Middletown transcript., 1906-02-03
THE CROWN OF DARKNESS
BY JUDITH SPENCER

Miss Agn0W, as Sile SatHereu II
her gown and proceeded to pick
her way over unstable bolrds and
loose paving stones, where the
crossing once had been. Il was
then that she saw him first.
He was o tall and well-made
man, walking somewhat slowly
just ahead of her. Suddenly he
stumbled and almost fell. In re.
covering himself he turned and
paused irresolute as if uncertain
which way to go He was now
facing her and she saw his ex.
preston of helpless bewilder-
ment, and saw, too, that he was
blind.
With a sudden pity for his mis-
fortune and predicament she ad-
vanced toward him. Oar streets
are in such a chaotic condition.
Will you allow me to pilot you to
the opposite side?
should be most grateful to
you. ] have not been in New
York for some time and confess
that I find myself decidedly at
sea, he replied, lifting bis hat.
She laid her gloved hand upon
his arm. and kept it there until
they had reached the opposite
sidewalk. Then raising his hat
again he thanked her and she
walked swiftly on. But twice
she turned and looked back at
him. He had lost his confidence
of bearing and was walking slow
ly and uncertainty, while people
jostled him rudely as they passed.
She wondered that man in his
condition should have yentured
out in the streets alone. Then
suddenly giving way to her kind
ly impulse, she went back to him
and said: We seem to be going
in the same direction; would you
like me to walk beside you and
point out possible pitfalls?
I should be more than CRATE
full to you. For, to tell the truth
I have become completely turned
about and bewildercd, and was
wondering how could get a
guide. I do not usually go out
in the streets alone, but to-day it
has been unavoidable. thought
I should have no difficulty, but
there seem to have been many
changes here in ten years time.
The confusion-when one can
only hear it and not see its cause
lis indescribable, he answered
in tone of relief.
The cable cars, electric car
riages, bicycles, the increased
and the upturned
streets, have all added their share
to the confusion. But now we
have safely passed the junction
of Fifth Avenue and Broadway
and are walking up Broadway,
said Miss Agnew.
My destination is Thirty fifth
just eastof Sixth Avenue.
But you are probably not going |
so far? he said.
Yes, and a little beyond; so |
do not go out of my way at all.
He was evidently used to walk
ing with some one beside him, for
as soon as she had joined him his
returned and he pro-
ceeded as briskly and fearlessly |
as though he had his sight. At
the street crossings she laid her
hand lightly upon his arm and |
removed it as soon as the. other
side was reached.
It seemed the strangest thing
in the world to Mary Agnew to
be walking thus familiarly by the
side of an unknown man. And
she felt that luck had favored
her when she had run the gaunt-
lot of that half mile without meet.
ing any of her friends. But the
man was a gentleman, and some
thing in his helplessness had ap-a
pealed most strangely to her.
When she signifed that they
we're approaching Thirty fifth
Street, he thanked her in we'll
chosen words. / am quite at
home from here. You see, I have
counted my steps from the corner
more than once and know precise.
" where to turn in. One grows
very confident walking in the
1ark-when one is on familiar
ground, he added.
This unconventional episode
haunted Mary Agnew all that
day. She caught herself wonder
ing again and again who her
stranger was and why he had
ventured out alone Sometimes
tseemed as if she had done some
hing inexcusably bold and un-
A 4.