The Washington times., 1909-01-09

the doctors words broke
a upon the ears of the two
meo. Fanshaw alone seemed
overcome. Langdon received
them I'm cold. dumb man
ner. and in no way betray-
ed any alarm
R,7t with Fanshaw II was different
He prasDed the specialists arm eN-
citedly.
"Doctor. YOU must be mistaken, he
cried. There surely is some hope
..I feel know my business, was the
dry response.
And he surely does" Langdon inter
r,nted 81 know there is no hope,
Horace. I know what a useless thing
] am now. am dependent. Come
take me home
IF YOU notice any change whatever
come 10 me Immediately" the doctor
directed CAS- far as L can determine,
the optic nerves are paralyzed- AT
least. they are not dead
I.angdon stretched out his hands.
Take me home, Horace and Fan
shaw led him from the room and out
to the street.
They were within walking distance
of the Langdons' fat and started in
that direction, proceeding for some time
in silence.
Suddenly Langdon raised his head
and stared around him, as If deter
mlred 10 pierce the gloom which en-
veloped him.
where are we now. IIol- ~e?' he
quired.
"One Hundred and Eleventh street is
Just ahead OF US"
And then one Hundred and Twelfth
and Helen" He stopped abruptly
and braced himself as If determined
not to proceed further.
st can't go on" ne exclaimed. 81
can't go 20 Helen! II was bad enough
10 come TO her with the other news.
But with this, Oh, It's too much,
Horace, too much!'
II know it's hard
.Hardr' the other cried. Its far
worse than that. We are dependents
now. Dependents on charity I can't
80 back to GrenneII, and how can we
live without money! can't work
and he checked himself, and for
the first time since the awfH catastro-
phe. seemed 10 emerge from the stupor
into which he had fallen The tears
coursed down his cheeks unchecked and
he seemed on she verge of collapse
Perhaps her parents are right"
Langdon continued. while Fansnaw
racked his brain Tor some words OF
cheer and consolation. Helen did
make a mistake In marrying me. Pm
a failure. but God knows / have tried.
And We all know IL, John-every
one OF Us; and Helen most OF ALL
Everything does look awfully black
now but I know something VIII turn
up"
That's what I've always been look
ing for all my life-sOmething 90 turn
up" Langdon cried bitterly.
But come. john" FauEhaW laid his
hand gently ON the others arm.
Helen is waiting and Betty Is there.
too. We arranged 81 all last night
LangdOn offered no resistance. and the
Two men slowly advanced toward the
home that held TWO women whose hopes
beat high.
Faushaw helped the stricken man up
the stairs 10 the door. which framed
Two anxious. faces But the smiles Of
greeting that rested there quickly fed.
end in their place came a look of fear
as they realized that the mems dragging
footsteps did not presaga good news.
Faushaw motioned them to one side
and HeIen's face went white as she
noted no look OF recognition In her hus-
bands eyes.
once within the living room Horace
stopped. saying, "The chair is just be-
hind you, John"
But Langdon waved him aside and
Queried- Helen. are you here2-
Her lips trembIed as she replied, Eyes,
right here, dear"
He reached ont his hand and touched
her, drew her 70 him. while instructive
" Betty shrank back and into Fan
shaws arms
Helen" Laugd8H began. .T hoped 90
bring you good rows today nar ] have
rot done SO. Instead. ! hrl.s you bad
news. The play IS dead.
I-feared-that-" she said slowly.
But that s. not all There is another
death He drew her trlfe closer.
Helen, my eyesight is dead. to0.'
Mrs. Langdon Eazeo UD al her hus-
band In fright, but before she could
frame any words % speak he added.
yes you've a blind husband now. and
and-Oh, where VIII we eud?"
Slowly size slipped from his grasp and
sank into a chair where she buried Ter
face in her hands. But Iangdou did
not understand. and not being able 70
see her grief, burst out. That's right.
Go away from me now, Just when ]
need you. YOU leave met
Mrs. LangdOn sprang 10 her feet. and.
pushing him into a chair. threw her
self into nls arms, and as the peut-up
tears flowed unchecked. she kissed him
again and again.
The touching sight was too much for
Betty and she. too, cried.
There was just "a little ring OF hvs-
terra lu Helen's voice as she heard her
friends sobs. She glanced toward Betty
and laughed. why should you cry.
Betty she said. cit might be much
worse. ] have John. anyway and now
ia bis new afhiotion. Wen be drawn