Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1916-01-07

doctor arrived and she listened palpr
~tatingly to his report.
"A bad bruise-it won't help the
eyes any" growled the physician.
Elaine turned to go. There was
nothing she could do save to express
her contrition for the accident. The
doctor looked at her severely. the
maid was quite naughty and James
wore a look of stern di%sapproval.
The door closed behind her and
then Arthur Pierce lifted his head.
Who went QUIT" he demanded
sharply.
The young lady" murmured the
maid.
She didn't say anything" protested
Arthur; she went away without q
word"
She was crying. I think. sir" ex.
planned Mary.
"Crying-and for met" He Jumped
up and paced the floor restlessly.
Later in the day. he told Mary to 60
and ask Mrs. Prick for the name of
the girl who had the window garden.
Mrs. Prick cheertully supplied the
name, but Of Elaine's present where.
abouts she professed profound ignor.
ance.
Il told her I wouldn't have any
messing around with flowers and that
my neighbors would be suing me for
damages what with her carelessness
In dropping flower pots about, and SO
she packed her trunk and went away
good radiance l say"
When Mary repeated this converse
ton to her master, Arthur frowned
blackly. III / hadn't been out there
listening to her singing. the pot
would not have landed between my
inquisitive eyes," he groaned.
Three times during tho ensuing
week Elaine telephoned an inquiry
concerning Arthur's injury. and when
Mary told her the last time that all
traces Of It's had disappeared the in.
quiries ceased.
1t was six months after that when
Arthur Pierce walking through the
street heard Elaine's voice once more.
She was singing the same song and
with her voice there blended Q score
Of childish trebles.
The kindergarten was a tiny, low.
rooted building, with easement win.
dows opening upon a sunny garden.
Arthur leaped the fence and crossed
the grass to the open window. With
arms on the sill and his hat tucked
under his arm, he listened, staring
with all his might at the girl whose
face he had never seen before, but
whose voice had charmed him by its
sweetness during long hours while he
had gone about with eyes bandaged
after a delicate operation to save his
vision.
Now he could actually see her and
she was as fair as her voice. He
used to marvel how anyone could
live in Mrs. Tricks dreary domain and
sing so cheerily.
Round-eyed children eyed him with
amusement as they sang and 1t was
a gurgle Of merriment that attracted
Elaine's attention. Her voice ended
suddenly and the childish voices trail.
ed into silence.
what do you want?" she asked
gravely.
Il heard your voice singing" he
said humbly, land l wanted to &C.
tually see you"
"oh, are you Mr.. Pierce. Won't you
come in?"
He came In and Elaine gave him
a seat on the low platform.
"You can see?" she said gladly.
He explained the nature Of his tenn.
porary blindness.
I'm glad it happened" he said
bluntly. III 1t hadn't | never should
nave met you.
Some day | shall have a real gar.
den-with worms and caterpillars and
everything" she laughed to cover her
confusion.
I'm sure you WILL" he said with
sudden gravity.
The next day he bought an old.
fashioned place In the suburbs. For
months he supervised its repairs and
remodeling, and n October day he
took Elaine to see 1t and asked her
to be his wife.
Il really can't resist this lovely
garden" she said, with a happy smile.
Copyright, 1915, by Mcclure Newspaper
Syndlcate.)