The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-22

his brow as II TO 5ry TO check the pain
that puckered II.
His companion looked up at him from an
object which he held in his hand. 1t was
a folding photograph case, empty on one
side; on the other holding the picture of a
girl whose face was one Of rare beauty.
The dark-haired man had found it lying
OF the bedside table Of his sick friend. and
since HIS eyes had lighted upon that beau
tful countenance they had not ceased 10
devour II.
Feeling worse to-day" he said. as he
noted the gesture speaking so eloquently
of suffering.
"Yes-and hopeless. Brsndreth, I believe
this blindness is going 20 last"
The other was silent.
lis it?" cried the young man, springing
forward as though he would rise, and
stretching out his hand 10 his friend. For
heavens sake. Brsndreth. don't encourage
me in false hopes. This suspense is in
tclerable. Tell me, are you keeping the
truth from ne out Of mistaken kindncss?'
Brandreth stirred uneasily. He opened
his lips. then closed them again without
speaking.
Have you ever known a case like mine
beforeT"
Eyes, in South Africa"
DID the man get back his sight?'
NO"
what was the disease called?"
"Giaucona."
And is mine the same?"
Il fear il is answered Brandreth slow
~. as IL weighing every word. II am aw-
fully sorry, my dear fellow" leaning FOX
xrarI o-1 t0vobt,1 hfu hond ssTfva haa,
going over your case and comparing it
with that fellows. and I've been reading it
up in my books again. ard-I can't avoid
the conclusion"
"Ah!' 1t was a low cry that seemed
wrung from the stricken man, but his face
was calm as he went on: Yes. w heard
of IT before, the fever and the glare; easy
70 account for it. But. oh, IL you knew
what 1t means to mel"
your career spoilt?"
Worse than that. Never 20 see again.
Never to look at a face" He broke off.
Don't lose hope, Heseltine. You know
I'm not a specialist in any sense"
aye. but you've had quite special ex-
perience in climates like this. Your opinion
Is likely to be as good as that of any spe-
cialist."
NJ tudl WON I no. lou must 20 nome
or go to Calcutta and get advice. / shall
stay on with you until you are relieved, and
then put you under the care of the captain
of the first decent boat that comes along.
Now 1 must give you your dose and then 1
want to ask you a question"
many as you like"
Brandreth rose, measured out a daught,
and gave it to Heseltine.
what is it that you wanted to know?'
asked the youn man, falling back YEARLY
into his chair.
Don't be offended and don't answer me
unless you like. Is the photograph in this
case your sister's?'
Heseitine's pale face flushed angrily. He
thrust his band into the breast pocket of
his flannel coat. and then. finding nothing
there. put it out eagerly toward Brandreth.
NO" ne answered, shortly, his fingers
fastening tightly on the frame as Brand
reth returned it to him. "How did you
get it?'
Picked it up lying about" said Brand
reth. with feigned Indifference. Sorry if
I've offended you. old man."
He watched Heseltine as his slender fin
gers wandered over the case to make sure
that the photograph was still in it, and no
ticed how tenderly. reverentIy, he placed it
in the pocket where he had evidently be-
lieved it to be already.
There was silence for a while. Suddenly
Heseltine raised his head. pushed up the
shade and. turning his sightless eyes to-
ward Brandreth, said:
Now you know why blindness is the
greatest afiiction that can befalI me. To
think l shall never see her again.
His voice broke. and the doctor rose and
walked away. making his departure as
noisy as he could so that Heseltine might
know he was alone.
Brandreth wandered out Of the compound
and looked at the dreary stretch of sand
with I shudder, What man, he asked him.
self. could live i'm that eternal glare and not
have his eyCsight ruined? And Heseltine
had borne it bravely. That splendid bit of
line that stretched away from the head Of
the gulf TO this spot testified to his en-
durance. as well as to his engineering skill,
triumphing over difficulties that to most
men would have seemed ins-urmountable.
The company would have TO seek long be-
fore it would find a man fit to take his
place. And The luck the fellow had had,
That girl TO be his, the woman from whose
face. even in the photographers neutral
tints, radiated the most wondrous charm,
whose portrait alone could stir his-the
cynic's-heart TO its very depths and make
him feel that nothing on earth was worth
doing now. save only this-to win herl No,
Il should not be! BY fair means or foul,
that girl should be his, not Heseltine's!
When the two men were smoking to-
gether that evening Brandreth said, break
ing a long silence:
rs there any message 1 can take home
for you, Heseltine? l suppose you haven't
acquired much skin in writing with eyes
closed?"
Heseltine laughed grimly.
IT fancy my productions in that line can't
be called beautiful. l haven't even tried to
write for the last four mails The last let
ter / sent was just a line. and 1 had to get
my boy TO address it I'm printed capitals;
our lessons had not got beyond that point
before I was struck down. 7 wonder what
they thought OF the scrawl."
Haven't you told about your eyes,
them
hNo, I was afraid OF distressing them un-
necessarily. But the truth will have to be
told now" Heseltins added. signing deeply.
Again silence
Then Heseltine said: "Brandreth. what
would you. what would any man of honor
do In my pOsition-I mean about her?''
Brandreth darted q quick glance at