The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-01-26
TIE EVENING STORY


ant. It was terrible beyond expression
to be blind, to be dragged back to Ire
when the fever had so denuded him.
Existence was barren, useless, hope
less, and when he prayed 1t was Tor
one day. tripping as he climbed the
stairs, he felt the help of baby hands. I
You counted wrong" reproved I
childish voice. 4 did t'uver night in !
the dark
shortly
Dora; who's you2'
John Blossom"
Pretty name; bend down Then
whispering in his ear, 4 shall call
you Blossom she scampered away,
singing back michievously, Blossom
B-l-O-s-s-o-m."
It was a week before they met
again; the mans mood was desperate.
You is frOwnin' awful, Blossom,
piped the shrill voice, but you can't
frighten me-
If you are not scared come and |
"Muver don't low me in dodgers |
rooms" Blossom felt the rebuff, and, |
reaching the top floor. stumbled into /
Seated on his cot he clenched his |
hands in the agony of his helpless
ness.
Come" he cried sharply in answer
/ to a timid rap, whereat some one en-
tered, whom he could not recognize. |
| What is it?" he half shouted, his
/ nerves strained to the point of frenzy.
/ Just me, Blossom. Muver says you
! is exceptions" Then, in the silence
! the child's eyes roved over the room
and lighted on the table Uttered with
! papers. Does you write ?" Her tone
! betokened interest; Blossoms hands
moved aimlessIy. Write, write
That's precisely what I can't do
curse it, There, before him, lay the
shattered by a darkness worse than
death. He was recalled to the pres
ent by the pressure of small arms
resting ON his knees, as the child look
I ed I'D into his despairing face.
Poor dear she sympathized in an
old fashioned manner.
It's dark, Dora-never any light
that's why I cannot write" His voice
broke with half a sob
I'm dreadful sorry. Let me do it
/ for you. I print now-and 1 learn
fast; see if I don't" She tossed the
papers aside and climbed into a chair,
sucked loudly at the pencil TO make it
/ black. What will we write, Bios
/ som2" Receiving no answer. She
/ looked up Her companions head was
+ pilloWed on his arms; his shoulders
heaved. Could a man cry, even as she
sometimes did2 Dora scrambled to her
feet. and hurried from the room, to
return a few minutes later flushed and
/ breathless.
Here's Miss ArabeIla.p she cried,
/ thrusting doll into the mans hands.
When I get cryin' l just hold her
/ tight; she comforts lots MuverS call
ing; hold Miss Arabellt close, Blossom.
The doll became the first link in a
strange friendship, which grew with
years. For the chiId's amusement
/ Blossom brought wonderful tales out
/ Of the storehouse of his imagination;
/ frequently in verse that he strung to-
! gether during wakeful hours of the
] night. Dora listened. and remembers
AS she had said, she, learned. fast. She
HI
4 her promise. Il write truly now; tell
me what to write"
Blossom smiled sadly, declaring the
/ desire dead; but she insisted and
/ cOaxed until he yielded, repeating some
! of the phraSings that haunted him, and
the dormant passion revived. It was new
/ birth to the man, and the girl became
/ his eyes, as the gift that had been
smothered in darkness and uncertainty
| suddenly developed. and the poet came
/ into his own. In time ''Our poetry" as
Dora called it. verses with exquisite
rhythm. in round childish chirography,
4 foud their way into editors hands and
] caused comment.
/ So the years passed and Blossom
/ counted each anniversary as it came.
! Fifteen today" he said IN one occas-
ion, signing heavily. I wish so l could
see you once-just once"
Dora raised her head from copying;
/ it was unusual for Blossom to chat be-
fore the dictation was complete. How
/ do you look?" continued the blind man,
directing his sightless gaze toward her.
Whose decision shall I render2''
i Dora laughed deliciously. Mother says
a big girl Aunt Helen 'gawky,' but
Tom insists pretty. "
"Of course, Tom is right. Well, here
| is my remembrance" Plumbing in his
pocket he brought out little case, dis
/ closing a gold Iocket with a diamond
| set in its heart shape.
"Oh. Blossom. how lovely! But what
extravaganza. You can't afford it"
You mistake; I have more money
/ than I need, little pal
The girl slipped the slender chain
about her neck and gave the clasp int
his hands, then, as he clumsily htteS
/ it together, she threw her arms about
his neck and kissed him. His pulses
4 throbbed riotousIy at the warm touch
Of her lips, and he hardly dared trust
himself TO kiss her in return.
Strangely enough, it was the last ca
/ ress she offered. From that birthday
she seemed to leave childhood behind, !
and the man suffered in the change. !
He grew to dread the succeeding wears.
His pal was growing into WOmanhOod. i
and so farther away from him. He
could have lived luxuriously had he de-
sired, but he chung to the old lodging. !
Critics and public alike acknowledged
his genius, yet the whole world was
| bound up in Dora to the blind author
Dora. whose voice was as music. whose /
step he could distinguish in a million !
He encouraged ner 10 talk about her !
friends, her ambitions, and-yes, he
made her tell him about Tom. too
Tom, who had grown to be man, and
on whom Dora's mother looked with
favor.
II must be going now" said Dora, |
after a fruitless afternoon. Blossom hav-
ing been unable to settle to the task !
Tom coming?'
yes" Her voice was a little tired.
Blossom noticed it.
You have not quarreled2"
tom never will. Blossom. do you
want me to marry Tom %
"Marryt" The attack was sudden. /
Marry It's beautiful when young peo- /
Me love snnmgh Tor that But Mnur