Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1900-04-19
THE FACE lie SAW

He, an ungainly. stunted figure.
with very homcly face; she, tall. thin,
Of yellOwish complexion and OF sickly
appearance.
Benevolent people had placed them in
blind asylum years before. There
they were brought up.
AS children they had played together.
and were contented and happy. The
pleasures of the world were as strong
TO them as its daily miseries, They
knew that quiet, comfortable house, its
large gardcn-and nothing more. There
they belonged. They could know moth
thing only was clear to them and that
was-that they loved each other.
A hot summer day.
The two sat on bench in the garden
chatting.
Paul, l am SO glad"
ION what account. Anna?''
"Ah! Don't you know? To-mor-
row"
Yes. Tomorrow the famous oculist
will be here
And he will make lis both see."
IF he Is really able to accomplish
that"
You are joking. OF course, he will
be able to do 1t. That Is his business"
''Then, at last. l shall be able to see
your lovely face. OF that am glad"
"And Of nothing else?'
Nothing"
Paul" said she. laughing quietly,
''l.,w do you know that | have lovely
faceT'
Because ! have seen you twice al
ready-in a dream. You had golden
hair and wings as white as SNOW"
"Oh. If that were only true!'
ut is quite certas."
WAS so beautiful" she asked, seiz-
ing him by the hand: 80 beautiful?
But when reflect. Paul, think it
would be even better for us to be true
to each other than to be able to see.
That would be lovely. Don't you think
so!'
II know not" he answered thought
fully; and then both were silent. n
The eventful day had passed. The
operation on the eyes had been perform
ed. If not all a dclusion, it must prove
success.
Neither Of you must take the band
age off the eyes for fourteen days.
Such was the doctors order before he
LETT.
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 will we first see each
other!'
"ln fourteen days."
VI know. but that is much too long.
Eight days would certainly be long
enough"
LESS time than that. perhaps; but
we have the doctors ORDER"
II cannot endure to wait so long.
What If the operation has been fail
ure. and we have rejoiced In vain!
What them"
He was silent.
"For all that. we could"
"Anna"
"Only for moment. dear Paul. 1t
will surely not he wrong"
"YOu will. Notwithstanding
"Only for a moment. I've will mt
the bandages on again Immediately.
You need not be at ali afraid. Please.
please!'
"Rather let us wait. We have suf-
fered many years. Let us endure 1t a
few days longer"
mo. l cannot wait. If you love me-.
do 1t, or l will myself alone"
He hesitatcd while, but at length
answered calmly: I'VE will do It,"
"When:"
''To-morrow morning early-here at
this bench"
"Thanks. You will come at the ap-
pointed time:'
"Yes"
"Good-night."
Goodnight. hope you will have a
good SLEEP"
Morning twilight.
Paul has ben long out OF bed. He IA
in dread Of the next hour. Anna, Of
course is beautiful, but he? Who knows
how ugly he may be? Perhaps he is
handsome also, but he can never ap-
pear before her In this dreadful uncer-
talnty.
"OH with the bandage!'
lie tore it loose and threw II on the
table. His eyes were still closed. He
ran to the cupboard and searched there
until he found small mirror. lie then
went to the window, where he seated
himself and waited. His heart beat
violently; his head was in glowing
heat.
In feverish anxiety he sat there. his
sightless eyes fixed on the little glass.
which his fingers held in arm clasp.
1t must now decide his fate. In a few
.slnutes he would have certain kn0Wl-
edge.
Clear daylight came.