The Kalispell bee. [volume] (Kalispell, Mont.) 1900-192?, 1903-01-02
EYES TO
the...
BLIND
By HOWARD FIELDING
Copgright, 1909, BY
Charles " HOOke
By HOWARD FIELDING

~
Bible out Of the box and sur
veyed it with a gaze that saw
far more than the quaint Old
volume.
ut is atrocious," she whispered,
that should not have known it was
here"
Upon that book she had made two
vows, the first quite ordinary, the Sec
ond most unusual, even unique. Be
fore God and her earthly sovereign, the
king, she had made both the vows, the
first in the presence of many, when an
archbishop held that copy of the word
and Helena became Sir Frederick KEN
ble's wife; the second with but two to
hear and but one to see the solemn
promise sealed upon the book. Three
years lay between the vows - three
years Of happiness and one of great
sorrow.
IF l did not trust you fully" the
king had said to her upon the occasion
Of the second promise, "Sir Frederick's
misfortune would mark the end Of his
most highly valued service unless, in
deed, his sight should be restored, as l
devoutly hope 1t is without precedent
that man lacking eyes of his own
should be a cabinet minister But you
shall be his eyes. Swear to me upon
this book, which you especially revere
and in the presence of that King before
whom | am no more than the dust to
which my body shall return, that you
will faithfully sustain this duty, divulg-
ing nothing Of all that you shall see,
adding nothing thereto. emitting not
one word therefrom. as your husband
shall command you to read
And Helena had knelt to heaven and
the king and had kissed the book with
all sincerity, her husband kissing her
most affectionately as she arose.
1t was not an occasion likely to slip
ones mind, this secret, solemn ceremo-
NAL. Helena marveled that she could
have forgotten where the old Bible had
been put away, yet she had come upon
1t quite by chance.
II wish it were more to me- she
thought. 81 have no effective religion
Let me be frank with myself. An oath
means nothing to me. What will the
WORTH uO W It'll all Sull Dc do 'l
Truly l believe that there is a need OF
something sacred"
The sound of chords came softly int
the room. Eunice, Sir Frederlcks sis
ter, was playing upon little pipe OF
gan, Il church organ in miniature ant
of very sweet tone, that had beel
built into her apartments.
"She believes everything without pos
sibility of question" said Helena. "lla
she been sworn as | was her wish to Il
right would have been backed by a
the terrors of the infinite. Would tn
public business be safer if she wcr
Frederick's eyes? Upon my soul.
think it would be. Yet she is not s
honest as am. would not trust ht
unSworn. Frederick has too niue
sense of honor. 1t exhausted the SUI
ply of the family. However, that
not the point. II | were like her,
should have Il refuge and Il fortress.
should not now he verging towal
deadly peril
She took up the Bible again, held
in her two hands and countcrfeitcd re
crencc until she felt some touch of Il
reality The fancy came to her tn
the book should be in the official wor
shop, and thus she was reminded til
her husband must already be awaitil
her there, having dismissed his doctor
In the east corridor below she g
cOuntcred Eunice who greeted h