Amador ledger., 1907-04-19

SO 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 indif-
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 donned
the garment, her mind turning SEN
tences over and over, still striving tc'
express only the proper amount Of in,
terest. Then, as she absently arranged
ribbons and lace, there camo the firm
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 uselessly deplored. The gen.
erously salarled and loyal servants
only looked their astonlshment 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
q journey. AS she descended the steps
she received a 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 a 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 voice. speaking from the
gloom, startled her.
"Are you back so soon, auntief'
She would have run away, but sud-
den weakness at sight of him, heavy
shade over his bandaged eyes, made
her stumble to the bench beside him.
He put out cropping hand as If sens
ing something unusual.
'Is it you, auntie? Is anything
wrong-or-who is it?''
The shock of his helplessness swept
away everything but tender pity,
yearnlng love and longing to minister
to him. She caught the cropping hand
and kissed it, sobbing with impetuous
abandon:
"Oh, Harry, Harry! came as soon
as I knew. 1 am going to stay with
you and take care of you forever You
shall never, never be alone in the dark
ness again."
why" he cried. "Why, it must be
it 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 gravely when the old
misunderstanding and the purport Of
the purloined letter had been made
clear-"dear, do not mean to let you
leave me again, because you might for
get to come back, but 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
now have hopes it may be?"
"Oh, Harryr'
The ecstatic cry and the soft, bare
arms about his neck were answer
enough.
From the crushed box between them
there crept a perfume that presently
brought unpleasant remembrances to
Miss Amy.
'Why," she exclaimed, examining
the contents and the accompanying
card, "the senator's roses! And have
on my She viewed the costume
with amazement, guilty sense Of out
ragged social amenities and her sisters
disapproval
When she had made shamefaced ex-
planation, Henry Scott intimated, with
a heartless disregard Of the senator's
shattered hopes, that the parsonage
was close by and that the evening bod
Ice and the roses were plainly in prepa-
ration for the wedding that was to oc-
cur Immediately.
Meaning In Oriental Rugs.
Not only the design but the colors Of
the rugs woven in the orient are full
of significance. They represent nation