The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1907-02-13
now her fan fell from her grasp.

now 1eT ian AI@lk 1EOm mex grasp
broken heap.
Blind! BlindP' she moaned.
The dark eyes that had looked into
her heart with q power that no Other
could ever attain darkened forever.
Her imagination vivi1ly pictured
what it would mean to him, so active
80 alive to the world and its needs
suddenly imprisoned in darkness. hope
less darkness, dependent upon others
limited to the companionship Of hired
attendants and his decrepit aunt, his
sole relative.
At least she might write him a few
sympathetic lines, the fact that she
had but now learned Of his terrible loss
being explanation and justification OF
her former seemingly heartless lndif-
ference. In the privacy Of her chamber
she gave rein to her emotions, produc'
ing that which she hastily reduced to
scraps for the wastebasket.
Recalling that other eyes now scan
ned his letters, she wrote and discard
ed page after page, finding each short
epistle more difficult Of composition.
In the midst of her perplexity a maid
brought In the remodeled garment and
an imperative scrawl from Mrs,
Wridgely to the effect that the article
be tried on Immediately and. II not
satisfactory, returned for further alter
alton.
Amy dismissed the maid and dolned
the garment, her mind turning SEN
fences over and over, still striving to
express only the proper amount of in
terest. Then, as she absently arranged
ribbons and lace, there came the hrll
conviction that to write was impossi-
BILE; that she must see him as soon as
distance would allow.
1t would not have happened had
Amy been properly chaperoned and
companioned instead of maintaining
the independence which Mrs. Wridgely
often and useiessly deplored. The gen
erousIy salaried and loyal servants
only looked their establishment when,
wearing the elbow sleeved bodice of
her elegant reception gown. black
lace fichu and plain travelling hat, Miss
Amy announced that she was going on
a journey. AS she descended the steps
she received large box from q for
lists boy, and this she abstractedly car
ried with her.
She was still carrying 1t when, after
an hours ride on train, she walked
to the old Scott homestead. at the end
of the village, where she had been
raised. She had been engrossed in the
past, but once inside the gate she
was reused to somewhat embarrass-
ing present. With a painfully beating
heart she stole away to the summer
house, hoping there to regain self con-
troll before ringing the bell. AS she
entered a voice, speaking from the
gloom. startled her.
Are you back SO soon, auntieY'
She would have run away, but a sud
den weakness at sight of him. heavy
shade over his bandaged eyes, made
her stumble to the bench beside him.
He put out a cropping hand as If sens
ing something unusual.
"Is 1t You, auntie? Is anything
wrong-or-Who Is itW
The shock OF his helplessness swept
away everything but tender pity
yearning love and longing to minister
to him. She caught the cropping hand
and kissed It, sebbing with impetuous
abandon:
"Oh, Harry, Harry! | came as soon
as knew. am going to stay with
you and take care of you forever. You
shall never, never be alone in the dark
ness again.
"WhyT he cried. "Why, it must be
1T is-Amy! My own Amyw
His next movements demonstrated
that his arms at least were as strong
as OF old. and Miss Colver submitted
to the loving bonds without struggle.
Dear" he said gFavRly when the old |
misunderstanding and the puFport Of |
the purloiqed letter had been made |
l do not mean to let you
leave me again. because you might for |
get to come back, but I must not hold |
you by false pretense. You came. like |
a sweet angel. to care for blind man,
but you will not discard me, will you,
though my sight be fully restored, as |
I now have hopes it may be7"
''Oh. Harry"
The ecstatic cry and the soft, bare |
arms about his neck were answer
enough.
From the crushed box between them
there cFept a perfume that presently |
brought unpleasant remembFances to
Miss Amy.
why" she exclaimed, examining
the contents and the accompanying
card, ''the senator's roses! And I have
On N.Y. She viewed the costume
with amazement, guilty sense Of out
ragged social amenities and her sisters
When she had made shamefaced ex-
PLANTATION, Henry Scott intimated. with
! heaFtless disregard Of the senator's
shattered hopes, that the parsonage
was close by and that the evening bod
&c and the roses were plainly in prepa
alton for the wedding that was to oe-