The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1911-06-12
-
IF her lips, and he hardly dared trust
himself to kiss her in return.

IF her lips, and he hardly dared trust
himself to kiss her in return.
Strangely. enough, ir was the last ca
ress she offered From that birthday
| she seemed 70 lea'e childhood behind
aud the map suffered IN HE cnanSe
! He grew to dread the succeeding years
/ His pal was growing into woudnheod
| and so further away from him Tic
! could have lived laSurlauslv h a1 he &c
| sired, bur lie cIuu, TO tie ola ledging
| Critics and pubic alike acknowledged
his genius, yet the whole world was
| bound up in Dora to the blind author
| Dora, whose voice was as music, whose
step be could distinguish in a million,
| He encouraged her TO talk about her
friends, her ambitions. and-yes. he
made her tell him about Tom. too
Tom, who had grown 90 be a man and
on whom Doras mother looked kindly.
Il must be going now" said Dora
after a frutess afternoon, Blossom
having been unable 10 settle TO work.
tom comjng|
Eyes" Her voice was little tired.
Blossom noticed it.
"Iou have not quatfeledt
"Tom never win, Blossom. do you
want me to marry TomF'
"Marryl' The attack was sudden,
Marry! It's beautiful when young
people love enough for that But your
mother were better consulted. am
only an old bachelor"
"You are my pal" persisted the girl
impatientiy. '.Mother married young,
She thinks / should. butt don't want
TO be hurried"
"Quite right began Blossom quick
IL. Then, pulling himself together,
Toms nice boy. He will make q
good husband
"He is all you say. suppose | shall
take him. Blossom. know he is 60
ing to ask rue tonight" The girl hung
over the back of her friends chair
He could feet her breath Oh his cheek,
but it was q pity he could NOT see the
look in her eyes. Blossom gripped the
arm rests as IL for support.
God bless you both. little pal" be
said steadily. Il know you will be a
good wife. Toms lucky fellow"
"You think I had better take him
You wish me to- The girl bent still
closer; her hair brushed his forehead.
Il wish--only your happiness"
'Dora. Dora" 1t was her mother
calling. Dora moved hesitatingly to-
ward the door. we will always be
pals-always just the sameT
Blossom lifted his head. Always
he promised. Don't think about me-
You love Tom"
II love Tori--yes." Then the door
closed. and Blossom sank back in his
chair. Misery showed iivid In his face
and STOPPING shoulders. Dora loved
Tom. 1t had come at last. 1t seemed
as If this second loss were greater,
mere terrible. than that OF his sight
He was doub!y bereft, He had prom
ised the girl they would remain pals.
but new ties, new duties. would arise
The old must be laid aside: he must
school himself to be alone. The sweat
broke on his forehead as he clinched
his hands; then, with groan. he fold
ed his arms ON his keees and hid his
face. He crouched motionless. taking
no notice of the passage of time.
Softly. timidly, some one touched HIN
on the shoulders. The man thrilled;
his soul leaped out to meet that other
self. Passionately his arms onened ard
claimed. the giGiish lgure OF his pal
He felt her throbbing in response, The
trembling OF her hands as she clung
to him.
Blossom Blossom. speak to mer
she whispered. TELL me you love me. "
Love you? With all my being,
Dora. who is there in all the world
like you?"
"Why did you make me suffer-why
did you make me speakf" she cues
toned half sobbngly.
II thought it wasTom''--
II love Tomas q brother" She
chung still closer. Men are so stupid
"But. child. fear / do you wrong
I'm growing old; I'm always helpless.
blind
Il love you, only you. Blossom, just
pretend | am Miss Arabella and-hold
me close; II comforts-~lots."
And Blossom, STOPPING, kissed her on