Evening star., 1925-05-10

LertalH nllIl--d frequent cOnOltlOn Win
the recently blinded, I am told -
| In my case, however, he made a
flattering exception and used to come
often to the studio where was
making my preliminary sketches and
| listen silently and without comment
to my lengthy yarns of the old days
when 1 had gone adventuring with
those hardened seascamps, DIR. Bowles
and Jordan Knapp. But 1t was evi.
| dent enough that he was gradually
giving way under the bravely borne
strain.
The day after the arrival at my
house of Elliot and Lucia / was at
work in the studio when Wade was
brought in by his chauffeur
, Hope you don't mind this early
| visit, Mr.. Brown he said, II have to
get up at the peep o. dawn to escape
| Suzanne"
Not being as yet intimate with the
| family, T asked who Suzanne might
| be.
Suzanne is my ante -bellum f.
| ancee,", he answered. After getting
my lamps doused, tried to break 1t
OF, but she is too noble. She has de-
| termined to sacrifice. her life to my
| happiness
why don't you be even nobler and
| refuse to accept the sacriffce?"
asked.
I've tried, but she beats me to it.
| You see, l asked her to marry me
when l got my commission and i'm
mediately became very much engaged,
| so that now there seems no way out
of it with honor. At that time / was
very keen to marry her, but now
seem to have lost my taste for it, just
as / have for tobacco and my four
meals a day. SuZanne's asset Is an
over-allowance of beauty, but what's
the good of that when you can't see
it? Besides, she is very fond of ad-
miration and inclined to be fiirtatious.
and don't like the idea of a gay and
beautiful young wife that 1 can't keep
my eye on. I'd be imagining all sorts
of things
"If you feel that way about it," said
+. you'd be no end of a chump to
marry her. Tell her that you're not
going to marry her, and make an
end Of it."
We'll" said Wade, .'it isn't so easy
as it sounds. She turned down two
good offers to get engaged to me.
Then she's no longer in the first flush
| of her youth, being 80 this Spring.
and her people haven't got much
| money. Let me tell you, Brown. a
chaps a darned fool to get engaged
or married just before going to the
war. Even if he has the luck not to
Gkget croaked, he's apt to come back
with his ideas all changed. thought
Suzanne was a wonder, and now she
bores me to tears-especially as
can't see how pretty she is"
How does she bore you?"1 asked.
"Oh, everysway. Principally in the
aff1icted-hero business. 1 don't want
to be slobbered over, and was tucked
up like hedgehog in a hole when this
cursed shell Jared my sight loose.
| The rest of the bunch was killed.
Some chaps have all the luck" he said
bitterly
| 1 was casting about for something
to say when the door flew open and
Lucia popped in. She looked prettier
than ever and L thought. with a pang.
what pity it was that Wade couldn't
see her. He got. on. his. feet and
stood stiffiy while I introduced them.
! mfr. Smith has just come back
| from the war" l said, "and he has
been struck blind by the explosion of
| shell" -F- es2 -
"Blind?" Lucia echoed, and looked
| unbelievingly at Wade's fine eyes,
| which showed no hint of their aff1ic-
ton. except in a slight indirectness
of gaze. Cant you see at all?" she
demanded. and her tone was curious
TdtHcT tUdIl COHIpdSSlCitdtC.
Not thing" he answered shortly.
''They tell me l never shall.
x X X
7 UCIA was silent for a moment.
- Suddenly she shut her eyes tight
ly, stood for a moment, then ad-
yanced with cropping hands and un-
certain steps.
what are you doing?" Wade asked
sharply.
"I'm trying to see what ft's like to
be blind" Lucia answered, without
opening her eyes. She reached where
he stood and touched his chest. He
| raised his hand involuntarily. and it
met hers. Lucia clasped it@and gave
| it little shake. How do you do?"
said she, and laughed.
She opened her eyes and looked at
his puzzled, frowning face. ut must
be very interesting to be blind" she
said.
I'm glad you think So" said he,
grufi1y. Say. what sort of girl are
| you, anyhow @