The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1905-05-27
The operation would be painful, he
said, ''but have no doubt whatever of its

said, ''but | have no doubt whatever ofits
success
With laugh of excitement, Nora spoke:
painful. John? That won t matter;
| can bear pain Think of it, dear? [
shall see the sky, the fowers-see you,
and the baby! Oh, John-John, it's too
good to be true! No, mo- won t say
that John, how quiet you are =
As the days passed on, and certain prep
arations for the operation were made, John
grew more quiet than ever; silent tragedy
had come into his happy life. Within
another week his wife would see-would
look at him, perhaps with aversion
'Will you tell her he said to Mrs
Desmond, before she sees-will you tell
her? Directly the bandages are removed,
she will turn to me, and she won't know
me. VIII you prepare her p
Mrs Desmond looked uncomfortable
1t : most unfortunate, she said,
SLOWLY. Yes, mean it; look upon
this hope for Nora sight as a great mis-
fortune. She was perfectly happy per
fectly content, I know neither of them
heard sctt step coming along the pas,
sage she longed to see the child but,
after all, her sense of touch is so delicate,
she knows as well as | know what he is
like. This interfering doctor had better
have left things alone
The soft steps stopped outside the door.
The blind girl stood and listened, her
heart beating strangely. Sight misfor-
tune for her! Why-why2 She could
not understand
After all, - Mrs Desmond went on.
slowly, ''she loves YOU dearly; she viii
grow used to your looks in time; even if
she is shocked at first, it will wear off, and
any one can see that it's your misfortune
that you re not a handsome man; your
features, As | have told Nora often, are
beautiful You ought to be handsome
man. and but for the smallpox marks you
certainly would have been.
The blind girl, standing so motionless
outside The door. shivered a little.
II shaut be able TO bear it, John
said Blind as she IS, she worships
beauty What will she feel when she
SEES she is bound for life to me! ought
not To have married her; but when man
loves he made hopeless gesture and
! wanted TO take care of her
Mrs Desmond rnse, and walked about
the room.
You re her husband. she said, ''you
have the remedy in your own hands-for-
bid the operation
And rob her Of one Of life greatest
blessings 2 he answered mo, I'm not
50 selfish a. that, and she wants to see the
little one All, well; he. at all events, is
perfectly beautiful; she will turn from me,
perhaps; bat she can feast her eyes on our
little son.
As quietly as she had come, the blind
girl stole away up the stairs to her little
one nursery, where he lay grooming in his
cot. With half sob, she bent over him,
kissed him--;ouched the tiny face.
A liule later, with 4 quick, light step,
she ran down the stairs, her hand just
touching the banisters; listened an instant,
then went straight to the room in which
Joha sat He glanced up, and she went
to him, kissed him softly.
John, she said, a tremble in her
voice. dear John, don't be angry with
use--I know you We been put to trouble
trouble and expense, butt IN a coward,
dear-the doctor said ii would be painful;
| can she almost sobbed now-''l
can face the operation
lie held her from him for a minute; no
iuking Of the truth entered his mind
Then he snatched her to his heart Was
he wicked, selfish, to be 80 glad
Not to face It = he returned. But
think, Nora, Just little pain, or even a
great deal, and then 20 see, To see. he
said the words brayely, ito see baby
She trcmbled from head to foot. Oh,
to -ee-to see,
Yes. | know. she answered Il
have wanted to, but after all, You have
been my eyes-such good eyes, John
aud IA not brave at bearing pain, You re
not yexci with me ?
NO, darling no; but think, think
again
Il have thought; she answered, and
| can't risk IT, You must thank the
doctor. aud tell him L m afraid John, |
don seem selfish to YOU because won t
bear pain-because | must be your blind
wife, and baby's blind mother always I?
NO, he whispered. Was h. selfish,
wicked, that so great glow of JOY per
vaded his whole being But, dearest,
to be blind all your life, when you might
see
She lifted her lips and kissed him
kissed the scared cheek, the beautiful eyes,
Il don mind, she answered. why
/ should |. John, when the most beautiful
thing in the world is blind =?
THE most beautiful thing 2
I u ..-.