The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-04-26

awoKe TO the wnoIe 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 loss Of
hearing accompanies the loss Of sight"
Then, after a pause: "And with the
loss of sight and hearing 1t is possible
the peculiar shock has deprived your
daughter Of the power Of speech. l do
not know yet whether this has happen
ed. but. l prepare you for the worst"
Blind and deaf and dumb! muir
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 look at Will and
Bess and prescribing for them.
Mr.. Hardy went down stairs and
quietly told James all that the doctors
had said. To a man living on the
verge Of eternity, as Mr.. Hardy was,
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
ut James with a sympathy that the
young man could not help feeling.
Yes, sir: more than ever. Why. 10
she not more in need Of 1t than ever"
True, but what can you do with .
helpless creature like that"
Gold help us, sir. II she were my
wife now and were dependent on me,
don't you think could care for her
tenderly, better than any one else in
the world?"
Mr.. Hardy shook his head. This Is
n hard blow to me, James. | don't
know just what to say yet. But 1t 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, be said he could not tell for GER
tain that loss Of hearing and speech
would follow. If It does, ! cannot see
how Clara can retain her reason when
she recovers from the shock. James.
believe you are a good fellow. have
not forgotten my own cOurtship. ]
will not stand In the way between you
and your love for Clara in anything
right and reasonable. had hoped
we might have good talk together
over the matter. This accident has
made it impossible for time at least.
but l confide in you as an honest, true
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 CO."
James Caxton listened to Mr.. Hardy
with a feeling of astonishment. 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 tumult Of feeling he
went home after begging Mrs. Hardy
to send him word II Clara became
worse or II 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. II must so 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. cannot do any
more here, and | must do what ] can
for the sufferers. God has been mercl-
full to us, dear. Our dear ones are
spared to us. oh, when heard Bes.
sie's voice In that helrs pit 1t seemed
to me God was taking pity on me for
the burden am carrying this week!
And IL she had been killed do believe
| 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 q
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