El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-29
His Blue Spectacles.

scuff1e was over, l tainted.
Steve carried me nearly home, it seems.
and then laid me down on n bank by the
roadside and sat near me. He could bear
my weight no longer, being faint from
loss Of blood. One of the men had struck
at him with a sharp stone and cut his
head just above the temple. The wound
| was bleeding terribly. Ii came near cost
| ing him his life and left a deep and ugly
| scar. Will said it would go with him to
his grave. Poor Steve!
After this affair l was more civil to
him and tried in many ways to show that
| / was not ungrateful.
As did not want 10 snub the man who
| had rendered me such service and as
| i was afraid that by being kind to him
| might encourage foolish and presumptu-
| Gus hopes. l took a middle course and en-
deavored TO avoid him altogether.
While things were in this uncomforta-
| BILE state something terrible happened.
| Our country for the second time called
| forth her sons to defend her, and fore
most among the names OF the drafted
was Wills.
Oh. the grief OF it, 1t was. with the
single exception of his death. the greatest
misfortune that could have come to us.
| With Will to sustain us, any trouble
might have been endured, but without
him Mamie and / were desolate.
|
fore. with the farm for our joint fortune.
| Mamie was distant cousin, orphaned
also and soon to become Wills wife.
We sat in our little sunny parlor a day
| or two before the time of parting-poor
Will and his pale, heartbroken betrothed
and as l watched them their sad faces
| and low, hopeless tones cut my heart so
deeply that 1 rose and went out into the
| garden, anxious only to escape the sight
| of a sorrow which l was powerless to al
| leviate. The first person 1 saw was
! Steve.
A fierce, unreasoning anger blazed up
| in my heart against him. As he ap-
preached said without prelude or greet
ing:
why don't you go TO the war;"
He put down the rake and looked al me
| for a moment. He had weak eyes and
! always wore blue glasses. which was one
reason for disliking him, l think. Then
! he answered very quietly:
81 have not been called upon yet"
"But you could volunteer" said inn
patiently.
"Yes," he replied. cas- you say, I could
! volunteer. | have a brother in the army
1 already, however, and it would be hard
| upon our mother to lose both of her sons.
Neither have any inclination for soldier
| ing. Nevertheless il my country calls
L
And l leaned my head against the gate
and wept bitterly.
Steve stood silent for a moment, watch
ing me- All at once he laid his hand on
mine and said in a changed. hoarse voice:
why don't you tell Fred Lester how
bitterly you grievc to lose your brotherY
why should do that" asked, check
ing my tears in sheer surprise.
Because he is your lover" he replied.
xx-ifh has sic
his right and privilege to save you from
grief and pain. What is love worth il it
can make no sacrifice? Let him prove his
love by taking Wills place"
"You are mistaken" 1 cried. "altogeth-
er mistaken Fred Lester is nothing to
me that he should make such sacri-
fee"
! His voice rang clear and sweet: his
| eyes shone bright even through the dim
blue glasses:
II love you, Ethel. well enough to die
! for you'll Promise TO keep single until
return and try to think kindly of me in
my absence, and 1 will be your brothers
substitute for your dear sake"
; l tried hard to control myself. 1 put
both hands against his breast and looked
straight into his face.
"Is it true?" l demanded. do you
mean it?''
"As God hears me-" he answered SOL
EMMY. Il mean it every word"
Instantly the widest excitement pos
! sessed me. felt my eyes flash, my
cheeks glow.
"You will go to battle freely for my
sake-to save me painT'
Il will
you shaIl-you shall be my hero. my
more than lover now, and my husband
when you return"
drew a ring from my finger and placed
it in his hand.
''rhis was my mothers wedding ring
1t shall be mine when you place it on my
hand again"
We entered the parior where the lovers
still sat.
Steve has saved you. We shall not part.
Steve will be your substitute. He isl
turned and laid my hand in his-"he is
my promised husband"
The words rang out distinct and firm.
They were echoed by cry from Mamie
wild. loud. rapturous cry. and she fell
upon her knees. thanking God and bless
ing me.
Will sprang forward and clasped me to
his breast. while Steve kissed the hand 1
had given him. At that touch and on the
instant the wild excitement that had sus-
tanned me died out and passed away, and
] realized all that had done.
My heart gave Il great wild bound to
my breast and then sank like lead. A
feeling of despair stole over me.
Steve's wife! oh. God. had i SO DOOM
ed myself?
Then the old rush and swirl came
back; objects swan around me, strange
noises sounded in my ears; the next min
ute had tainted in Wills arms.
Two years after and the long agony
was over, md / married Colonel Arden,