Los Angeles herald., 1909-12-19

to me. Tell me-"
There was no smile on the younger
girls face now. A look of divine ten
derness was there, a light of wonder
full self-resignation was in her speak,
ing eyes, 1t had not taken long to
make up her mind, once she knew the
truth With Ellen blind-that was,
unable to read anything, her hasty
scheme promised success beyond her
widest dreams.
"He-he said-he said-can you be
very brave, dear?"
Ellen stiffened herself where she sat,
and passed her white hand slowly
across her smarting eyes. She looked
earnestly at her sisters face, but the
room was very dim, she said, and
Damaris' face was in deep shadow.
Yet, Damaris was shielding her own
eyes from the dazzling sunlight.
Tell mel" cried Ellen petulantly.
"Try and be very brave, dear" said
Damaris, as she came toward her and
rested her hand on the dropping head.
There comes a time, Nell, when we've
to call on every atom of strength we
possess to face the future, with a stout
heart Doctor Lissons says that
that-oh! I can't-I can'tl"
what is it?" Ellen whispered in
alarm.
You're going blind, dear"
l'iiiiO L W. NOil - l(cliilfil lss
you're telling me a lie. You hate me,
and you want to make me miserablel
You're a bad, deceitful girl, and
won't believe you! Tell me you were
only joking, Damaris."
The vibrant voice went through the
whole gamut of emotions, from bitter
anger to poignant despair. But DANA
ris said no word, only she smoothed
the bowed head and fondled the lux
uriant hair as a loving mother might.
Gradually the whole truth dawned on
the almost distracted woman's mind.
She sprang to her feet and thrust her
sister away with wonderful strength.
Then she fell to pacing the wide room.
81 won't be blind! Do you hear me
I won't be blindl Heavens l can't be!
Never to see the world again, never
to look out on Gods good earth!
Never-neVer to-Damaris-Ill never
see Halliday's face again!"
That gave the younger sister the
opening she sought. She went to the
restless figure and drew her to a seat.
Then she began to speak soothingly,
quietened the poor, distracted sister
gradually. so that Ellen sat up pres
emily and wiped her eyes.
Listen, Nell. I've had a PRESENT.
ment. Something tells me that Halli-
day loves you. 1 don't know why, but
it's here. at my heart. I seem to hear
a voice speakino there and-it's Halli-
days voice. He says he wants you,
dear. You'll have message from him
soon, I'm quite certain Yes, there
was a voice speaking at her heart and
1t was indeed the voice of the absent
man-but its message was not the one
she gave.
Are you quite sure. Damaris?
You're not saying this just to make it
easier for me? You're not plying me
and telling me a little fable because
I'm weak and-and going blind?"
I'm quite sure, dear. Why will 1t
make so much difference, Nell? Do
you care so much?"
care? Listen, Damaris. If I were
dying, if my soul were flying out into
space, the knowledge that Halliday
loved me would drag me back to earth
again. He's more than my life to me.
He's life and hope and happiness, he's
sight and hearing-he's-ohl how can
you understand? l love him, and
that tells ALL"
Yes, Damaris thought calmly, she
had chosen wisely. What if she were
about to perpetrate a fraud that she
would have shrunk from a day before?
1t was for Nells sake-for the sake
of the spoilt girl whom her father
had entrusted to her when he went
away, What though her own heart
was breaking slowly?
Late that night. when the house was
STILL Damaris sat her down and drew
some sheets of cracking paper to-
ward her. 1t was the thin foreign
stuff used by travellers.
She sat silently for a little while,
her brow bent in deep thought She