Kootenai County Republican. (Rathdrum, Idaho) 1899-1903, 1899-09-08
PHN MACKIE
VTH0R Of TIE DEVILS RL LAYCRoUND' 'Mw 81

again! MY feeiings at this period were
of nature that do not care to write
about There are some things which,
like delicate flowers, cannot be trans
planted My life was colored by the
memory Of one dear face. and all the
current Of my being set toward it.
There were times when l looked upon
my blindness as blessing in Disguise,
for 1t was not hard to realize that but
for it might never have fully known
the depths and purity of her great love.
which had risen superior to the tragedy
and wreck Of my physical life. Still the
prospect Of recovering my sight was
everything. for l told myself that had
my blindness continued it would have
been a crime to allow her to throw her
self away on an imperfect and useless
life. But now could. with glad heart
and clear conscience, accept the pre-
cious trust she had so nobly offered
On my arrival in England l had gone
to great oculist Contrary to expecta-
tions he did not give me much comfort
/ almost resented 1t when he told me
that, despite the temporary improve
ment in my sight. he could not hold
out any definite hope Of recovery III
you get better. good and we'll, he said,
"but you've had hard time of it in
the gulf, and the shock was terrible
one. It's as well, however. to tell you
frankly that. once let there be relapse,
and it means that any vitality your
eyes now possess is leaving them for
ever. You know the old saying about
the 'fickering of the candle -
Oh these were cruel words, although
in all truth the great man meant them
kindly enough. However. only re-
membered the proverbial caution OF
physicians with regulations to lose and
took his verdict for what l thought ii
was worth.
One morning I received my first let
ter from Norah. but am sure that no
chivalrous reader would care to read it.
Suffice 1t that its tone was cheerful,
although she advised me to exercise pa
thence. Could not. she wrote, take up
again my old prediction for story
writing-reluctantly abandoned be-
cause editors We're not sufficiently ap-
preciative? l had now a unique expert
ence to draw upon. She had heard
there were typewriting machines for
those whose sight was like my own, or
better still could employ an amanuensis
for few hours every day There was
nothing SO conducive to happiness as a
little work or having a hobby, no mat
ter if it were only keeping rabbits
Strange to say what she suggested
the writing, not the keeping Of rabbits
had been growing upon nle for some
time, until at length it had become al
most irresistible In the old days did
not realize that l was only writing
about the same commonplace and hack
neyed things that hundreds Of others
were reproducing from their colorless
hves-colorless like my own-and
which only few, either by reason OF
the subtle spark of genius or the quick
! ening touch of sorrow, were doing well
Now ! felt that in all truth my appren-
ticeship had been served to the greatest
I Of all masters-experience. l had seen
what it falls to the lot Of but few to
see-I had heard the keynote Of exist
ence in the school Of human suffering
and the infinite tender ess and purity of
true womans love-the pathos aud
the poetry Of life. All, that were a song
worth listening to-one that never
grows old.
AS soon as / resolved to take up my
old pursuit again it seemed as il the
workaday world was not 50 very far ~
moved from me after all.
The month Of June. the town OF
Plymouth and the morning of the day
when the great Australian liner will
arrive with the squatter and his daugh
ter on board
Truly. had been dealt ,uercifully
with. for my sight had not only been
partially restored but now my bush
sweetheart was coming 10 me; not TO q
poor, blind. helpless man. but to one
with health and strength. who did not
want for bis share of the good things OF
this life Truly. ont Of evil good may
come: for when sheer necessity drove
me out into the wild Never Never Land
of tropical Australia l little thought
that there, of all places. should meet
with her who. to me, was to prove SO
mnch.
There Is gentle breeze ripping the
waters of the channel, and the blue sky
, above is fiecked with feecy clouds.
Stately ships. with all sails set. are
gliding past to disappear again IN the
mysterious depths Of the blue horizon
They remind one of beautiful sentien'
, things. There is salt sea SMACK, al
exhilsra,ing vitality in the atmosphere
, that seems TO breath new life into one
Noon. and Jack. who is now my
brother-in-law elect and has net us al
the hotel to await the arrival Of tn'
boat. has strolled ont with me TO one o
, the old piers in osdsr 10 XII tine II L