Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1905-05-11

WedS in Spite of Blindness


love, for he married her in spite of
the fact she suddenly became totally
blind four months before their wed
ding day. The wedding took place as
planned in spite of the opposition Of
Harlocker's parents and friends and
against the urgent advice of his en-
ployers. His betrothed herself in the
first three months of the darkness of
night that came into her life refused
steadfastly to consent TO the marriage,
and only yielded at last when she be-
came convinced in the depths of her
own heart that her refusal would
blight the life of the man she loved.
So earnestly did the young woman
wish TO spare her betrothel from
what she insisted was the sacrifice Of
his entire life, that when two weeks
ago she gave a reluctant consent to
the Wedding. she insisted that he
should avail himself of the right to
draw back even at the altar itself.
Even if we are all in church, John
dear" she said, "and the minister is
half way through the ceremony, you
must say mo- if at the last moment
you decide you cannot make this great
sacrifice; and will turn away from
my happiness and love you just the
same-just as much"
And John Harlocker only smiled--a
smile that the blind girl al his side
could only feel as she passed her
white fingers caressingly over his
face.
ITS not sacrifice, Leeta." he said
in reply. Before this blindness came
to you l needed you just as much as
ever did; and you need me all the
more, so we will say no more about
it,"
All her circumstances ended the
same way. John Harlocker refused
to give up his bethrothed
His mother, selfish only in her love
for him begged him to give up his pur-
pose to marry his blind sweetheart
The day came and the wedding
party assembled The blind bride
lovely even in her blindness, stood be-
side the man she loved and heard the
minister speak the words that made
her the wife of the man who had re-
fused to give her up. She told him
afterwards that if she had felt the
slightest reluctant tramor in the hand
that CIasped hers-if she had detected
even the suspicion of hesitancy in his
voice-she would even at that last
final moment have broken away from
him and refused to go on with the
ceremony. But the clasp of John Har
&c roio
rang clear and tru5-and she was his
wife for better or for worse
From the Altar to Happiness.
After the wedding John Harlocker
gave his bride the first proof of the
tender care he intended to bestow
upon her during all the sightless days
Of her life. She knew he had prepared
4 home for them, but at his request
lad asked him no questions. To
gether they drove in a carriage to the
home in waiting. The carriage rolled
over smooth pavements and through
little park AS the wheels rung across
little stone bridge and then left the
macadam road and turned into stretch
of brick paved streets, the bride, who
had been chatting with the arm of her
big husband around her, suddenly be-
came silent and seemed to be listening
for familiar sounds. The carriage
crossed a railway track and a street
car passed by with peculiar whirring
sound, skirting the broad curve on the
edge of the park. The bride turned
her sightless eyes to her husbands.
John, O, John, YOU,
She stopped to listen again. The
carriage drove through a shaded street
and stopped at gate
John, John" she cried, excitedly-
tits home-my old home. l knew it
the moment we crossed the bridge
and heard the street car whrr along
the edge of the park It's my old
home. isn't is john"
Eyes, dear" said John Harlocker.
ITS your old home and your new
home. for you shall live there until
you are tired of it and me-"
That was John Harlocker's surprise
for his bride, and 1t revealed the whole
of the romance that had joined them
together.
IL was a strange romance for a
modern workaday woodland there
have been few like it outside of cheap
novels and cheaper theaters.
Fifteen years ago James Anderson,
the brides father, was a merchant in
Cleveland. He was not particularly
wealthy, but he was well to 10. He
had purshased a piece of ground in
the suburbs Of Cleveland and built a
home. His daughter Leeta was born
there Property was cheap at the time
Anderson purchased a whole square,
founded by four streets. and across
enc of the streets was bit of ground
probably twenty-three acres in extent
which ultimately passed into the
hands Of the city and was transformed
into a handsome little park
Anderson took a great deal Of pride