Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-08-22
CHAPTER Xxx.
..roR ROW THAT ! ~ plIxp,I

II FOR NOW THAT Al BLIND
The tea that Clements had made for
ne and the rest did mo world Of good.
At length Clements said:
IF You think you could travel now.
there's horse and saddle here for you.
Do you think you could sit one, old
| chapi" he asked. 81 warrant he won't
buck. It's old Sir Henry. called after
the jolly old premier Of New South
Wales, and as sure footed an that old
gentleman himself III attach lead
ing rein In case Of accidents, though. "
| Sitting in the saddle again. held
myself erect and experienced the old
feeling Of exhilaration which always
possessed me when mounted on good
horse. Who could tell but what might
enjoy many good gallop YETI Then
we rode on steadily for about an hour,
and az Sir Henry was a. easy to sii
upon as n rocking chair never had the
slightest difficulty In Keeping my seat.
Once only had to hold on TO the can
tie Of the saddle and throw myself
backward, but that was at Clements
caution, when we were descending q
gully into the great valley again.
Clements directed the black boys Ia
drive the pack horses some little dis
tance down the river. He then left me
again for some little time while be
helped to round them mp and remove
the packs He then sent one OF the
black boys of 10 acquaint the party re-
garding our whereabouts
had dismounted. tied my horse to q
tree, and sat down to wait till Clements
came back when heard the clatter OF
horses hoofs az IL came galloping up.
In another minute the horseman dis
mounted. and something told me it was
Jack. There could be no mistaking him.
BE never uttered word. but took both
my hands In his and wrung them till
thought he would break every bone.
wondered why he did not speak. Then
something told me I was the cooler OF
the two
IAN right in the cave, Jackf"
ventured at length.
"Yes. my dear old fellow. thanks to
you. Dick. can't tell you what feel y
His voice was somewhat shaky. but
saved him saying more.
~ know what you feel far better
han IL you told me. Jack My life has
-een spared. ! ought 10 be thankful for
that, also that you are with me You II
be able to help me good deal now. T"
And then to change the subject asked
for Gordon
He told me that Gordon was wonder.
fully well. and that the rest Of the par
~ would soon arrive. The squatter and
the Surveyor party had come Just In
the nick Of time to save them II I
wanted to confer favor on him I was
TO order him about incessantly - 1t
would be impossible to ask him to do
too much. Then. as IL 10 prove his words,
he went Oh TO find tent.
Then there arose the sound M Of .
great body Of horsemen approaching.
and knew that the entire party had
come back from the cave to camp. l
was conscious Of many hands shaking
mine, and many honest, warm words Of
greeting They, doubtless wisely enough.
feared 10 indulge too much in symps.
thy. was conscious Of pair Of giant
hands holding both Of mine and knew.
though the owner did not inter word.
that il was Savile. He tried to speak.
great honest soul that he was, but the
words stuck in his throat, and he sim
ply wrung my hands again. A pair OF
soft woman's hands caught mp mine.
and kissed them. knew that 1t was
Elsie Gordon
Then Jack led mo away TO tent that
had been pitched for me some little dis
tance of and, saying he would be back
in q few minutes. left.
stood with one hand resting on the
tent pole for some time. wondering II
the souatter and his daughter had come
and specializing in my own mind as TO
how the news Of my blindness would
affect the latter. That she would be
heartily sorry for me ! had no doubt,
but then. "out Of sight ont Of mind, "
she would soon cease to remember me-
| I would become simply q shadowy
memory, recalled only perhaps with q
vague sense Of regret II was as well,
| thought bitterly, though with heavy
heart, that she had loved some one else,
for how could she ever cling to blind
and helpless mani
| For minute or two the old original
Adam waged war within me.
But there came the sound Of quick.
Hight footstep Just outside the tent and
the rustic Of a woman's dress drew
myself together. would show myself
q man before her at least.
| How greeted her in the bitterness
born Of my affection and sense OF ship
wrecked hopes care not to remember
now, but this know-that woman'i
arms were round my neck and she had
kissed me once. had kissed me twice.
upon the lips
| Despite my surprise. 1t needed no one
70 tell me who she waa OF such are the
supreme moments in our lives, when
earth seems akin to heaven and the
commonest clay IL spiritualized.
| What II it were her first and last
Kiss, She had still kissed me, and the
memory Of that would hnger with me
"sweet as remembered kisses aftel
death"-ays, and long after she had
passed out Of my life But ] had still
some measure Of reason left and would
be true to myself and to her. I woulf
J not let this impulsive girl in ut o.
pity act in manner which might caus<
| after regret So disengaged her arm
tenderly.
lyon are very. very good to come K
me like this. ! said - steadily -
!. could, ~but you must not forget ther'
u some one elsa He mightn't like It
you know"
She had caught and held both my
banda, and a she spoke her 6nger
frightened on mine.
"Oh, Dick. knew you had mistake1
my meaning that morning In the cave
Iwa6speakipg Of my father. You wen
out before could explain mysek. VII
you let me do II nowT
j. Her face was 90 near mine that
could feel her warm breath upon N!
cheek. The hands that held mine tEen
blsd, and could ten. although behel'
Il not. that with hsf bright eyes b
y Wss gaming into my eighties eyeballa
Il Her vehemence frightened me. and
tmporized. although Il was IKE crush
ing my very heart within me to spsal