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

-oV1u6N cheeks, and with brown
yes large and gentle, held her
COUSIN s arm. The lids were droop-
ed over Harold's sightless eyes,
and the expression on his fine SEN
5ltlve face Was disturbed and sad.
IN this, his first walk in blindness
through the scenes known to him
from boyhood, he was feeling with
Keen pain the extent and awful
ness OF his affection. Alice's sweet
face was raised to her cousin 8 with
q look of deep pity and aolicitude.
Jack Macdonald was tmitten
Tith jealousy and misery at the
sight, interpreting as he did III the
light Of Mr. Hoaley'g surmise that
Harold and Alice had "come to
an Understandings
Alice, catching sight of Jack on
the other side Of the fence, bowed,
and o shy glad smile frightened
her face.
Jack returned the bow in man
aef which he believed to be icilv
md distintly lrteous, and then
turned to the boys and Joined in
3 football ECuffie. Alice'a face VISA
covered with distressed surprise,
and when she spoke again to Har-
old he wondered at the note Of pain
that had come into her voice.
Jack, by the course of conduct
he doggedly pursued, gave himself
and Alice no chance of ofunderstand-
ing how matters really stood. When
Alice visited the Grammar School
he kept carefully out Of the way,
and refused invitation after inyi-
zion to go to the Viearage to join
the evening social parties which
were arranged for the benefit Of
Alice and Harold. When he could
not plead school duties, he gave
out as an excuse that he was study
ing hard for an examination. He
did, indeed, sit every evening in
| the deserted schoolroom with a
pile Of books beside him, making
manful efforts to absorb himself
in them, but he studied to little
purpose. In those days his frank
boyis3 face grew very morose. He
I0leT unto himself, and wore his
heart On his sleeve 10 longer, even
| before Lesbia Moore.
Lesbia was constantly at the
Vicarage, and n the company Of
Alice and the Healeys. Keeping
Aer eyes open-for Jack Macdon-
aids sake-sEe could see little
ground for suggesting hope and
comfort to him. Harold and his
cousin were certainly on terms of
close and kindly intimacy. Alice
was eyes to the blind man. She
seemed to know his wants and
wishes by instinct, and to be able
10 satisfy them with delicate tact
which never made the strong man
vince under his heIplessness and
dependence. 1t was Alice who
read to hin-Alice who wrote for
: him, and Alice who helped to guide
his steps; and Harold seemed tc
turn to her instinctively for help
and comprehension.
It was very evident, too, that
it was the desire of Mr.. Healey' (
heart to see his son united to Alice
He con6ded this desire to Lesbia
You see, Lesbia," he said one
day, "it is not only that che is 8
sweet and beautiful girl, but she
will some day be rich. That sounds
shocklngly nlercenary, no doubt
But [ am thinking of poor Harold
|, as you are aware, my dear, an
as a poor as a church mouse, anc
there's nothing to come to hin
when I am dead. If he is BLIND
for life, what is he to do? He say:
that he intends making caree.
for himself, in spite of his blind
ness, should he have tore5ign him
self to it for life. Well, he may
or he may not. There is nc lacl
of character and spirit in Harold
but it isn't given to more than Oh
t man in million to be Fawcet
J or a Milton. II he marries Alice
all will be we'll" "
/ "They are notactually engaged! 7
: Lesbia ventured to ask-in behal
/ of Jack Macdonald.
e ooh, no, not yeti" said Nj
s Healey cheerfully; ''and nothing
S has been said to me about it; bu
& | expect every day to have Alic
presented to me as q daughter-in
law. 1t is easy to see that the
e cannot get on without one al
: other.''
d And, indeed, it did look it. Les
: bias heart felt strangely heavy
/ and she looked sadly upon Juc
= Wiien next che saw the moody b0y