The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1905-03-16
/ HIS HANDICAP.
By GRACE S. RICHMOND.


Imply IN q wheel chair, with rug
over his lap, his hat pulled over his
hollow eyes, his pale face attracting
the pitying gaze of every passer-by.
But Tom felt strongly the need for
kirke to get used to that sort of thing,
to take up life again as nearly as pos
sible where he had left it off, and to
mingle with men instead Of trying to
hide away from them.
The beginning Of the journey was
accomplished with the ease Tom had
prophesied, thanks to some previous
planning. At the station Caldwell was
brought by the most direct and least
conspicuous route to the steps Of the
train, where Tom, assisted by cheer
full colored porter, conveyed him swift
ly on board the Pullman. and estab-
lished him, not in private compart-
MENTION had considered that idea
and rejected it-but in a chair at the
rear Of the car, where he could OBJ
serve everybody else and be himself
unnoticed.
AS the train left the station, Tom
was gratified to note that Kirke looked
out of the window with more interest
in his somber eyes than had been there
| in weeks
Remsen was not long distance
away, but the luncheon hour arrived
in the middle of the journey, and Tom
ordered a lavish meal. Kirke, begin
ming languidly, was soon eating broled
bluefsh and roast duck with his old
time zest. Tom, on the other side Of
the table, talked and joked, and
brought to his friends face frequent
smile.
At Remsen, Caldwell found himself
being wheeled rapidly away through
the wide, embroidered streets of the
old university town. Several genera
tions of Thorpes had been educated
there, the succession being broken
when Tom had insisted on going to
more famous centre of learning.
"Still, I sometimes wish I'd stayed
by the family traditions" Tom de-
clared, turning from the side street
which had brought them from the sta
ton into the broad avenue which led
toward the group of college buildings
on the hill. whenever I come here
I get new respect for the place.
There's a certain atmosphere in which
one seems to breathe the very spirit
Of learning-the real thing. They've
got some Of the finest men here I ever
knew-McIntosh, the mathematics in
structor, and Bronson, in history, and
Wentworth, the crack-a-jack in chem
istry. I want 10 see them oil, and I
hope we'll be in time to get into Went
worth's chemistry lecture. You'll enjoy
1t, 1 know; there's nobody like him.
He'd make long-haired musician
throw down his score and take to the
Bunsen burner and the retort."
He was talking with purpose-to
keep Caldwell from refusing to go into
the recitation rooms, as he feared he
might do. But Caldwell, although he
was dreading to be taken before the
eyes of men of his own sort, had
reached the point Of understanding that
Tom had a definite purpose in all
this, which he did not mean to be cow
ard enough to defeat.
So he set a grip on himself-easy
enough in the old days, harder than
could be believed now-and acquiesced
pleasantly when Tom wheeled him
down a long corridor of the Science
Hall, and pausing at certain door,
whispered somewhat nervously:
"You won't mind my taking you in?
The doors at the back Of the room,
and Wentworth won't see you, any
how"
Caldwelrs shaken spirit WINGED for
an instant as he was drawn into the
lecture room, and hundred pairs of
eyes looked curiously round at the
unusual noise Of wheel chair bump
ing through the doorway. Tom was
too much wrought up to steer straight.
But when the boys saw the pale face
in the chair-a face which still showed
both strength and charm-and took
note of the feebleness of the tall figure
resting in inert lines against the plainly
needed support, they turned away
again, and only few fellows near the
door gave attention to the newcomers.
These men made them welcome with
friendly mods.
But after the first five minutes in the
room, Kirke Caldwell needed nobody
to divert his thoughts from himself.
Tom Thorpe, breathing a little hard
from mingled exertion and anxiety,
might lean back in his seat and let his
friend alone Kirke had at last for
gotten everything in the world but
what he now saw before him.
The lecturers face, although tanned
to healthy color, was Scared with
irregular, blanched burrows, and his
eyes were hidden from sight behind
black spectacles.
His body was strong, masn,fcently
built; the movement of his hands. as
he talked, illustrating his words with
gestures, was vigorus and full Of mean
ing; his voice was deep and rich; his
infections We're full Of yivacity and
enthusiasm; but the man himself was
disabled by the absolute loss Of his
sight.
AS Caldwell, watching him, thought
back for an instant to all the blind
l. l., aa,,rrod