The San Francisco call., 1906-08-26

cottage with Lucy Dyke and little
maid as my servants. Lucy was near
my own age and looked after the house
well. I was blind, you see, my dear
said Margaret softly, and could do
nothing for myself. Dear Lord. but !
have had to earn my own living since
then"
Overcome by bitter memories, she
paused for a moment Hagar did not
dare to break the silence, and in short
tine Margaret resumed her tale.
Also, had dear friend, called Jane
Lorrimer, who lived near with. her par
ents, and who visited me constantly
We were like sisters, and / loved her
better than any one In the world till
John Mask came to Christchurch. He
was visiting the rector of the parish
and 1 met him. Although I never saw
his face, 1 was told that he was very
handsome. and he had n sweet. low
voice, which charmed me greatly. You
know. my dear. how we poor blind folk
love a sympathetic voice. Well,
loved John. but / had no idea that
there would be any return of that love
for how could a blind girl hope that a
handsome young man would look on
her, especially" added Margaret, in a
melancholy tone, when Jane was SO
handsome?'
But he did not love Jane" observed
Hagar, significantly.
No" said the blind woman. proudly;
"he loved me, and this he told me after
we had known each other a year. We
became engaged, and life was then at
going out to India to be a tea planter
and he said when he was settled there
and had made fair amount OF money
that he would send for me, Alas! alas
that promise was never kept"
why wasn't itY' asked Hagar
bluntly.
who can teli?" said Margaret sad
ly. Not L; not Jane. She was as sur
prised as l was when the end came
Although blind, my dear, i can write
fairly well, and John made me promise
to correspond with him. ! did SO for
more than a year, and he answered
faithfully"
WHO read his letters to your
Sometimes Jane, sometimes Lucy
Dyke. Ali they were both good
friends to me in my trouble. At first
but as the months went by they grew
colder and colder. Oftentimes Jane
said that she would not read them to
me- | wrote to John. asking the mean
ing of this change, but his replies were
not satisfactory. At last. eighteen
months after his departure, received
back my letters.
Really Did Jane or Lucy bring
them to your?
No: Jane was absent in London, see
ing friends, and Lucy was at the mo-
ment out OF the house. The little maid
brought me the packet. I opened IT,
thinking 1t might be a present from
John, as he had given me nothing but
the silver teapot, which he presented
to me before he departed. | made the
little maid walt till opened the packet
and | asked her to read the letter from
John inclosed-"
Did shep'
Yes. oh. the pain of it.' cried Mar
garet. He said that Ii was best that
our engagement should end and that
he returned to me my letters. thirteen
In all. Not an excuse, or sigh, or a
regret. Only two curt, cruel lines
packet OF my letters. was distracted
my bosom while I wept.'
What did Lucy say when she re-
turned?'
she was very angry with the little
maid for having read the letter to me
and causing me such pain. She wanted
me to destroy my own letters, but !
refused. / kept them by me day and
night; joan had touched them and they
were all that remained to me OF him.
Then | saw that my romance was dead
and done with. / took my own letters
and those he had written me, and,
tying them up in a bundle I placed
them with my own hands in the silver
teapot. Then / went to q jeweler and