The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-06
EYES OF THE BLIND
BY JOHN CAMERON.

Copyright, 1915. by w. g. Chapman.)
Everybody In Erpingham pitied
Dorothy Lee. She was q sweet girl,
and it was agreed that 1t was . great
pity she was so homely.
1T amt q fair handicap" said old
Mrs. Howell, who kept the post ONCE.
ITS hard enough for girl to get mar.
ried in New England, anyway, but
with her looks-I say it amt fair"
Dorothy's father probably Endorsed
this view, but the hard-headed old
farmer was too practical . man to
worry about his daughters looks.
Dorothy lived alone with him, her
mother being dead. What she thought
on the subject she never disclosed.
She must have known, however, that
there was q reason why she was al.
ways . wall-hower at parties and was
never invited on picnics and such fec.
When she was twenty-five Tom Ian.
ark came home after an absence Of six
years in the West.
Fabulous stories preceded him. He
had found gold mine in Nevada, one
Of the richest in the world, 1t was said,
and the glare Of the sun on the alkali
plains had scared his eyeballs until he
could only distinguish light from dark
ness. So he had come back at thirty,
to resume life-no. not to resume 1t,
but to take up its burden alone in the
old house that had given him birth.
Margaret Barnett had been an old
flame Of Toms in the bygone days. But
II there was any idea that she would
link her life to blind mans Margaret,
who was running" with the bankers
son. dismissed 1t promptly.
Il want live one when I get mar.
ried." she said. And Dorothy wit.
messed snubbing which Margaret ad.
ministered to Tom in the street, in
front of her house.
She saw the blind man trying to
peer after the girl whose shrill, scorn.
full laughter echoed through the quiet
street, and an excess of pity overcame
her shrinking. and she hurried
out.
Mr.. Lanark," she said quickly, con.
scious that her words we're almost be.
yond her control, Il am Dorothy Lee.
Don't you remember me?"
Tom Lanark felt for her hands and
took them In his. Indeed l do" he
answered warmly. Il have often
thought Of you since I have been
away"
Il think 1t was q shame the way
Margaret Barnett spoke to you," de-
clared Dorothy Indignantly.
"Ah, well, one lives and finds out
these things" replied the blind man
YEARLY.
After that Tom fell into the habit of
dropping into the old farmers place of
an afternoon, and on one occasion he
actually drove up in a buggy.
Il thought I'd ask you to come for q
drive with me, Miss Dorothy" he ex-
planned. Il was sure l knew the way
down the street to here, and that you'd
do the rest-if you are willing to do an
act Of kindness for blind man."
%, should love to go driving with
you." the girl answered. She ran up
stairs to change her frock, and, five
minutes later. the village was specu.
lating over the appearance of Dorothy
and Tom, driving down the road into
the country and chatting as merrily az
though they were old friends-which.
indeed. they might have been called.
But during the return Dorothy be.
came very pensive. For she knew that
her heart had turned very strongly In
the direction Of the blind man, and
that he. too, as her woman's instinct
told her, was by no means Indifferent
to her.
And when they neared the town he
suddenly placed his arm around her
and drew her toward him.
DO you think you can ever learn to
care for blind man, Dorothy?" he
asked.
1t was q tremulous figure, shrink.
Ing and nerved only by intense resolu.
ton, that went to Toms door that
night. fearful Of discovery by the
prying eyes Of the town. yet spurred
on by the sense Of tremendous neces.
sity. And. after she had knocked, she
could hardly make her knees support
her. and chung to the door-jamb for
support.
The door opened. Tom peered out
Then:
Il cant marry you," the girl was
sobbing wildly. you have never seen
me as am. Tom You don't know
Don't know what. dear?" asked
Toms quiet voice. She felt his hands
on her shoulders, but she could not see
him through the gathering tears.
Il am the homeliest girl in Erping
ham," cried Dorothy. III ever you
saw me you would be ashamed of me-
Tom. And | can't marry you and not
let you know; and l can't marry you
and let you be ashamed of me-"
She was beyond all self-control. She
was weeping in his arms. She heard
Toms voice between his kisses.
Dorothy, you are the prettiest girl
In Erpingham, and it wouldn't make
any difference to me anyway" he said
because l love you. Now | will tell
you something, dear. l am not quite
SO blind as people think-in fact the
doctor says that in a few months more
! may see as well as ever. Sometimes
q man may pretend to be blind, Doro.
thy, in order to know his real friends
from his false ones"