The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-10-13


becoming his wife had never entered
her thoughts, yet. when misfortune
came upon him, there was born in the
nature of Leila Raleigh pity, mingled
with mistaken duty, that amazed her
mother and sisters.
II shall make any sacrifice necessary
as a FRIEND" she told them. "If poor
Arson is to go through life helpless,
blind, and asks me to share his trou-
bles will marry him at his bidding"
Leila, you talk wild" scolded her
sister, Adelaide. "You never really
cared for Arson. He has no claim up
on you. 1t is sheer folly"
but feel so sorry for him." said
Leila. "He certainly paid me more at
tention than he did to other girls"
"And out of an impulse of sympathy
you would tie yourself to man unable
to make even a living? Leila, this is
all sentiment" declared her mother.
Nothing more was said at the time,
but Mrs. Raleigh knew that Leila was
a person who always acted upon her
convictions, though neither romantic
nor heroic. Intensely loyal to her
friends, sympathetic and tender-heart-
ed, Leila had exaggerated her sense
Of duty towards man who had never
spoken to her one word of love.
strange condition of affairs had come
about. There was an athletic club in
Rossmore to which nearly every young
man in the town belonged. 1t had
been started and mainly supported by
Wilton Porter, who had been left quite
a fortune. Burdett, too, was a men,
Der, and one day, while practicing
with the Indian club, Porter lost his
grasp on one of them, and it whirled
through the air with terrific force.
Burdett stood directly in the path of
the flying missile. 1t landed squarely
between his eyes, he went down like
a shot and the shocked and Mortified
Porter went through twenty-four hours
of crushing anxiety, remaining at the
hospital whittier Burdett was con-
veyed until the physician assured him
that the patient would live. Porter's
heart sank, however, as he was told
that it looked as though the nerves of
the eyes had been paralyZed and An
son Burdett might be blind for life.
A high caliber, sensitive young man,
all the joy of life seemed TO have de-
parted for Porter. He gave up all OF
his time to the care of Burdett.
"Hopelessly blind, perhaps" report
ed an expert oculist, although the
case is of variety tnat has seen some
remarkable cures, but through time
alone.
In the meantime Porter had become
acquainted with Leila Raleigh. From
the first he was attracted by her and,
although he knew that she and Bur-
dett were friendly, he never suspected
that there was any mutual affection
between them.
Leila kept secret even from her
mother and sisters that, while she was
not as yet engaged to Burdett, there
was tacit understanding between
them that some day they would marry.
She, however, had become disappOint-
ed in Burdett. A position had been
offered by a manufacturing concern
out of sympathy for his affection,
where he could answer calls at a tee
phone. 81 don't have to drudge" he
told Leila, audaciously. Porter has
plenty of money and is acting princey
about it. He took away my sight-let
him pay for it."
One day Burdett called upon Leila
and asked her to marry him. He, told
her that he had an opportunity to Sc
cure a pretty little farm in Florida,
where they could enjoy life without
anxiety. He asked her to think 1t over
and give her answer the next day.
That same afternoon Wilbur Porter APP
peared and laid his heart at her feet.
ut is too late" said Leila simply.
and after the disappointed sutton had
gone away she hurried to her room
and wept all the long night, though she
scarcely kenw why. Burdett called up
on her the next morning, irrationally
eager and excited.
eve must get married at once,
Leila" he said. "See," and he drew a
packet of bank bills from his pocket.
There is five thousand dollars, and all
ours. I am going to buy the farm at
once and"
"Why where did you get all that
money!" inquired Leila.
"From Porter. | went to him last
evening and told him what l wanted
and he said he would do anything to
make me comfortable and happy with
you"
'But you can't do any work on
farm" she said.
"Oh, yes, l can. Leila, I'm going to
tell you a secret. ! have been able to
see for over month. just pretended
not to since then, to work this scheme
on Porter"
She stood facing him, trembling
from head to foot He fairly shriveled
as she denounced his petty meanness
as she told him that if he did not at
once return the money to Porter she
would expose him to the world. Then
she left him and he, even more despic
able than she had dreamed. thinking
more of the money than herself, disap
reared that same day with his ill-gOt-