The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-03-09
EYES OF The BLIND
BY JOHN CAMERON.

LIVELY UO0y AZ
Dorothy Lee. She was sweet siri,
and it was agreed that it was great
pity she was so homely.
1T amt a fair handicap" said olo
Mrs. Howell. who kept the post once.
"It's hard enough for q 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 q man to
worry about his daughters looks.
Dorothy lived alone with him. her
mother being dead. What she thought
on the subject she Ter disclosed.
She must have known, however. that
there was q reason why she was al
ways q 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. 1t was said.
and the glare Of the sun on the Alkali
plains had scared his eyeballs until he
could only distins uish 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
fame of Toms in the bygone days. But
il there was any idea that she would
link her life to blind mans Margaret,
who was running" with the bankers
son, dismissed it promptly.
Il want a 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, 81 am Dorothy Lee.
Don't you remember me?"
Tom Lanark felt for her hands and
took them in his. Indeed do" he
answered warmly. Il have often
thought of you since l have been
away"
Il think it was shame the way
Margaret Barnett spoke to you," de-
clared Dorothy Indignantly.
"Ah, we'll, 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 buggy.
Il thought I'd ask you to come for q
drive with me. Miss Dorothy" he ex-
planned. Il was sure 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.
20. should love to 60 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 as
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 heI
!. and drew her toward him.
DO you think you can ever learn tc
care for a blind man, Dorothy?" he
. asked.
a 1t was tremulous figure, shrink
ing and nerved only by intense resolu
!. ton, that went to Toms door thai
II night, fearful Of discovery by the
prying eyes of the town, yet spurret
n on by the sense of tremendous neces
i sity. And, after she had knocked. sh,
a could hardly make her knees supper
9 her. and chung to the door.jamb 70,
4 support.
The door opened. Tom peered out
n Then:
Il can't marry you." the girl wa
:. sobbing wildly. You have never see,
y me as am. Tom You don't know
It Don't know what. dear?" aske,
Toms quiet voice. She felt his hand
d on her shoulders. but she could not se
Il him through the gathering tears.
" Il am the homeliest girl in Erpina
70 ham," cried Dorothy. III ever yo,
70 saw me you would be ashamed of me
II Tom. And I can't marry you and no
let you know; and l can't marry yo
e. and let you be ashamed Of me-"
e. She was beyond all self-control. Sh
m was weeping in his arms. She hear
,r Toms voice between his kisses.
Is Dorothy. you are the prettiest ri,
a, IN Erpingham. and it wouldn't max
1t any difference to me anyway" he sale
e because l love you. Now l will tel
le You something, dear. am not quit
SO blind as people think-in fact tn
r. doctor says that in few months NOR
N | may see as well as ever. Sometime
Of man may pretend to be blind, Dort
le thy, in order to know his real friend
ss from his false ones"
How pretty Dorothy Lee has grow
since her engagement to Tom La,
a ark" said the ross;,. ,...