
She walked over to the window and
looked out. Snow was falling quite heavily
and the sidewalks were deserted. The
electric lamps across the square shot out
great shafts Of light through the white
furry, and the red lantern of a trolly car
CLEANED like cyclopean eye as it whizzed
around the corner. She gazed out for a
minute or SO and then seated herself on
one of the yellow and red touches, drum
ming nervously on the carved arm with
her fingers. She was a pretty girl, with
shadowy blue eyes and fair hair that went
up softly into neat coil at the back of
her head. She was dressed in black, and
she wore a large black hat, caught up at
the side to show her little pink ear and
the pale golden hair pushed back from the
temples. She had thrown her coat and
gloves on the sofa beside her, and she sat
there watching the clock as the hands
slowly approached seven.
Just then the sound of wheels crunching
across the frozen snow came to stop
outside. The girl on the sofa gave a ner-
vous start, and a minute later the door
bell pealed loudly. She rose to meet the
visitor, who was shown into the parlor. He
was tall man, and he wore long over
coat and q thick muffler, concealing the
lower part of his face. His eyes met hers
in a quick bright glance, and she muir
INJURED something-so indistinctly, how
| ever, that the other ladies, despite their
efforts, were unable to hear what she said.
I She caught up her things from the sofa
anu Sltppcu pdbt ulnl ihto tlt iUiE, uuEIoW
entry that was dimly lighted from q gas
~ at the foot of the stairs.
Mildred Rush averted her gaze some
what and became very much interested in
the fastening of her glove. She fancied
that the beating Of her heart must be audi
BILE, SO fercely did it throb against her
side. In silence she followed him down
the slippery steps and allowed him to helI
har int tha ef;M tal t.,
gave direction to the driver and then
Jumped in by her side.
"Well, madam, and now that you have
conquered your scruples and given me Q
chance to have more than two minutes
conversation with you, should like tt
know why you took SO long to make NJ
your mind, or what caused you to chang,
it at last"
'sDo not ask questions if you are WISE
she said softly. at is enough that an
here"
"Yes, I suppose SO, but I am anxious
about good many things with regard {,
you. For instance, have you never foun,
the selling Of paint and lead pencils da,
after day for-how many years?-some
what monotonousa "A girl, too, with you
eyes and fgurer'
MY eyes may be hard to please. SUP
pose that goes for q reason. Yet 1 mus
tell you candidly that only let you cal
this evening because am sick and tire
to death of the terrible monotony of it all
/ have no relations, no friends. / can
make companions Of those women at til
boarding house. When they are no
atrociously common and vulgar they ar
dull to degree, and If any nice ones d
come along they regard me with cold sus
picion because am young and nice look
ing and have no one to take care of m,
oh, yes; imagine my life! The store a
day, and at night long, solitary hours /
my room, darning stockings or patching IL
my clothes, or something equally interest
ing" NJ.
"You poor little thing; you wanted
change, indeed! / feel hattered. Blu
why did you choose me? Were there N
others?"
He was laughing at her, but his voic
was gentle and very kind. He felt sorr
for her because her life had been so colo
less and empty of all that goes to max
existence bearable.
He, Lloyd Hinchliffe, had admired he
now for about three years, and he ha
managed to see her at the store where 81
worked on an average about three times
week. Sometimes he took her few flow
ers, which she would accept with graf
tude, but despite his endeavors he ba
never learned her name until this mori
ing, when, after many and persistent r
fusals. she had suddenly given him pc
mission to call and take her out the san
evening.
The cab drove out Chestnut street h
/, yond Broad, and then, otter few sho
turnings, pulled up before square. illum
mated doorway built out to the pavemen
Before Mildred could say word HI
companion had hurried her out of the CT
and behind the glass doors, then wei
back to pay the man.
She followed him mp carpeted stairw;
into long saloon, brilliantly lighte
where one or two men sat drinking Mt ii
tables. A waiter, with a big. clean shaw
face, came up smiling, and Hinchlif
spoke few words to him in an underton
Certainly" said the man, and thrown
open door near the top of the stairwa
he showed them into small room, co
tanning couple of chairs, table and
hat rack, with long mirror
THAT'S right" said Hinchlffe, pullir
off his coat. Nov bring us bottle
wine"
When they were alone he turned with
smile to Mildred. She had seated herse
by the table, and with her chin resting ,
her hand, was regarding him anxiously.
hat t.la se, ss,