The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1896-11-12
APAIR OF GLASSES


Sunday on their way to the park would
nod toward the Murray mansion and
sag: There's a house that cost more
than any other house in the CITY," and
a few of the knowing ones would add:
Yes. and the owners of 1t don't enjoy
ii little bit"
Pity twas twas true. John Murray
caene and went day after day when In
town with no more apparent care for
the elegant brown-stone pile and its
exquisite landscape surroundings than
il 1t belonged TO a stranger. Mrs. Muir
rag swept through the halls and en-
teted her carriage waiting at the porte
cdchere as IL there were only dirt un-
der her feet, and as II the coachman
and footmen in chamois tights and
high hats were drivers of oxen. She
was a proud woman, people said; and
a vain woman, and some whispered an
Unhappy woman.
Time was when John Murray's first
thousand dollars was put snugly away
as nest egg. Katherine Bliss wore
on her finger one ring, a twist of gold
and silver wire. her only jewel. Then
she had two gowns, gingham one for
wtrk days, a chambray one for Sun
+, when her shoes were often so old
5 wished her dresses were longer,
but she was happy. She sat on the arm
Of John Murray's chair in the freight
from the fireplace in her grandfather's
house and had told him that she would
lore him with all her heart, with all
her soul, with all her strength forever.
ana would wear this little twisted ring
all her life and afterward.
But that was very long ago and the
nonds that blazed on Katherine
LIS Murray's fingers left no room for
tfs twisted bit OF wire
They had drifted very far apart The
first thousand had been a mere drop in
the bucket to what followed, and with
increasing wealth came greater ambi-
tiols, came forgetfulness of those
tribes that once had seemed like the
principal things in life, came worry
and some sorrow, and gradually
growing indifference.
There were many days when Mr..
and Mrs. Murray did not meet. Strange
how people will drift apart, though
under the same roof. Mr.. Murray
would breakfast alone, lunch at the
club, come home to find that Mrs. Muir
ray had dined out-and when she was
home ten chances to one he would be
diairg out.
But one day Mrs. Murray did not
dibe out. 1t had been raining and she
had stayed indoors reading the latest
book. Suddenly a terrific pain mani
tested itself in one OF her eyes, neu-
raigic pain that drove her with her
face to the pillow and her maid to the
telephone for the physician.
You must see an oculist at once"
the doctor said, and so on the morrow
Mrs. Murray drove down to a famous
maa's Office to have her eyes examined.
IT'S a focal strain, that is ALL" the
great man said. Your eyes have nev-
er been properly focused; in fact, you
never had correct vision"
why, doctor"
NO you will see the difference when
yosr glasses are finished"
Must | wear glasses?"
Yes, certainly"
But it was three weeks before Mrs.
Murray wore glasses. The pain came
to both eyes and she lay In her dark
ened room for many days unable to
open her eyes. The loneliness of ILL
ness is terrible thing. True hun
dred and one dear friends come to
ones door, but one cannot see them;
one does not want strangers about
whoa one is suffering.
Cne evening Mrs. Murray had been
lying silent fer long time and then
she said to the nurse:
rs Mr.. Murray home?" -
"Yes, madame" -
ASK him to come in"
Where are you?" he said, CROPPING in
the darkness. 20, here you are. How
are you?"
MY eyes are paining me terribly.
ane | was so lonesome"
"ls that so? It's too bad" And
then he sat down and tor the first
time in weeks they had long talk.
Tn to wear glasses she said at
laa. How do you suppose | will look
with glasses?"
You will look well in anything"
he said, just as he used to say those
things. You are still young, but 1
am old. I'm shocked some times when
] nStlce how gray am"
"Mhy, John, you are not gray"
1T is kind Of you TO say that" he
said. and there might have been a
toUG of bitterness in his tone.
Mrs. iurray's eyes grew better and
stronger and the glasses came. She
put them on and walked to her win
dow. Far down the avenue she Ga2ed,
growing conviction in her heart that
wirat the oculist said was true. she
haA never seen. She could read the
street sign at the corner, she recogniz-
ed friend far down the avenue. she
loS,ed over the glasses and then
Though lhem then she took Hem of.
AYou may dress me now, Adalle."
Now ] will see how / Look" she
said. She looked in the glass. Adele.
Wv in the world have you put all that
color on my face?' and she started