The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1897-10-10

enter the medical college in Augusta.
The mortgage had been paid off and
with their home secure John Anthony
felt that his mother was sure of a liv-'
ing. Later in the afternoon when he
returned from his work in the field his
face was unusually sober. AS his moth
ar passed, going into the kitchen, she
touched his arm and asked:
II saw you talking with Coot Mosely
at the gate Did he have any news?"
He was telling me about Sim Spires,
ma and he said DR. Parker told him
that Sim would always be blind unless
they could send him up to Atlanta end
have his eyes operated upon by DR.
Camack,"
He might as well have said send TO
the moon" Mrs Fuller replied, stop
ping in the kitchen door and looking
back at her son. ut makes my heart
ache, honey, when think about Nancy
Spires. When she married Timothy
Spires she was the smartest, prettietst
girl around Tim hadn't any great
amount of property. but he had a start
( and people thought it was good
match for her, and it turned out he was
steady drinker, going from bad to
worse. Finally, when his pa died and
left her that little place where they
live. Tim give up work altogether and
let Nancy seufde the best she could to
make living for them all. 1 don't
see how she's ever lived through it, a
sickly woman like her And il does
seem too bad, that row. just as Sim
is grown and able to help her that he
should lose his sight. I wouldn't be a
bit surprised if 1T put Nancy in her
grave. for even if he was wild, he is
9ler only child, and it's natural for her
to love him."
Three days later John Anthony said
he l,1p
to have new points put on some plowS.
and would stop by to see Sim Spires on
his way home.
SIM SPIRES.
When the young man entered the
Spires cottage he found them all at
home. seated in one room Timothy
was half sollng a pair of coarse mems
shoes, while Sim sat near him knit
ting. When John Anthony opened the
door Sim looked up with that strained
peering of the blind, but his fingers
did not cease tWirlfng the 'coarse. steel
needles nor did he return the greeting
Nancy sat near the back window bus
lily sewing the buttons on a pile of
shirts that lay in a basket at her side.
I hope YOU don't mind my sewing,
John Anthony" she said. with an eff
fort toward cheerfulness, after the
young man had taken his seat. I'm
just finishing these shirts for the doc
tor, so l can give EN- to him when he
calls tomorrow to see about Sims
eyes"
That's what I came for. How are
Sims eyes"' asked John Anthony,
speaking so the blind man could hear
distinctly, as though wishing an an
swer directly from him.
Nancy shook her head and 1notioned
him to silence. Timothy glanced fur
lively at his son. but no one spoke.
Then John Anthony remembered to
have heard at the store that Sim be-
came furious when any one inquired
about his eyes. For some time there
Was a moody silence until John An
thony moved to go.
You amt goin' so soon?" renon-
stTated Nancy.
\ only ran in for minute when I
was passing. I've got some work to do.
Goodhy, Sim. Goodby. Mr. Spires" he
said, going quickly out.
He went down the rocky, ill-kept path
leading to the road, but when he
reached it stopped. He stood for five
minutes or more thinking. then he re-
turned to the Spires house. but when
he reached the door he stopped again.
After few moments he creDt noise
lessly away back to the road But
there it seemed that a mighty power
stopped him, he could go 10 further.
After ten minutes he went back to the
house and this time he opened the door
and went in.
When he entered the room where the
family sat they all looked up in sur
prise.
Forgot something" Nancy inquired.
"No." John Anthony replied. Then
with an effort to be natural. he add
ed: I came back TO tell YOU that Eve
got SlS7 that you are welcome to, if you
want 10 send Sim to Atlanta to see the
doctor"
How did you get 50 much money!
Timothy Spires asked staring at him in
surprise.
q saved it,, John Anthony replied.
Yes, L heard you were savin' up to
study medicine" the old man said, nod
ding his head thoughtfully
and you are willing to give up the