Woodruff County news., 1907-11-07

new, as she gathered up her gown and proceeded to pick her way over unsta- ble boards and loose paving stones, where the crossing once had been. It was then that she saw him first.
 He was tall and well-made man, walking somewhat slowly ahead of her Suddenly he stumbled and al most fell. In recovering himself he turned and paused irresolute, as if uncertain which way to go. He was now facing her and she saw his eX- pression of helpless bewilderment, ana saw, too, that he was blind.
 With sudden Iaty for his misfor- tune and predicament she advanced toward him. Our streets are in such a chaotic condition" she said. Twill you allow me to pilot you to the op- pOsite side?"
 ''I should be most grateful to you,' he replied, lifting his hat. q have not been in New York for some time and confess that l find myself decidedly at sea"
 It seemed the strangest thing in the
 
 thus familiarIy by the side of an un- known man. And she felt that luck had favored her when she had run the gauntlet of that half mile without meeting any of her friends. But the man was gentleman, and something in his heIplessness had appealed most strangely to her.
 This unconventional episode haunted Mary Agnew all that day. She caught herself wondering again and again who her stranger was and why he had yentured out alone. Sometimes it seemed as if she had done something ineXcusably bold and unwomanly; yet at the same time she felt that she would never have forgiven herself had she acted otherwise. His tall, straight figure and fine face were still present with her when, late that evening, she entered a crowded ballroom on her fathers arm.
 Half an hour perhaps had passed when she saw her old friend Jack Beverton approaching with-could it be possible?-her stranger of the morning!
 Miss Agnew, allow me to introduce my cousin, Anthony Gordon, once of New York, lately of the far west and now of New York again" Jacks words seemed buzzing in her ears.
 T am glad to meet MT. Gordon" she said quietly, though her heart was f1uttering strangely, as it had not done since she was a young, young girl.
 She saw him start and turn eagerly toward her. Jack had now passed on, and among the crowd these two seemed quite alone.
 It is you I was hoping I might meet you again" Gordon said gladly. The world is small place, after ali"
 Yes" she assented; yet I confess this is a great surprise"
 "Tou probably thiRk that a blind maR is even more out of place in a ballroom than in the city's crowded streets, and I agree with you; but Jack oyerpersuaded me and now I am glad I came! He promised to keep me in tow and to introduce me to a few of his friends with whom I could sit out an occasional dance"
 She regarded him curiously. It was a novelty to meet a man who was ap- parently no more sensitive about such a terrible affliction than if it had been but a broken bone and he was about with his arm in a sling
 +I hope you did not think me-for- ward this morning." she said i'm pulsively.
 q thought you did a most gracious and beautiful action and l blessed you for it!"
 You have not been-in this condi- tion--long?" she asked.
 Eight months-an age! And I am a remarkable case for I have baffied every specialist in the west and now have come to New York to baffle these fellows here. I intend going to each one of them separately, at first. Then shall have them meet and hold a con- sultation; then I suppose they'll want to examine me again; and after that the verdict"
 She saw Gordon again just as she was leaving. T hope you will come to-call on me- she said She had been going to say ito see me-" but quickly changed the word, adding: T shall be interested to hear what all the oculists say
 T wanted to ask you if I might, he said eagerly, If I had not seen you again tonight (and she noticed that the old habit of speech clung to him), q should have sent Jack to you to ask if I might come"
 Within a few days Anthony Gordon called, and his calls were repeated with increasing frequency. The first time he came with Jack, but after wards with his man Brown, who wait ed for him below.
 His conversation was always full of interest His ten years experi- ences in the vest his struggles, his successes, his defeats-he told her all