Middletown transcript., 1902-01-18

80 - ~Ae- WNt4A1 AesNA ttN<F0SS- S~AN
was able to call every one by
name as soon as be or she spoke. The
blind are nearly always cheerful when
they have been born blind, when they
have never known what it is to see, but
Myra, though she strove to initiate some
thing of the geniality that surrounded
her, had many secret hours of sharp dis
tress.
She was only nineteen years old, and
rather pretty, with floss Of wavy auburn
hair breaking over her forehead, and 9
delicate cut of features, and dainty
dimple in her chin. Her large, silver.
blue eyes looked as if they saw. There
was no Disagreement. It had all hap
pened in one lurid second. A frightful
thunderstorm had come up one hot
August day about year ago. For some
eccentric celestial reason it had flung q
furious bolt into little red-briek Hamp-
shire home, had killed an old lady and
knocked Myra senseless. The girl re-
covered, but with a paralyzed optic
nerve, and the small fortune of the old
lady cher aunt and almost her only living
relation) had made this suburban asylum
for the blind a possible refuge.
Every physician who had examined
Myra's eyes had pronounced the same
verdict: She could never possibly see
again. Why the lightning had not killed
her was declared one of those unearthly
jokes which lightning -grimmest of hu-
morists-now and then loves to achieve.
But Myra always had the hope that she
would regain her sight; and as hope is
like an orchid, feeding on air, it had
waxed stronger from the very ubiquity
OF its aliment, and had finally become
conviction.
She told her hope, her conviction, to
Discomfort one day when he came and
satdown beside her. She knew his other
name, but she always thought of him as
Discomfort because he had ceetain weary
and plaintive notes in his voice which
made her feel that he rebelled bitterly
against his lot. In like manner she had
nicknamed one patient Resignation, an
other Amiability, another Loving Kind
ness, another Sarcasm, another Resent
ment. All this process Of nomenclature
was secret hidden very jealously within
her own cheerful yet sorrowing heart.
It gave her amusement; it was at times a
spot of sunshine in her SOULS dusky little
cell. But she would not have revealed it
for the world. Modesty, difidence and a
hate of wounding her fellow-creatures, all
these things tenderly conspired to keep
her silent.
Discomfort, they said, could see just
well enough to guide himself darkling
from room to corridor, from stairway to
dining-hall. He moved in thick, light
blue fog, through which shadows of men
and women moved also. They had no
faces, no hands or arms; be knew the sex
of them by their lower limbs or their
feminine draperies-that was all. His
ability to see, howsoever vaguely, made
him quite parsonage at the asylum, and
to this distinction was added the enviable
luxury of page about twelve years old,
who guided him at certain periods and
was always at his beck.
The page had probably told him on
this occasion who Myra was, and as he
sat down beside her in the large drawing.
room he opened conversation by address
ing her as Miss Haughton.
"And so you still have hope" he said,
after she had spoken for while in her
frank, timid way.
"Yes, yes; can't give it up. It won't
let me give it up"
''verJ kind of it" muttered Discon-
tent. 81 don't want to depress you, but
hope is an awful cheat"
IT know" said Myra, noddirg her
pretty auburn head almost merrily; "but
we've come to an understanding some
how. We get on splendidly together-I
assure you we do"
Discontent's gaze, if such it could be
called, was fixed on Myra's face. A GER
tain grimness in his own relaxed, and a |
smile softened his lips. He was a man
not much past thirty, and he had the
finely chiseled head one often sees in por-
traits Of thinkers crowning a tall, neatly
built frame. His eyes were no more |
'ightless in their look than Myra's. Their |
,olor was the richest hazel, and tiny |
,pangles Of light sometimes foated in
hem.
s'Well," said Discomfort, slowly, IT
wish you all joy in your partnership, Miss
Have the doctors here told |
vou chilling things2'
"Yes."
"And other doctors before you came
lere 2"
s'0h, yes"
s'It's terrible, isn't it." said Discomfort
fter little silence, "to lose, like this.
fer having possessed r.
sTt's terrible, of course" And here
dyra's head dropped. II so often wish
we're like the others at Alderley. They
Ion't know what beautiful world they
AVE missed"
Indeed they do not And that is
vhy so many of them are so gay Of spirit,
nd so little troubled about their misfor-
une. / have heard, Miss Haughton,
low suddenly your afiiiction came. Mine
vas slower, but I don't bear it as bravely /
) you do"
Instantly Myra was all sympathy. She
ut out cropping hand, Just touched
yitl, her iexile white fingers Discontent's
oat-sleeve, and then, as if surprised at
he contact, quickly withdrew it. He
at as II his arm had been brushed by
be wing Of passing bird. "Tell me
.ow uouT trouble came,' she said.
aOh. from too much studying and
.riting. / had omens and symptoms
i'd ali that, but ] was foolish enough to
egisct them"