The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1901-09-20

an appointment with an oculist and my
man Brown was laid up, so 1 went
alone I'm n cab. Through some misun-
derstanding the driver did not wait,
and when I came out and found him
gone / foolishly thought could walk
back. distinctly remembered my
New York OF ten years ago and
thought II would be merely a matter
OF counting the blocks. But / had
reckoned without the cable cars and
all the rest--I fancy / had one or two
narrow escapes before you came 10
my rescue, and took you for a guard
ian angel"
| She surprised herself by blushlng
and was glad for that moment that he
could not see her face.
you have not been-in this condi-
| tlon-longT she asked.
Eight months-an age! And am
remarkable case for I have baffied
every specialist In the West, and now
have come 10 New York to battle these
fellows here. / intend going 10 each
one Of them separately, at first. Then
/ shall have them meet and hold
consultation; then / suppose they'n all
want TO examine me again; and after
that-the verdict"
"But-yOu are very hOpcfulr she
said, amazed at his buoyancy OF spirit
and the ligbtness OF his tone.
Hopeful? OF course / am You
see IL occurred through an accident.
was injured about the head and the
nerves Of the eye were paralyZcd.
The queer part OF IL is that afterward
! suddenly regained my sight for "A
period of three days, and after that
darkness again"
"And what do you Think"
THAT the hope lies in that three
days recovery. Some clever man will
find the key to the mystery and shall
see again"
IL truly hope you will, but In the
meantme-do not 90 ont aloncw
Indeed, no-unless the good angel
will promise TO come again TO my de
llverancew
my father is looking for me-" said
Miss Agncw. ~ would like you to
meet him"
She saw Gordon again just as she
was leaving. 'I hope you will come
to-call on re" she said. She had
been going to say "to sec me-" but
quickly changed the word, adding: II
shall bc interested to hear what all
the oculists say"
II wanted to ask you If | might" he
said eagerly. "If / had not seen you
again tonight" land she noticed that
the old habit of speech clung to HIM,
II should have sent Jack TO you to
ask If | might come"
Within few days Anthony Gordon
called, and his calls were repeated
with an increasing frequency. The
first time he came with Jack, but af-
terward with his man Brown, who
waited for him below.
He was fine fellow, Miss Agnew
thought. But she had known many
fine fellow during the past ten years,
and not one of them had ever had the
power to make her heart beat faster
or the quick flush rise to her face rs
this man had done from the very first
She wondered If IL were not his blind
ness alone that appealed to her, and if
she would not have been quite indifrer-
ent TO him If he had had his sight like
the other men.
But his conversation was always full
Of interest. His ten years experiences
I'm the West; his struggles, his sue
cesses. his defeats-hc told her all
with an eager and almost boyish con
tidence. He made no secret Of his ad
mlration for her, and the Difference
and reverence he showed her seemed
something strangely beautiful.
Her father liked him. too. Gordon
is fine fellow" he said. And so
hopeful Ii will bc a hard blow to
him If he shouldn't recover Lis sight"
Finally there came a pause. Ten
days. two weeks passed by, during
which time Gordon had not been 10
see her and had made no sign.
She could not bring herself to write
TO him, to have even letter Of mere
friendly inquiry read aloud TO him 10y
that man Brown. She was too proud
To write for news of him TO Jack. And
1t so chanced that during al that time
she saw no one of whom she could in
quire.
At last one night. when she was sit
ting quite alone. he came. She looked
up. flushing nj his approach. and his
changed face startled her.
You have been ill?" she cried.
Not i'll in body" he answered
gloomily, but i'll I'm mind They've
rendered their verdict-perpetual dark.
ness-and I'm of again TO the West.
tried to go without seeing you-but
am coward! have come now to
say goodbye"
There was n conflict Of wild emotions
in Mary Agnew's breast For mo-
ment she could not speak. He had
come TO say goodbye!
II said l couldn't GO without seeing
you" he repeated. "and I've come to
ask a blind mans last favor-before
go. may pass my hand over your
face?"
what IL say nog There was
something strained aud unnatural in
her tone.
Don't refuse ne! You don't know
what that would meanw he cried.
Can you realize that all this time you
have been but n beautiful unseen spirit
to me-a heavenly voice? l thought
| should see you some day with my
eyes and | forced myself TO wait
| Ia 20 10 M pnu