The true northerner., 1899-06-14

and al the fancied imperfections OF
her face mattered little; for her large
gray eyes were soft and full of anims-
ton. her skin was like velvet, her figure
and carriage perfect. But, womanlike,
she could only dwell upon her facial
defects, and was full of apprehension
lest some day his sight should be re-
stored, and, seeing her features, he
should loathe her.
Her cousin Kate, sister nurse, see
ing how things tended, chaffed her ui,-
mercifully.
snow, May, thought you had long
ago sacrificed your life to nursing; and
yet the first good-looking young lieu
tenant"
"He will always want nursing, Kate, "
she faltered, in excuse.
"Ahl but suppose DR.. Haggerty is
right, and his sight comes back; he
won't want any nursing then"
Sister May did not answer.
A week later Hamilton left the hos
pital for Graefrath, full of hope. The
night previous to his departure they
came to an indefinite understanding,
and though she would not give an un-
qualified answer to his pleadings, she
had not the courage to stop him alto
gether. In recklessness she allowed
herself to drink in the sweets OF his
passionate words; they would at any
rate be a lifelong remembrance, even
though on his return he should cast her
off.
The operation was successful beyond
his hopes, and in few weeks he was
rushing back to his love-eyes shaded,
1t is true, but with the certainty that in
a short time his sight would be fully
restored.
81 want to see Miss Johnstone," he
said to the orderly at the hospital en-
trance.
miss Johnstone, sirP Which?"
"Why, the nurse"
"Yes, sir; but there's two of them"
"Well-er-she's very good looking.
did not know there were two"
"Oh, yes, sir; there's two. But 1
know the one you mean now"
And he was shown into the waiting
room.
Gentleman wants me? Who can
it" Then the door opened. He start
ed forward.
"My Lowell" he whispered. "I knew
you were beautiful. l have come back
to claim YOU"
Sister Kate drew back, startled. For
the moment she could not imagine who
this man with the shade over his eyes
could be. In that moment he had
drawn her TO him, and was wildly pour
ing out his love.
In that moment also the door again
opened, and Sister May, looking in,
saw all.
She faltered and stepped back, the
beating of her heart choking her for
the minute.
stop, sir!" said Kate, regaining her
senses. You must be Mr.. Hamilton ?"
'Yes," he answered, amazed, releas-
ing her.
This frivolous little voice was not
that of his love. This over-frizzled hair.
these shallow eyes were not beautiful
at the second glance. What had he
done?
Are you not Miss Johnstone?"
eyes. Kate Johnstone."
"Kate? And is your sister"
Cousin"
'Is she not here?"
YES" said Kate, with a smile. Stay
here. l will fetch her"
"Why, May, you there?" she whis-
pered, on finding her at the threshold,
and wondering if she had seen or heard.
"Here is Mr.. Hamilton. Come!"
mo, never. will never see him!"
she painted between her heart beats.
Nonsense! He has come back on
purpose for you, and his eyes are all
right"
"Yes, and he expects to see pretty
girl like you'll" retorted May, bitterly.
Look here, May, don't be fool! Go
In; he Is waiting"
But Hamilton had already grown i'm
patient. The door opened, and he saw
them both.
Here she is," said Kate.
"Ah!" he said.
Sister May looked down, trembling.
Are you May Johnstone, my dear
nurse?" he asked, his voice full of ten
derness and love.
YES" she whispered.
Kate had disappeared; they were
alone.
my darling, have come for you" he
said.
"But-you can see now?"
She looked up recklessly, and their
eyes met.
"Yes, thank God; can see my love!"
Then she surrendered herself.-Chi-
cago Times-Herald.
Scotch Dialect
The Scottish American has story of
a north country servant girl, who was
living with an English family in the
of Oxford.
One wet day she happened TO step
into a heap of mire and returned home
with har clothes much eoi1ad