The Robesonian. [volume] (Lumberton, N.C.) 1870-current, 1897-09-01

0ooSlI 1idiolu WIS WIFI 0ef.
Poor boy!' said Lesbia to her
SELF again. For his cake | hope
that Mr. Healey's surmise ia & mis-
taken one"
But Lesbia was conscious that
her hope was not altogether disin-
ferested. Il was not only for Jack
AeDonald's sake that she hoped
Mr.. Healey was mistaken.
Her thoughts turned from Alice
and Jack to the sad story Of Har-
old Healey, the wears only son.
Two years ago he had come to spend
4 few months in his father home
at Brierton, before proceeding to
the London euracy to which he
bed just been appointed. It was
about the same time that Lesbia 8
home had been broken up, ana
that Lesbia, herself orphaned, had
come TO live with her uncle, the
Grammar School master. In Har-
old Healey she thought she found
q congenial and sympathetic COM
panlon. During the short period
for which they were thrown to-
gether she and Harold had discov-
cred that they possessed an almost
abolute identity of tastes and in
terests, and they had parted with
mutual regret. Harold went to
his curacy, and Lesbia had not
seen him since. But from Mr..
Healey she had heard Of the sad
affliotion which had overtaken him
IN the midst of q busy and noble
career. 4 severe illness had left
him totally blind. That was near-
Iy a year ago. He had been liv-
ing ever since with his mother s
relations, the Kingsleys, for the
convenience Of placing himself IN
der the care Of famous London
oeulist. Up to the present the oc-
lists skill had been quite unavail-
ing, and Harold's chances of ever
recovering his sight were very
small. He was coming to Brier-
ton fer few months to renew his
strength before undergoing anoth-
or final operation. If that failed,
there was nothing before him but
resignation to lifelong blindness
If seemed al intolorably SAD +. ff,.e &c
to have befalIen a man Of Harold
HealeY's stamp-high-souled and
aspiring, full of energies ana en-
thusiams, and with somet thing Of
on artists passion for all that was
beautiful in the world.
II am glad Briorton lies west
ward" " thought Lesbia; Il could
never have walked towards that
gloomy cloud and turned my bacl;
on this magnificent color
Brierton Grammar School stood
back from the high road at The
entrance to the village. It was 8
large, rambling old building pleas
ant in aapect, with it's subdued rec
coloring and its low, broad, octa
gon-paned windows. When Lesbis
reached the outer gate, she stood
there awhile to take q last look a
the sky.
II wish someone cared" sht
thought wistfuliy-'1 wish somt
one cared about these things as
do. Not only for nature, for sun.
sets, and free air and the night
skies, but for the things belonging
to the bestand noblest human life
| We are so dull here; our thought
never go out to the great world
We st0gnate; what We though
last autumn we think this
While still still fingered at tn
gate, her mind full of q wistfu
restlessnes8, there came along til
road from Oldboroush familia
figure, rushing along at q frightfu
speed. It was the Rev. Henr'
Healey, known far and wide fo
his eccentricity and his goodnes
Of heart. He was always in a hur
ry, his clerical hat on the back Q
his head, his coattails flying.
"Have you heard the news, LIE:
bia?" he cried, as he drew nea
and perceived the girl standing a
the gate; "Harold is coming
Harold is coming!"
Before she could reply, he ha
passed and was almost out Of heal
ing. She laughed as she watche
the retreating coattalls, and as sh
turned towards the house the word
Harold is coming! Harold
comingl' rang in her ears with
happy persistence.
X X
On the first afternoon after tn
arrival Of Alice and Harold at Br.
erton Viearage, Jack Macdonal
was in the Grammar School play
ground among the boys. Instca
of Joining in their games as wa