Montgomery County sentinel., 1927-07-22
There Are None
So Blind
(copyright.)
BY DOROTHY WEST

L i little figure retreating down the
path, and with sharp sigh, that was
half sob, he groped into the house.
Mrs. Arnold called to him. For the
first time that summer her high,
CHEEKY voice annoyed him. He wanted
suddenly to be let alone.
That's you. Mr.. Amos, amt itf
Doctor gonef"
ITS l, Mrs. Arnold" he said sue
clnctly, land Doctor Boardman's
gone"
"Only," he told her unkindly, "leave
me alone"
For long time he stood quite still,
and presently started up the stairs.
He must go very slowly. His heart
was very bad. He was very Ill.
He had gained the landing. and now
he began to wonder why he had taken
that anguishipg journey. But, Of
course, he had come for something.
Something under layers of unwanted
clothing at the bottom Of his trunk.
He began to go stealthily. he was
going to do something very clever. He
was going to outwit the fates. He
was going to snap the cord they had
begun to FRAGILE.
AS he stood In his room by the win
dow, looking down at the sea, 1t oc-
CURED to him 1t was rather a messy
thing he was going to do ip Mrs.
Arnold's front bedroom. And then he
decided. little wearily, to go over
that mountain of stairs again and end
his life In the caress Of the river. He
walked. as one blindly walks in fogs.
whether they be Of sea or soul.
And then, on the very last pess Of
huge rocks he came upon the old man
staring out toward the horizon.
He could see only the back of the
old mans head with Its splendid
shock of unevenly cut white hair.
"Good morning, little father" he
said.
"And what a morning, son"
The old man was staring at a
screaming sea gull. II suppose you
are dying" he said.
AT the most have six months to
live"
"If only the gods had been as kind
to mel My dark hour crowded In on
me in just the briefest moment. Why,
man. alive, you're blessedp
Oddly, perhaps, he felt cheated
"six months to blaze beacon in the
worldw
The old man said, with the first
show Of bitterness, "Six months can
stretch to six eterniHes."
81 don't know what you mean
Amos said coldly.
The old man turned to him ant
smiled, and there was pain and pity
about his gentle mouth. "When there
is nothing but a black wall between
you and the years to come, then you
are truly done with life. and life holds
nothing for you"
"But you"
Forty years ago-it might have
been at this same hour-I stumbled
blindly over these rocks, seeking a
way out of life. stood on the edge
here. hating he world, hating God. !
wanted to hurl myself deAaljy out of
existence. Only an hour before they
had told me I could never paint
again.
The old mans eyes stared wildly,
glazed with tears. "If you've known
the feel Of brush in your hand"
"My pen," Amos said simply.
There was an eager flush on Amos
pale cheeks. There was an eager
light In his dark eyes. "And what
what drew you back from that awful
brink?'
The old man told him simply, "Iife.
II seemed to me / heard the heart
beat OF the world, and every moment
grew more precious. was" he ended
simply, converted"
"And with the years-there have
been no regretsT
"The little white church on the hill
I am its pastor. In that dark hour
I heard the call and answered.
"And then began that struggle back
to life. A struggle, truly. Blindly to
feel my way back over those treacher-
Gus rocks-and one misstep the end.
Death had driven me straightly. Life
put the reins in my hands. That was
40 years ago, sir, and moved In un-
familiar darkness. went back on
my hands and knees-and praying. /
think II must have taken me three
hours"
Amos eyes we're black with un-
selfish pity. He could only whisper,
"Then you are blind"
Hardly that" smiled the old man,
"fOr those who are blind cannot see,"
Amos got to his feet. His eyes were
wet with tears. II have been blind"
he said.
"And now"
II see"
"And there are few so blessed
He caught up the old mans hand to
his lips. His voice was husky. Good
by" he said, "and thank you"
For a moment the beauty OF the old
mans face was binding.
"Go, my son, In peace"
Amos raced over the rocks like a
boy.
He fairly smothered Mrs. Arnold.
Look here. Mrs Arnold, apollo
glze."
"Sure, that's all right she beamed
And want dozen sharp pencils
and bales Of paper and, I say, a pot
OF coffee and sandwich"
"You alnt been so eager in weeks"
'T'm dying man. Mrs. Arnold, and
Jolly well know IT, But while there's
life, there's hope, and work to be done.
You just stick around and watch me-"
And he tOck the stairs two at time.