Anadarko daily democrat. [volume] (Anadarko, Oklahoma) 1908-191?, 1908-11-23

We had tho saddest evening we'v.
ever experienced at the -Scribblers
The famons ooulist confirmed IL,
tleford's forebodings; poor Blossop had
been smittcn by incurablo blindness,
think we ain all we could for him:
some one OF us. sometimes two, went
TO see him every day and talked and
read 60 him. We found him resigned
but in terribly low spirits. As his
wife, poor soul, said, he was patience
itself; his old irritable little ways, his
gonlally domineering manner had gone
with his sight; he would sit for hours.
she told us. with his hands lying limp
~ on his knees, his slghtless eyes gaz-
ing before him, his lips twitching
every now and then as II his mental
anguish were almost too much for
him. His work had. OF course, stopped.
We hired skilled typist and took her
round. with the hope that we might
lure him 10 dictate To her; but the
mans mind was for the present over
turned ana incapable Of composition.
II was evident that something would
have to be done 10 ronse him from
the dreadful lothargy which was pos
sessiug him.
IL was Littleford who hit upon that
something One afternoon, at tea
time, we heard footsteps in the hall.
they were slow and accompanied by
the quick ratpat Of u stick; the door
opened and Iituorord appeared lead
ing the blind man.
IN with n ahn1ff
but LittlCford signed TO ms To- mOder-
ate our delight, and we came forward
| quietly, shook Rlossop by the HAND.
| led him To his old chair and stood
| round him till LiLtlefOrd notioned us
! back to our seats. Blossop returned
| our greetings and answered our In
! qulr.es with amused cheerfulness; We
went on talking for his benefit, as II
nothing were the matter; but though
he turned his face toward us with n
| wistful smile, he gradually became 81
lent. moody and embarrassed. Our
talk petered out: We glanced at each
other in dismay for we felt that Bios
sop would not come again, that the
strain would be too great for him.
What was to he done?
II was the Chafiinch, the shy, silent
Chafiinch, to whom speech was In
Dor and a pain. who sprang into the
breach. Pale and shrinking. he came
from his corner, took chair In tho
middle OF the circle and began, at first
in quavering accents. TO speak Of Blew
Smith; and, to our amazement, the
ChafHnch praised his last novel
Now. Blew Smith and all his works
arc TO Blossop as a red rag Is TO a
bull. Many AMI many time had Bios
sop denounced the popular, very popu'
lar. author whose fiction sold by the
hundred thousand and whose name
was worshiped In all the regions or
Suburbia. We stared at the Chaffinch
fearfully and then turned our eyes still
more fearfully on Blossop. What was
the Chaffinch at? We soon discovered.
At the beginning Of the eulogy Blossop
had listened indlfferently enough; but
presently he began to fldget In his
chair, then he leant forward, frowD
gathering on his brow, his lips begin
ming to move in the way with which
we were all so familiar.
1T is an interesting book" bleated
Chafnnch. "a conscientious work. full
of the noblest thoughts and the most
roetic Imagery. There is not dull
or unworthy line In II. The charac-
te~ization. too, is admirable. IL Is a
perfect work." he stole glance at
Blossop who was writhing in his chair;
"and | am not surprised that II is al
ready In its fifth ed"
, Up spripg Blossop. Scarcely feeling
his way by the manteLshelf he stood
on the hearth rug with his back to
the fire In the old attitude; and no
poured forth the Walls OF his wrath
on the Chaffinch's devoted head.
To our lnexpressible Joy and delight
, he rent and tore Blew Smiths literary
reputation into shreds and tatters and
strewed tho floor with them. All
through the torrent which poured over
him, boiled and surged round him. tho
Chaffinch sat with placid and sny
smile of satisfaction. We Kept our
Z selves in hand as long as Il was pos
, sible to do 50, then, when restraint
became absolutely dangerous, we gave
7 way Win u Tbdl tiilh u ebA VI NNAAahN'
, We had reused Blossop; the dear old
man was himself again! We were go
ing TO be bullled as Of old II was all
right! Aud thanks to the Chaffinch!
Blossop stopTe1 In his harangne and
, looked round half confused; but he
, was smiling and siill bubbling over;
and we sprang at him and patted him
p on the back crying:
/ That's your style, Blossop! Let
, him have Il! He's an imbecile is the
? Chafinch. We've all been growing i'm
becile for the want Of you Don't you
, dare to keep away from the club OF
L will fall to pieces. No, no; don't
sit down! Stand where You are and
, keep on jawing at us like your dear
old self. Here's your pipe"--some one
charged II and thrust II into his hand.
| "CIvo no n lfoht Cbaffiuch