Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1899-08-22

his daughter We're going round 20 ooWm
by one of Burns Philips bost Igpys
Gordon an envelope containing 30
bank note TO be given to ssvils aad
Elsie when certain happy event mieht
be expected to take place. 6svils. good
soul, was unable 10 speak when he shook
hands with me, but ! undsrstood him
There was no need 70 say anything.
Then the steamer Dugons bIsw 10
whistle. In minute the score o. % q
bushmen and stockmen, with the entiss
population of Burketown, hurricdly TO
crossed the gangway and stood upon
the wharf. Soon We were stsamiue
down the tortuons river. In couple a
hours I was sitting upon . deck chair.
with Norah beside. me- The cool GAk
sea air was blowing On my cheek, and ]
telt strangely well end happy. The -
sd always exercised powerfal faec-
.ntion for me, and 10 exercised some a
its. old wistful glamour for me now = !
listened 20 the swish and splash d ths
waves breaking and couysing along -
sides Of the old Dugong. Bat at lsagA
the vain regret forced itself upsa -
that could not now look upoa oA
ocean 8 mystic face e IL heaved In "
moonlight. here with alysry flashes a
phosphorescent nrs and there with .
yawning gulf Of somber blaokneaA How
often I had longed when in the I'D
voiced lonely bush 10 DO onoe mors
within sound Of Its ever changing and
mysterious whisper And now my wish
was granted. But, alas. might listen 70
the signing Of winds aad the socshSs0
splash Of waters. but II Wa writes y
the book that I was no more - lsok
upon that dear familiar face.
Then l felt the gentle pressure ef shs
iand that lay in mine. and know sAAe
Sone one was at her old tricks of minA
reading.
lyon should not think Of ssch
things, she insisted, 'but whsa yea
do remember they are none the lss rsal
because you don't see them. think -
hear-to feel-them Is ever % much
grander. often shut my syos On pur~
pose TO do this.
That's not the only thing wheh
troubles me-" rejoined almost qusru-
lousy; ''it's the future-the horrible
uselessness and hope,sasneO Of tAs ~
ture."
That's rather hard upon na Int
It'll" she commented.
1T would be ten times harder upoa
you, answered, "if allowed Jon =
throw away your life ON blind man.
Listen to me, Dick. she interrupt-
ed, and the words came from her calm
" and proudly, as II from . conscioue-
ness Ct her own strength, but not with
out the tenderness Of her infinite love
and trust II understand perfectly why
you speak like this, but you don I quite
know me yet Whether you get back
your sight or not won't make any dif-
ference-only perhaps I'd love you bst-
ter as you are. Do you think q woman
only marries q man for his eyesf y
there anything the world can give .
woman In exchange for her lovsf
There's nothing, Dick, and you know
il Didn't you tell me once that you
loved me better than your own lifef
The girl had caught up one OF my
hands and now held II between hg
own. She had come 20 close 10 me that
I could feel the silky touch Of her hair
upon my temples She was very strong
in that which makes q woman woman
". My resolutions wavered l should
not have been made Of hssh and blood
had not experienced a secret sense OF
thsnkfulness in 30 far ~ had done
that which my sense Of justice demand
Cd and failed to shake the girls con-
stancy.
"I'n tel you what" said. ''in tie
meantime we II leave things Just - they
are. In six months or 30 from now you'n
be with your father In England BY
that time III either be recovering my
sight or be hopelessly blind man
You II have lots Of time 10 think ovsr
matters before then, 20 thst should you
have come to see things in different
light you II be at liberty 10 Do Just -
you please, and no one win be 10 blame.
Agreed. she cried gladly, with the
confidence Of one who has no fear Of ths
results, and we sealed the compact In
the simplest and best Of waya
rro m ooGysnl