Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1903-06-11

"Torp, is that you? They said you
were coming" Dick looked puzzled
and little irritated at the silence.
mo; it's only me-" was the answer,
in a strained little whisper. Maisie
could hardly move her lips.
"H'mr' said Dick composedly, with
out moving. ''This is a new phenom-
enon. Darkness I'm getting used to,
but object to hearing voices"
Was he mad, then, as well as blind,
that he talked to himself? Maisie's s
heart beat more wildly, and she
breathed in gasps. Dick rose and be-
gan to feel his way across the room,
touching each table and chair as he
passed. Once he caught his foot on a
rug and swore, dropping on his knees
to feel what the obstruction might be.
Maisie remembered him walking in
the park as though all the earth be-
longed to him, tramping up and down
her studio two months ago and flying
up the gangway of the channel steam
er. The beating of her heart was max
ing her sick, and Dick was coming
nearer, guided by the sound of her
breathing. She put out hand me-
cbapieally to ward him off or to draw
him to herself, she did not know which.
It touched his chest, and be stepped
back as though he had been shot.
"It's Maisier' said he, with dry sob.
"What are you doing here?"
81 camel came ito see you-pleasep' p
Dicks lips closed firmly.
won't you sit down, then? You see,
I've had some bother with my eyes,
and"-
81 know, I know. Why didn't you
tell me?"
81 couldn't write"
nYou might have told Mr.. Torpen.
how"
"What has he to do with my af-
fairs?"
"He-he brought me from vitry sur
Marne He thought ought to see
you"
"Why, what has happened? Can do
anything for you. No, can't. forgot"
"oh, Dick, I'm so sorry! I've come to
tell you, and Let me take you back to
your chair"
TDon't! I'm not a child. You only do
that out of pity. never meant to tell
now. I'm down and done for. Let me
alonev'
He groped back to his chair, his chest
laboring as he sat down. Maisie was
afraid no more.
81 shan'tp she said, settling herself
ensthe of the chair You belong
pow, Dickie, and I've come up all these
stairs. and and and Here the
tears began, with unromantic sniyeling
and mopping of the cheeks. He was
trembling under the touch of her hand
on his shoulder, but his face was
turned away from her. "Dick, you
aren't going to be selfish now I've
come back? I'm so sorry! Oh, I'm SO
sorryr'
81 knew that was all. Won't you
leave me alone? l shall have to suffer
for this afterward."
sfYou won't!' She bent down and
whispered in his ear. When the foun-
tains of the great deep are broken up,
there follow rain and miracles. eyes,
do,' she said, flushing crimson. MY
darling, I do I don't care. You can
sulk as much as you like and l won't
be angry. I've been villain-a wicked
little villain. Shall l go down on my
knees and tell you SO? Don't be stupid,
Dickie. It's no use pretending. You
know you care for me-"
Il do! God knows dor'
'What nonsense, then, pretending to
be SELFISH" The voice grew unsteady
s'p'yQu remember the Dover boat?
Take that, then, and be sensible. Oh,
holp me, Dick! she whispered. II
can't make love all by myself"
The unspoken argument clinched all,
and Maisie was in Dicks arms crying
as though her heart would burst.
flush, dear, hush! What's the use of
worrying? It's all right now" said
Dick, stroking the head on his shoulder.
eve did belong, Dick, didn't we? 1t
was my fault-all my fault" Maisie
whimpered, her face hidden.
81 like that fault. Be more fault
some"
"Course you did" She laughed
through her tears. "I-I had to do all the
all the lovemaking. 1t was horribler
1T was only me, what did it matter?
If it had been a strange man you might
have objected. And then, again, you
took me on my blind SIDE"
f{frhot3c y1r1xr xxrav5 o1,6 ron vaa11sf
going to use it any more"
"But it's true, dear. I'd give every
thing except you to see your face again.
But I'm blind"
Maisie thought for minute till love
gave her pure reason. '9That's nom
sense too Listen, stupid You said ten
years were nothing. And they weren't.
We belonged just the same. Now do
you remember out on the fats with
kho vAicfoJ whom INV hoirs crot into u011r