The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-03-21
The Face the Blind Lover Saw,

ioWish complexion and OF siekly appear
ance.
Benevolent people had placed them In
blind asylum years before There the,
were brought up.
AS children. they had played together
and we're contented and happy Tn.
pleasures Of the world were as strong 4
that quiet, comfortable house; its large
garden-and nothing more Thsre they
belonged. They could know nothing OF
what was going on outside One thing
only was clear to them and that was
that they Logged each other.
A hot summer day.
The two sat on a bench In the garden
chatting.
Paul, am so glad"
On what account, Anna -
"Ah! Don't you know? Tomorrow-r
Yes Tomorrow the famous oculist
will be her1n
And he wiz make US both see."
IF he is really able to accomplish
that
You are joking. OF course. rhe viii
be able TO do 1t. That is his business
Then. at last. shall be abs to see
your lovely face. OF that am glad"
And of nothing else?''
'sSothing"
Paul, said she, laughing quietly.
how, do you know that have a lovely
face2'
Because have seen you twice already
lin dream You had golden hair and
wings as white as snow"
OH If that were only truew
1T Is quite certain
was I so beautiful" she asked. seaz-
ing him by the hand; $50 beautiful? But
I 81 D,xxI =
be even better for US TO be true to
each other than to be able to zee. That
would be lovely Don't you think so?'
I know not" he answered, fhoughtful-
ly; and then both were silent.
The eventful day had passed. The or
Grafton on the eyes had been performed
If not all a delusion, 1t must prove q sue
cess.
Neither of you must take the bandage
on the eyes for fourteen daysf' Such
was the doctors order before he left.
On the next evening, after the sun had
gone down, the two were again seated
in the garden, clinging close to- each
other.
Paul, when win we first see each
other?''
in fourteen dayst
hAAOas Jul that 10 uAuCn loo lOrg.
Eight days would certainly be long
enough"
Less time than that, perhaps; but we
have the doctors order"
Il cannot endure to wait so long. What
IL the operation has been a failure, and
we have rejoieed in vaini What then?'
He was silent
For all that, we could
"Annar'
only for a moment. dear Paul. It
Will surely not be wrong
You will, Notwithstanding"
Only for a moment We Will put the
bandages on again Immediately. You
need not be at all afraid Please, piease.'
Rather let us wait. We have suffered
many years. Let Us endure It few days
longer
mo, cannot wait. If you love me,
do it, or I viii myself alone"
He hesitated awhile, but at length an
swered calmly: I'VE will do It."
'sWhanT'
Tomorrow morning early-here at this
beneh."
Thanks. You win come at the appoints
ed timer"
Yes"
ood-night."
Goodnight. I hope you will have a
good Sleep.
Morning twilight.
Paul has been long out of bed. He Is
in dread of the next hour. Anna, OF
course. is beautiful, but he? Who knows
how ugly he may be2 Perhaps he Is
handsome also, but he can never appear
before her in this dreadful uncertainty.
Ion with the bandage'' /!
He tore it loose and threw It on the
table. His eyes were still closed. He
ran to the cupboard and searched there
until he found small mirror. He then
wena to the window, where ne seated
himself and waited. His heart beat vio-
lently; his head was in a glowing heat.
In feverish anxiety he sat there, his
sightless eyes fixed on the little glass,
which his fingers held In firm clasp.
1t must now decided his fate. In a few
minutes he would have certain knowl-
edge.
Clear daylight came.
He felt the light. opened his eyes slowly
and stared at the mirror, trembling al
the while with torturing expectation. No,
no, no. But see! What il that? Could
that be himself? An old, pock-marked,
ugly facet He? Those pale, sunken
cheeks, that red, tousied hair. those de-
cayed teeth. that long neck? It could
not be possible. No; it must not bel
He closed his eyes, leaned far out of
the window, opened them wide and look
ed again. His image was stil1 there, un-
changed Still he would not believe It.
In horror he kept on staring at the glass
until It became clouded. Then veil
seemed drawn slowly over his eyes. It
grew more and more fndistinct; darkness
gathered all about him. and suddenly
- - - l. -
Despair seized him. He thought he had
away, stamped with his feet and struck
himself in the face. Anna would see
MIN. and she would be Mortified. She
would forsake him-ugiy and blind-and
she would go away into the sunny world
and forget him. He must remain behind
helpless and alone. All the happiness
was gone forever.
He sank into a chair and sobbed like
4 little child.
Suddenly he started up. A welF-known
hand caressed his head.
'sIs it you. PaulT' he heard her ask
n a whisper
Yes" said he breathing heavily.
paul. looked for you everywhere IN
he garden and could not find you. Then
! took on the bandage."
ard do you see me7" cried Paul in
ieadly alarm.
Il must say that do not. No, no, 1t
$ just as dark as 1t was before The
operation was q failure. I see nothing
whatever"
And I nothing said Paul exnltingly.
I also took eli ths bandage. AZ once ev-
srything became quite dark"
Vow" said Anna. with : sigh, I'VE
must remain forever blind
1T is better So answered Paul with
happy heart. and be ssnderIy embraced |
lis poor blind friend
ManaeFs.
(Frorn the Detrest Journais