The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-09-09
ue WAS silent.
"l'or all that, we could"

ue WAS silent
'For all that, we could"
"Apnal"
surely not be wrong"
"You Will Notwithstanding
"Only for u moment We will put the
bandages on again, Immediately. You
need not be at all afraid Please, pleased
Rather let us walt. We have suffered
many yeurs, Let us endure 1t few
days longer"
NO l can not wait II YOU love me. do
1t, or | will myself nlone."
fe hestated awhile but at length an
swered calmly: I'VE will do it,"
When"
"Tomorrew morning enrly-here at this
bench"
Thanks You vii, come at the ap-
pointed timer"
Eyes"
Good night"
"Good-night. / nope YOU win have ~
good sleep"
Morning twilight
/ Paul has been long out OF bed lie is
In dread Of the next hoGr, Anna, OF course.
"a beautiful, but he? Who KNOWS how
ugly he may be? Perhaps he is handsome
also, but he can never appear before her
In this dreadful uncertainty.
"Om with the banduge"
He tore 1t loose and threw IL on the
table His eyes were sull closed lie
ran 10 the cupboard anG searched there
until he found ANAL mirror. He then
syent to the window whore he seated
himself and waited. His heart beat vio-
lently, his head was in n glowing heat.
/ In feyerish anxiety he sat there, his
sightless eyes fixed on the glass, which
his fingers held In Arm CLASP. II must
now decide his fate, In few minutes he
would have certain knowledge.
Clear daylight same,
| He felt the light opened his eyes slowly
ana stared at he mirror trembling all the
while with torturing expectation. No, no
l. no! But see What is that7 Could that
be himself! An old, pock-marked, ugly
facet He2 Those pale, sunkcn checks
that red. tousled hair, those decayed teeth
that long neck? 1t could not be possible
No; it must not be-
/ He closed his eyes, leaned far out OF the
window. opened them wide and looked
again His Image was still there, un-
! chhnged Sun he would not believe It.
In sorrow he kept on staring at the glass
Until Il became elouded. Then veil
seemed drawn slowly ever his eyes. 1t
/ grew more and more indfstlnct; darkness
/ gathered all about him, and suddenly
everything was black. He saw no more.
Despair seized him. He thought he had
become insane. He threw the mirror
away, stamped with his feet and struck
himself in the face. Anna would see him.
and she would be horrlled. She would
forsake hm--ugly 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 chair and sobbed like
a little child
Suddenly he started up. A well-known
hand careseed his bead.
rs 1t you, Paul?" he heard her ask In
a whisper.
Yes" said he, breathing heavily.
paul, / looked for you everywhere In
the garden and could nos find you. Then
! took off the bendage."
And do you see me?" cried Paul In
deadly alarm.
II must say that do not. No, mol 1t
is just as dark as It was before. The
operation was failure. ! can see moth
ing whatever
"And nothing" said Raul, exultlngly
I'I also took off tbs bandage, al once
became quite DARK
Now" sad Anna. with sigh, 1--WE mus
remain forever blind"
1T is better So" answered Paul with a
happy heart; and he tenderly embraced
his poor blind friend.