Free press., 1906-04-21

side, steeling myself to meet the look
knew I should find in her eyes
You are not hurt?" I faltered.
She turned toward me, her blue ewes
frightened and widely opened.
..No-no-ohs no-I'm not hurt she
began tremulously; but there was an
acciuent, was there not? II shouldn't
be here. 1 will go back to the seat"
she added, reaching out both her hands
and starting timidly forward.
And then I saw. Alice. was blind!
What 1 said and did 1 hardly know.
only know that my heart leaped
within me and that my brain seemed
on fire. threw up my head and
walked on air as / led her back to the
seat. 1 soothed and quieted her;
laughed. joked, told bits of stories, and
drew her attention from the past un-
pleasantness. And all the while my
heart sang a song of joy, God forgive
me, a song of joy because Alice could
not see!
What care 1 now for the mirrors
eyes? I walk abroad and scorn them.
Do I not know where to look to meet
no hateful image of pity?
I have learned from Alice many
things. I have learned that. though
the strong and rich scorn to have the
misshapen hunchback plead their
case in court. they that are poor of
purse would gladly claim his aid.
And they have it-these poor; my
heart burns at their tales of wrong
and injustice. and my tongue must be
tipped with fire from the Heaven that
favors the righteous cause. SO often
do 1 win for them the victory.
And all the days my heart is sing
ing-for Alice is to be my wife. And
why not? I will make her like thing
of love and peace, a thing set separate
from every care. And now I am glad
OF my inherited wealth, for money will
buy the sweets of life for my Alice.
So all my days are song till June
June, our wedding month.
An I man or flend? Have 1 sunk
so low as to be thing of scorn even
to myself?
1t is June. Alice has been away for
weeks. A letter in her dear, labored
hand received to-day says:
! Darling: 1 have a surprise for you
|
in the world. All these weeks 1 have
been under a famous oculist's care
and, dear heart, I'm going to see! TIC
see! To see!
I'm going home tomorrow. Come
to me. Come quickly, for shall wear
the bandage across my face until you
yourself remove it. l want the first
thing 1 see at home to be the joy and
love in your eyes. Come. Your own.
ALICE,
It is the end Once more I shall
walk alone Once more 1 shall watch
my darling from afar, for never after
this day will I thrust my face between
her newborn sight and the beautiful
beautiful world.
go now to Alice.
And there the manuscript ended.
turned it about and twisted it from
side to side, but not another word
could I find.
I could neither work nor sleep. Al
last, I hurried down to the little shop
on Third avenue and sought the pro
prietor.
81 bought a desk here a week age
an old desk with curious carvings
and odd little drawers at the side,"
began. Can you tell me to whom il
beIonged?"
"Yes, 1 remember returned the ole
man, a peculiar smile on his face. ''Ii
was once the property of Denton, the
hunchback lawyer"
He must be a wonderful man.
ventured.
..He fs-aIl thanks to the devoted
encouragement of a good wife"
My heart leaped.
..Then he's married." faltered.
..To the best and truest little WON
an in the world. 1 know, for I've
watched her from babyhood up" The
old man paused moment. ther
turned to me, strange light In his
faded blue eyes.
sAlice, his wife, was blind when
he first knew and courted her; and
because she could not see, he showed
to her-and to her alone-the depths
of his real self When Alice's sight
was restored, she insisted that heI
| lover should be the one to remove the
final bandage from her eyes. and my
Wife-who was in the room at the
time-said she never saw man whose
face expressed such hopeless misery
as Denton's at that minute. But Alice
lust looked at him; long, loving
look that never faltered."
"And he?"
'tHe took her in his arms with q
great sob Of joy"
And tnen?" I prompted eagerly
The old man turned with mild re-
proof in his eyes.
"And then-my wife left the room. '
he said, gently.
SUNDAY LAWS IN VIRGINIA.