The herald. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1905-1953, 1915-07-22
EYES OF The BLIND
BY JOHN CAMERON.

Everybody in Erpingham pitied
Dorothy Lee. She was a sweet girl,
and it was agreed that 1t was a great
pity she was so homely.
1t amt a fair handicap" said old
Mrs. Howell, who kept the post Office.
It's hard enough for a girl TO get mar
ried in New England, anyway, but
with her looks say it amt fair"
Dorothy's father probably Endorsed
this view, but the hard-beaded old
farmer was too practical a 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 a reason why she was al
ways a wall-fOwer at parties and was
never invited on picnics and such fes-
tivities.
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, it was said,
and the glare of the sun on the dlkali
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 it,
but to take up its burden alone in the
old house that had given him birth.
Margaret Barnett had been an old
fame of Toms in the bygone days. But
| if there was any idea that she would
link her life to blind mans Margaret,
who was running" with the banker
son, dismissed it promptly.
Il want live one when | get mar.
ried." she said. And Dorothy wit
messed a 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 were almost be
yond her control, Il am Dorothy Lee
Don't you remember me?"
Tom Lanark felt for her hands ant
took them in his Indeed | do" he
answered warmly. Il have Otter
thought of you since l have beer
away"
Il think it was a shame the way
Margaret Barnett spoke to you," de
clared Dorothy Indignantly.
"Ah, well, one lives and finds GU
these things" replied the blind MAJ
YEARLY.
After that Tom fell into the habit o
dropping into the old farmers place o
an afternoon, and on one occasion h,
actually drove up in buggy.
81 thought I'd ask you to come for ;
drive with me, Miss Dorothy" he ex
planned. Il was sure | knew the wa.
down the street to here, and that you,
do the rest-if you are willing to do al
act of kindness for blind man"
20, should love to go driving wit
you," the girl answered. She ran VI
stairs to change her frock, and, fiv
minutes later, the village was specu
lating over the appearance of Doroth
: and Tom, driving down the road int
the country and chatting as merrily a
though they were old friends-whict
indeed, they might have been called.
But during the return Dorothy bt
came very pensive. For she knew tina
her heart had turned very strongly i
that he, too, as her woman's instinc
told her, was by no means indifferen
to her.
And when they neared the town h
suddenly placed his arm around he
and drew her toward him.
DO you think you can ever learn
care for a blind man, Dorothy?" b
asked.
1t was a tremulous figure, shrinl
ing and nerved only by intense resoll
ton, that went to Toms door thu
night, fearful of discovery by tn
prying eyes of the town, yet squire
on by the sense of tremendous nece
sity. And, after she had knocked, 81
could hardly make her knees suppo
: her, and chung to the door-jamb fl
V support.
The door opened. Tom peered on
Then:
d Il can't marry you," the girl W;
sobbing wildly. You have never see
, me as l am, Tom You don't know
u Don't know what, dear?" askt
. Toms quiet voice. She felt his hant
: on her shoulders, but she could not 81
. him through the gathering tears.
Il am the homeliest girl in Erpin
ham, cried Dorothy. IF ever "
: saw me you would be ashamed of m
Tom. And can't marry you and n
: let you know; and / can't marry "
- and let you be ashamed Of me-"
She was beyond all self-control. 81
was weeping in his arms. She hea
Toms voice between his kisses.
- Dorothy, you are the prettiest g
! in Erpingham, and it wouldn't ma
any difference to me anyway" he sai
" because | love you. Now / will t
you something, dear. / am not qui
E. so blind as people think-in fact I
lie doctor says that in few months mo