Evening journal., 1899-08-01

and all the fancied imperfections of
her face mattered little; for her large
gray eyes were soft and full Of anima-
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 Lis sight should be re-
stored, and, seeing her features, he
should loatbe her.
Her cousin Kate, a sister nurse, Sec
ing how things tended, chaffed her un.
mercifuny.
"Now, May, l thought you had long
ago sacrificed your life to nursing; and
yet the first good-loolcing young leu
tenant"
"IIe viii 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 10 an indefinite understanding,
and though she would not give an un-
qualified answer to his pleatlngs, 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 lifelong remembrance, even
though on his return he shosld cast her
off.
The operation was successful beyond
his hopes, and in few weeks he was
rushing back TO his love-oyes shaded,
IL 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, sir? Which9"
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
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 loyel" he whispered. II knew
you were beautiful. 1 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 foI
the minute.
"stop, sirl" said Kate, regaining her
senses. "You must be Mr.. Hamilton?"
sYcs," he answered, amazed. releas
ing her.
This frivolous little voice was no
that of.his love. This over-frizzied hair
these shallow eyes were not bcautifu
at the second glance. What had h'
done?
"Are you NOT Miss JOhnstone?"
''Yes. kate Johnstone."
''KatsS And n ysur sister"
"CouslR."
> SIS she not here?"
"Yas," said Kate, with a smile. "Stal
here. l viii fetch her"
"Why, May, you thereP" she whis
pered, on finding her at the threshold
aud wondering if she had seen or heard
"Here is Mr.. Hamilton. Comal"
"No, neverl will never see him!'
she painted between her heart beats.
sNonsensel He has come back OF
purpose for you, and his eyes are al
right"
''Yes, and he expects to sec prett.
r girl like you'll" retorted May, bitterly.
'LoolS here, May, don't be fool G.
in; he is waiting"
But Hamilton had already grown i'm
patient. The door opened, and he saw
1 them both.
! "Here she is" said Kate.
S "Ahln he said.
= Sister May looked down, trembling.
I "Are you May Johnstone, my dea
nurse?" no asked, his voice full of ten
= derness and love.
r. "Yes," she whispered.
r Kate had disappeared; they wer
}. alone.
!, MY darling, have come for you" !" h
o said.
r 'But-you can see now?"
She looked up reclklessly, and thei
a eyes met
- Eyes, thank God; 1 can see my Lowell"
j. Then she surrendered herself-Chl
cago Times-Herald.
= scotch Dialect.
q The Scottish American has story Q
north country servant girl, who wa
O living with an English family in tn