Morris tribune., 1911-07-21

ly. What was this girl saying, and
why did she call him Oliver?
Again she spoke, this time with an
acute note of anxiety in her sweet
voice.
Don't tease, Oliver. Won't you
speak? Your silence frightens me-"
Again her head was bent in that lis
tening attitude, only the eyes turned
toward the young man were pitifully
eager.
'T wonder if you have not made
mistake began Oliver gently, when
the sound Of his voice startled her
into terror that carried her swiftly
to the other side of the pond.
ooh, who Is it? Where Is Oliver?"
she walled.
"I am Oliver Ray" said the owner
of that name apologetically. ~ am In
charge of the surveying party, and I
took the liberty of enjoying a quiet
skate on this pond. I am sorry If
frightened you, but thought you
could see that was stranger"
81 thought it was my brother Oliver.
He came down to skate, and was
following him. Sometimes he tries to
tease me by keeping very quiet and
pretending that he Is not here. Have
I-have I been pursuing you around
this pond?" she asked in a horror
struck voice
"I rather enjoyed the exercise" ad'
mitted Oliver with smile.
"And your name is Oliver also2" she
asked suspiciously.
Here is my card, if you will look at
it," said Oliver, tugging at his breast
pocket.
ooh, I couldn't read it; am blind"
she said simply.
"Blind! Good Lord, how could l
guess that?" gasped Oliver. "Why, if
had only known I might have saved
you all this trouble. Pardon me, but
it does not seem possible
"It is only too true" said the girl,
tinge Of pathos in her voice. Then, as
If his own quiet tones had reassured
her, she went on: Il was not born
blind. l could see as we'll as anybody
until a year ago, and then one day
fell through the ice in this pond and
contracted a form of rheumatism that
the physicians say caused the loss of
my sight,
But it is not incurable. Surely you
must recover your sight some day"
protested Oliver.
A clear whistle sounded through the
woods, and, following the crash of
frozen branches, youth of sixteen
came running toward them. ''Oh,
there you are. Elsie! Are you all
right?' he called anxiously.
"Yes," she said severely. "Where
have you been, Oliver Lewis?"
Il didn't think you would be down
so soon, Elsie, and ran on to chin a
little with the surveyors beyond here,
and 1 forgot all about you. When l
did remember l didn't lose any time
getting here, you can bet" He looked
curiously at Oliver Ray, and the girl
them with a repetition of
that delicious laugh.
Il was afraid you might fall in,"
said the boy after shaking hands with
the tall young man. "You don't want
another cold bath"
II escaped that" said the girl. BE
sides, Oliver, dear, the ice is quite
firm, isn't it?''
mot over yonder. Oh, 1 forgot, Ell |
sic, dear; you know the place between
the four poplars?"
Eyes; that deep hole"
'It's thin there. I chucked q stone |
in yesterday and it went in kerplunk. |
It isn't growing any colder either. Be- |
sides, who wants to skate in there |
II would" said the girl daringly-
that is, if L thought l would fall in.
Perhaps the shock Of the icy water
would restore my sight" She turned
her soft appealing eyes toward the two
divers.
"Don't you dare try, Elsie! cried the
boy. "You might catch pneumonia
and die, and what would dad and I
10 then?"
But l am so helpless" half sobbed
he girl. putting her hands before her
'ightless eyes.