Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1899-08-24
Il M
The Midst Of Life.
Il NJ

which his servant had brought up to
his bedside and read to him that morn
ing? He hardly had the courage. And
yet George Pres on should not have
been the man to turn back for any
thing.
One of the youngest captains in the
service, he had seen much fighting,
and had won honor and promotion by
his courage and ability on the Indian
frontier. Handsome, healthy, and
wholesome minded, he was a man
whom any one might have admired and
envied till his great misfortune befell
him.
For he was blind. A crushing fall
with his horse when out pig sticking
had caused severe injuries to his head,
and when he recovered consciousness
all was dark to him. The nerves of
sight seemed to be paralyzed.
He had come back to England few
months ago and had taken some rooms
in London. His own people were all
dead, and he was dependent on the
kindness of his friends for society.
And his old comrades did not for
get him, and many dark hour was
frightened by their old-time talk and
cheerfulness.
But London was getting empty, and
the weather was, oh! so hot that
George was looking forward with dis
NAL heart to the coming months.
The invitation was from distant
cousin in the Highlands-Graham by
rame-in whose house, when boy,
he had spent many happy holidays. 1t
was very kind and pressing, and at
last George made up his mind to ac-
cept it.
1t was bright summer day when
his train neared the station where he
was to be met. His spirits had risen
during the journey. The quick mo-
tion and the scent and sounds borne
on the mountain breeze had brought
animation to his look. But his cour-
age fell very low when his train began
to slacken speed, and he realized that
for the first time in his life he was to
be helpless in the midst of people
whom the passage of years had made
almost strangers.
However, the end came. His man
helped him out of the train, but hardly
was his foot on the ground when he
heard himself addressed by girlish
voices and touched by gentle hands,
which relieved him of all his belong
ings and led him to the carriage.
ooh, George, we're SO glad you've
come! We always called you George,
you know; you don't mind it do you =?
Cousins count for lot in the High.
lands. I'm Helen, and this is None
and this is Bell. You'll soon know
us by our voices, for we're terrible
chatterboxes.
And, prattliDg and tending to him
with all the little kindnesses of warm
hearted girls, they soon put him at
his ease.
Mrs. Graham received him at the
door and kissed ''her boy for old
times sake" as she said, and
Georges sightless eyes were filled
with tears as he was guided to his
room.
'Dinner in half an hour sharp, "
said his hostess. And as the gong
sounded he stepped from his room, tc
find hand placed in his, and he heard
Helen's voice saying: 'I've come to
show you the way-three steps to the
left, now is straight down-that's s
capital. You must remember the
numbers"
1t was bright, unselfish household,
and when George found himsel alone
| nj Ia q In l, falf n ha,
not known for long.
The days went by for him as in Q
new world, marked by the most
thoughtful helpfulness of all. But il
was Helen who made herself especially
Georges friend and guide. She il
was who took him out of himself ani
made him do things he would mo-
have attempted OF his own accord.
Was there music in the evening
George must do his part and sing, ant
when they danced, Helen it was who
was his chief partner, and who guided
him through the other dancers. She
would never allow him to be left ou
of anything that was going on, ever
mounting him on her own pony, ant
with leading rein taking him for
canter OH the wide pastureland rounC
the domain.
But what he liked best was TO b.
taken out by her on the loch. Her
with the oars he could feel himsel
almost on level with any one, an,
could get rid of his pent-up energy
Drifting, too, in the summer evenings
when he could hear the trout leapinl
round the boat, was very pleasant, TO
then he had Helen all to himself, an,
her sympathetic friendship was eye
to the sightless man.
She nsaa TO tell him all that ba