Evening journal., 1905-03-08
A NeutraIized Calamity


she would eventually lose the sight Of
both eyes.
She had a lover. She could not at
once make up her mind TO tell him
what had occurred, what must inevita-
bly, separate them. He had gone to
the gold fields to seek his fortune.
Young. handsome, full Of vigor. he was
q perfect man. she, prior to her mis-
fortune. had been a perfect woman.
and as yet she still appeared to be
physically perfect. No one suspected
the slow impairment Of her vision, and
so. long as It was confined 70 one eye
she could see objects as distinctly as
before.
He wrote that he had bought a claim
that was proving very valuable. With
in n few months he would return to
the east for the purpose OF organizing
a company TO work the property.
A month passed.
He was sinking a shaft over n vein
that was widening and growing richer
as II descended.
Another month passed
He had been offered fortune for his
claim, but still thought he would go
to the east for capital to develop his
mine himself. Then for a time there
was a cessation Of letters, at the end OF
which he wrote that he had been III.
but was recovering. There was a mel
ancholy tone to this letter that she at
tributed to his recent illness. She was
troubled and wrote him TO tell her all
about himself, the cause OF his illness,
II his mine had after all proved value
less. When he wrote again he made
no mention Of his disease, but said that
the mine was proving all that had been
expected.
After this there was a long silence
that troubled her greatly. None OF her
letters were answered. Then one day
came a huge envelope in which was a
certificate for a large number OF shares
Of stock In the Eureka Cold Mining
company made out In her name. she
flung the paper aside and seized let
ter contained In the same envelope.
She started as II stung at what she
read. for as yet she had read nothing,
but at the discovery that her blindness
had extended to her other eye. Her de-
sire TO hear from her lover induced her
10 read the letter, before which there
was a blur He announced In a few
words that the prospected marriage
between them could not take place.
He had transferred TO her half his in
terest in his mining company. If she
declined to accept II her refusal would
break his heart
Here was misfortune piled on mis-
fortune. That she had at her disposal
fortune did not in the slightest de
gree palliate either Of the ills from
which she suffered. The certificate OF
stock lay unheeded. The mystery In
the case she thought little OF. She
knew that her lover was not a man tc
announce such decision unless II wal
lrrevocdble.
In few days she had regalned sufh
Client calmness to write accepting the
situation. but not the half OF his for
tune. Indeed the latter was not neces-
sary, since her father was able to sup
port her. She did not blame her lover
for she was sure that he had discov-
cred some cause to prevent their mar
riage.
Gradually her sight faded TIL she
could scarcely distinguish light from
darkness.
One day while she was sitting alone
she heard the door to the room open
and some one enter. A footstep np-
preached, and she felt herself encir-
cled in a mans arms.
who is itT"
at"
It was a short word. but the voice
with which ii was spoken sufficed to
tell her she was in the arms OF her
lover.
'Why did you not write me OF your
misfortuneT he asked.
ut seemed so dreadful 20 me. fell
that It would force me to give you up
I couldn't Why did you not give me
the cause Of your canceling our en-
gagement7"
From a similar cause.-the one that
affected you. / had met with a mis-
fortune which / felt necessltated my
giving you up. I preferred that you
should not know the cause"
"But that cause still exists77
ain one sense, yes; in another. no
Your misfortune has neutralized It, 81
far es you are concerned, and You aions
made mine an overburdening cslam
ity."
"what is itT
Dear heart, It has made me diner
emit man from the lover who wooed and
won you. wish you to think OF me al
the same. l beg Of you to permit me 4
always keep you In ignorance Of it,"
She was silent for a time, then as
scented to hts request.
"There is nothing now TO stand be
tween us. Give yourself to me. You
will accept no sacrifice from me. B,
permitting me 10 love. to care for, 4
administer to you, you will give me ex
quisite happiness. II You deny me. m!
! life is a wreck"
"Are you not rich?"
"Yes."
''Then you have the world to choos'
from"
IL choose you"