El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-12-26
The Open Gate

~ RIDA was waiting for her husband
- She was very pale, but strangely
4 calm. Perhaps she was pale be-
cause she was so tired, perhaps also
because she knew that in an hour
her ordeal would be over. She knew
every word she was going 20 say to
him, the kind. dear man, who she ad-
mired and Ioved-loved, perhaps Har-
old was rigkt, as a daughter loves her
father. And yet was she sure? She
lOnged for him when he was away and
was contented in his presence.
Professor PraetOrius was like a boy
in many things, in spite of his age.
Sometimes she thought him the young
est man she knew And then he was
so near sighted, that surely he had
never noticed how the men 1Oeked
around his beautiful young vile. But
even if he had his trust and confidence
in her was perfect
Frida was sitting at the bay window
looking down the street The car
rage might come any moment.
Yes, now it was turning the corner.
Her heart beat violently and the eX-
element almost took her breath away
In spite of his near sightedness the
professor always used to look up at
the window, but today he did not do
1T. The carriage was at the door, he
paid the driver, and slowly very slow
", entered the house
Frida heard him enter the library.
She sprang up HarOld's beloved figure
stood before her mental eyes talking
to her Of the happiness that was to
be theirs. Only another painful hour
then the gate would open through
which she might walk out to him.
Her husband entered and kissed her
heartily, then threw himself into a
chair as II quite exhausted
Did you enjoy your trip, Rudolph"
F.rida asked. Her husband seemed
strangely changed to her. Did he sus-
pect anything2 No it was impossible.
Il may as well tell you everything.
Frida," he said 4 went to see my old
friend, professor Harting, the oculist.
For some time I have noticed that my
eyesight was falling"
Surely il is nothing serious, Ru-
dOlphF' She had turned very pale and
her voice tTembled-
yes, >Frida, there is There is no
hope. in few months I shall be
blind"
''BIind-RudoIph not bIind2 on
GodI This is terribIel But it cannot
be true, it must not be true"
at is true, dear We must bear if.
hard, though 1t is. The hardest
struggle I have already fought NY
self. During the first hours it seemed
1mpOSSlb bic to 90 on living. Last night
I stood at the river side thinking how
easy it would be to escape the dark
ness. Then I thought Of you, OF your
dear, bright eyes and the temptation
was gone. The thought that was not
alone gave me courage. I hoped you
would help me to bear it, that I would
see through your eyes Not that I
would ask you to sacrifice your whole
youth to nurse blind man. No. did
not mean that But you would be
here, I would be able TO feel your
presence, even If could not see you.
I would be able to hea- your dear
voice"
Rudolph, my poor. dear Rudolph, 7
have never known that"
That I loved you sol I have never
been good at expressing my feeling IN
words But that you were dear to
me I thought you knew, even If did
not tell you
But talk only of myself. Here is
something far more important I have
decided to live, no matter what yOu
decide to 90 Now listen, Frida, if you
do not think you can live with an OLD
blind husband, I will set you free You
must think IL over well for your own
sake. We have no children, and this
will make it easier to separate. must
never forget that you have become
yourself, perhaps without realizing
what you did"
Rudolph" she almost screamed.
you don't imagine that I shah leave
you nOwI"
He raised his hand.
We viii talk no more" he said
You must not decide on a first im-
pulse"
Frida took both his hands IN hers
and Whispered remain with you
Rudolph, until death Us do part"