The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1900-06-01

|
difference to his plans for daily life,
least of all deprive him of his reason.
as 1T has so often done Robert Hardy
was just beginning to realize dimlv
that life is not one thing, but many
things, and that it's Importance is the
Importance which belongs to the char.
acter of God himself
He began to talk calmly with his
wife concerning what he would do that
day and was still talking about it when
James came in with a doctor, who at
once went up stairs. He was Just from
the scene of the accident and bore
marks of a hard nights work. His
nrst glance at Clara was hard and pro-
fessional, but as he looked he grew
very grave, and an expression of seri-
Gus surprise came over his weary face.
He laid his hands on the girls eyes and
examined them, raised her hand and
dropped it upon the bed again. Then,
turning to the father and mother, he
said gently:
You must prepare yourselves for a
terrible fact resulting from the acci-
dent to your daughter. She has suffer-
ed shock that will probably render
her blind as long as she lives"
Mr.. and Mrs. Hardy listened, pale
faced and troubled. 1t was hard to
think of the girl, so strong willed. SO
passionate and yet so capable of noble
impulses and loving desires, as all her
life shut up within the darkness thus.
1t was bitter to think of this for her.
What would it be to her when she
awoke to the whole consciousness Of
it?
The doctor spoke again slowly:
There is another thing you ought to
be prepared for. In rare cases like this
it happens sometimes that a loss of
hearing accompanies the loss of sight"
Then, after pause: And with the
loss of sight and hearing it is possible
the peculiar shock has deprived your
daughter of the power of speech. 1 do
not know yet whether this has happen
ed, but prepare you for the worst
Blind and deaf and dumb!" mur-
INJURED Mr.. Hardy, while his wife sat
down and buried her face In the bed
clothes and sobbed. 1t seemed terrible
to them.
The doctor, after little further ex-
animation, said nothing more could be
done at present, gave directions for
certain necessary treatment and de-
parted after giving a look at VIII and
Bess and prescribing for them.
Mr.. Hardy went down stairs and
quietly told James all that the doctors
had said. To man living on the
there was no time for evasions or the
postponing of bad news or the utter
ance Of soft speeches.
James took the news more calmly
than Mr.. Hardy thought he would. 1t
| was evident he did not realize all that
| was meant by it.
"Can you love Clara under these con-
ditions?" asked Mr.. Hardy, looking
| at James with sympathy that the
young man could not help feeling.
Eyes, sir; more than ever. Why, is
she not more in need of it than everT
"True, but what can you do with a
helpless creature like thatY'
'Gold help us, sir! If she were my
wife now and were dependent on me,
don't you think l could care for her
| tenderly, better than any one else in
the worldT"
Mr.. Hardy shook his head. '"This is
a hard blow to me, James. l don't
know just what to say yet. But it is
possible the poor girl may not have to
| suffer all that. Let US hope the doctor
Is not justified in his supposition. In
deed, he said he could not tell for GER
tain that loss of hearing and speech
would follow. If it does, l cannot see
how Clara can retain her reason when
she RECEIVERS from the shock. James, l
believe you are good fellow. l have
| not forgotten my own cOurtship. l
| viii not stand in the way between you
and your love for Clara in anything
fright and reasonable. l had hoped
we might have good talk together
over the matter. This accident has
made it impossible for a time at least,
man. We must wait for events to take
| shape. Meanwhile let us pray God to
| give us wisdom and lead us into the
way we need to GO"
| James Caxton listened to Mr.. Hardy
with a feeling OF establishment. This
was not the Robert Hardy he had
known all his life; this was a new
| man. For a moment his own hopes
and fears were almost lost sight Of In
the thought of the great change In the
elder man. In a tumult of feeling he
went home after begging Mrs. Hardy
| to send him word If Clara became
| worse or If there were any service he
could render the family.
| Robert went back up stairs, where
his wife sat by the side of the injured
girl.
MARY" he said, 81 must go down to
| the shops. You know left word with
Wellman to do what he could in the
office until l could get down, but this
| accident has made it imperative that
| be there myself. There are details the
| men cannot attend to. l cannot do any
| more here, and l must do what l can
| for the sufferers. God has been merci-
full to US, dear. Our dear ones are
spared to us. Oh, when l heard Bes-
sizes voice in that helps pit it seemed
to me God was taking pity on me for
the burden l am carrying this week!
And if she had been killed l do believe
l should have gone mad. Pray for me,
sweetheart
| And with kiss and embrace Robert
left the house, and even in the sorrow
of all her trouble Mrs. Hardy felt a
| great wave of Joy flow through her at
the thought of a love come back to
her and as she went to the window