The daily Alaskan., 1905-05-17
A Neutralized Calamity
IoriglnaLl

II
 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 a perfect man. She, prior to her ms. 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 to one eye she could see objects as distinctly as before
 He wrote that he had bought claim that was proving very valuable, With in a 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 a vein that was widening and growing richer as it descended,
 Another month passed,
 He had been oTercl a fortune for his claim, but still thought he would go to the cast for capital to develop his mine himself. Then for a time there was cessation of letters, 0t the end of which he wrote that he had been ill, 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, if 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 Gold Mining company made out in her name. She flung the paper aside and Scizcl a let ter contained in the same envelope. She started as if stunG not at what she read. for as yet she had read nothing, but at the discovery that her blindness Aa .,-..,,a,g C., l,,,. ,thar ava IIpv do sire to hear from her lover induced her to read the letter, before which there was a blur. He announced n a few words that the proapected marriage between them could not take place. He had transferred 10 her half his in. terest in his mining conpany. lf she declined to accept it hcc refusal would break his heart.
 Here was misfortune piled on mis, fortune. That she had "t her disposal a fortune did not iT tEe slightest de gree palliate either ot 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 man to announce such a decision unless it was irrevocable,
 In few days she had regained Suth- cIent 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 rlage.
 Gradually her sight faded tin 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 ap- preached, and she felt herself encir- cled in a mans arms.
 "Who Is lty'
 "I."
 It was a short word. but the voice with which 1t was spoken sutiicei to tell her she was ln the arms Of her lover.
 Why did you not write mo of your miSfortune%" he CSECd.
 Tt seemed so dreadful to mo. felt that it would force mn 0 give you up, couldn't Why iid you not give me the cause of yonr c;ncelng our Cn.  yaceWCntI'
 Prom a similar cl;ISc- one that affected you. I had met with a mis. 'ortune which felt neccSsitatcd my giving you up. I preferred that you should not know the cause"
 But that cause stll cXlStS|
 In one sense, yes; in another, no Your misfortune has ncutrOlized it, so far as you are concerned, and you alone made mine an overwhelming calam. ry."
 What Is itT"
 Dear heart, it has made me a differ. ent man from the lover who wood and won you. wish you to think of me as tie same. beg of you to permit me to always keep you in ignorance Of it."
 She was silent fos a time, then as sented to his request.
 There is nothing now to stand be tween us. Give yourself to me. You will accept no sacrifice from me, Ky permitting me to lcve, to care for, to administer to you, you will give me eN-