The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1902-11-12

said Pierre. whO MaS ever ready 10
plead for the aaus. ut the unfortunate.
That is cI.Uugh. cried the rullIan.
STAMPING his foot angriiy. II don't
want 10 hear anything more about
her have found another. who is bet
ter looking and more uSetU.. AS Tor
you, lis you dOu't want TO be called
cripple Iny mOrc----
And Jacques hrsi;ltcd i moment. as
il he were searching his brain for some
name. while Pierre, thinking that his
brother had rclcnted. and was about
TO answer his prayer, exclaimed AIN
iQuSly:
"Well?"
I'll rechristian you-Cup;d. e
Again a look Of intense pam p2>sSo
| over Pierre'S face. rs Ills rrutHeT
laugh rang out loud and Shrlil.
do as rOu like" hc said. wcarl!y. dS
! if reSigning himself 10 all the insults
his brother niighl see tit TO heap upon
/ him.
"N0w come to think OF it." said
! JacoucS. contcmptuously. lit is only
when Louise about that YOU object to
be called cripple: perhapS-@ and Is he
was no longer able 10 control himself,
he burst out into his tiendiSh laughter
again. at some thought which had en-
tered his wicked brain. Then. chuck
ling TO himself, he said, shaking his
mead in 4 mOcking way: An, That
would be too good"
What do YOU mcan:" asked Pierre,
not understanding his brother, 5 mirth.
You a1e not so stupid after ali.
| laughed jacques. She is blind. and
doesn't know the difference between L
handsome man like me and 4 miserl-
BILE abortion like YOU" and again his
mirth resulted in laughter. while he
exclaimed: You're in lOve-in love
with blind girl" -.
II" said Pierre. in surprise. as II
hardly understanding what his Dro) her
had said, and at the same time look
ing down upon his miSShapen form.
i? In love-"
Why then. are you ashamed OF be-
ing called cripple before her? AFRAID
she'll find out your beautiful shape,
eh?@
Yes. yes. it is So said the poor
boy. as if the words came from him in
voluntarily Il want to think there
IS one in the world who does not re-
card me with disgust. If she thought
| was like others, she might have some
feeling OF friendship for me. Bat in
loye-in love with her, who IS DeaUtl-
fUl enough to be an angcl?'
And there was upon Pierre face. as
he spoke of the blind girl. a light
which is rarely seen, and then only
when it is lit by a soul pure and noble.
JACQUES looked upon his brother IN
surprise. He saw in that pale face
something that he had never seen be-
fore. and could hardly repreSS his as
toniShment.
How the devil did you find that all
out? | don't know or care anything
about her goodness" he said, after a
short pause "BoSh for all that-and
as to her beauty, l know that her eyes
are more use to her now than II she
could see with them
''Yes-yes. she is blind said Pierre
sadly, but her face is so sweet that 1t
would move stone to pity, and her
great, beautiful eyes look at me SO
truthfully that | almost fear that She
can see me"
''There-there, said Jacques, who
had not heard the latter part Of the
sentence, but who had started toward
some drinking saloon where he would
find more congenial companions, stop
YOUR muttering and come along with
me. l want YOU, Cupid: come"
For once Pierre determined TO resist
his brothers tyranny.
Il will not 60" he said, IN 4 voice
he vainly endeavOred TO make sound
firm.
"Eh," cried Jacques; in amazement.
whats this? rebellion, eh. now do as
| order YOU. or look cut for beating" J."
and the brute in human shape went
toward the cripple with hand uplifted
to strike.
Just at that moment the sad. sweet
voice OF a young girl was heard not far
Off, and Pierre started with delight: he
recognized the tones Of that, to him.
angel song, and his purpose was chang
ed immediately.
Like voice from heaven did the
notes. welling over with despair, speak
TO the deformcd lad, filling his heart
with peace and love.
jacques" he said softly, you are
older than |, you're, straight and
strong. and l must submit 20 you: but
when see the use you make OF your
strength. am satisfied with my ugly
shape and miserable weakness.
And aS he finished speaking, he
turned in the direction from which the
sound proceeded. and stood in anxious
expectancy. awaiting the approach CT
the blind girl, who had so entirely
changed the course of his life.