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


hind him. There had been Al argu- |
ment between Bunter and him, one Of |
those arguments which begin mildly |
and casually enough but not seldom !
proceed by quick stages to something |
like a heated alteration. On this oc
casion Blossop had been quite violent
and had put sis side OF the case with
a display of temper which was IN.
usual until quite recently; for though
Blossop, by dnt Of his vast bulk and
strength and his admirable lung pow
er had, from the day that the club
was started. been In the habit OF talk
ing most OF us down. his bullying. TO
use the word I'm an iuoffen slye sense
had not only met with our federation,
but secretly amused us. We all liked
Blossop, liked him for his honesty,
his generosity his literary achieve
ments, his sterling worth.
- don't know what's come to him."
proceeded Bunter in an aggrieycd
tone. Did you fellows hear how he
jumped on me? Almo-t--almost spite
fully. Fancy Blossop spitcfull"
"Blossop seems to have been OF
color for the last week or So" said
Gorham Seems TO have lost his ap.
petite; and he doesn't talk 30 much.
and that's bad sign with Blossop."
And when he does talk, he's in
cliued to be spiteful. as Huntcr says"
remarked MILAN. And have any Of
You noticed how he peers at things?
| Yesterday, when he was reading that
| article, Is Fiction a blessing" he
held the paper close up to his nose,
and then carried 1.-THE paper not
his nose, mean-,o the window.
thou~h the light was good enough"
Writers headache" suggested some
one.
Nonsense" said MILAN. "Blossop
with headache! He doesn't know
what 1t means He's upset about
something"
or course. we humored him and
were careful to avoid contradicting
him. even when he expressed the
most outrageous opinions.
Presently he was absent from the
club for a week or ten days. We
missed him very much. Gorham at
tempted TO take his place on the
hearth rug and tried to bully us: but
the attempt was futile and the imita.
tion so rid.culously feeble that we
secuted Gorham with scorn and con
tumely: and we were all heartily glad
when Blossop returned; but we were
secretly distressed to observe that he
looked worse than when he had left
us. He was pale and had grown thinner
and there was an anxious. harassed
look about his face which caused us q
vague anxiety. He seemed tired and
listless, and once or twice he fell
asleep in the chair beside the fire
When be did so we talked in whispers
and were careful not to awake him.
one nieht, when he had been asleep
for nearly an hour, he woke suddenly
felt for the newspaper, which hal
dropped from his hand and raised ii 70
his eyes; then he said.
DO You mind ringing the bell, Rob
inson, and asking the waiter to turn
on the l'-hts?"
We looked at each other aghast
The lights hal been on for some time
There was silence. terrible silence
but II was broken by new member
who had joined us during Blossop''
absence.
"The lights have been up for th'
last hour" he said.
Blossop turned his face In the di
rection OF the speaker. sat perfect,
still for a moment, then rose and
leaning against the mantelshelf, iiuni
his hands before his eyes.
MY God. boys" he cried. in a voice
which rang in our ears for days after
ward. I'm blind!"
Littleford. his Oldest friend. ros'
and went TO him and caught his arm.
'Hold on. Blossop!" he said tryini
to laugh, but with shake of his voice
Don't be an idiot. Pull yourself TO
gether! You blind What rot
You're bilious-that confounded live
of yours-or you're got neuralgia o
the optic nerve. Know ever 80 man,
cases. Had it myself; haven't you
boys? For heavens sake, don't lool
Ike that. man! Here ! have SOM
brandy"
The Toor fellow stood with ben
head his lips moving, the tears run
ming down his cheeks until. with
movement OF shame he struck then
away with the back of his hand. III
could not spe9k.
Littleford led him away. and vi
who were left sat and looked at eacl
other and gazed at the hearth rul
which was sacred TO him in heart
rend!ng silence. We waited until Lit
tleford returned He came In yer!
quietly and sank down in Blossop'
chair. but got up and took anothe
one, and Il was some minutes befor'
he replied to our mute questioning.
Il took him home" he said, huskily
"His wife was terribly cut up; but
, but think she expected IT, She d,dn'
cry; but her face was almost glaC
that Blossop couldn't see II. She be
haved like-like a woman; and tn,