Year: 1877




son, laughingly.


Il scarcely know, sir. The young
lady is more like picture Of the Ma
donna than anything can liken hel
to-"


'Thank you," said Grace; and she
took the arm of Mr.. Gleason, and guided
his steps TO the dining room.


A pleasant companion she was, with
her CHEEKY, sunny nature and swee
voice; she was, withal, intelligent ant
well informed, winning that grave mar
from his gloomy sorrow ere he wa:
aware oft, and his happy laugh rams
out as in the olden time.
A very sunbeam she was, charming
all in the house. Her bird-like voics
rang through the long, silent rooms
making sweet music for the blind man
to whom she was fast becoming deareI
than life. The broken tendrils of the
old love had twined around this fair
young creature with true, fervent
love, beside which the old seemed but a
weak passion. Into every fibre of his
heart she crept with her sweet ways
and, well content, he cherished the
image as the most sacred thing in life.
Very tender and kind she was, reading
and singing for him, guiding his steps
through the cool recesses of the beauti-
full forests surrounding Gleasonwood,
painting the beauties of earth and sky,
until he could almost see them through
the sightless orbs.


One gloomy day, when the clouds
shut out all sunshine, and the rain
precluded the hope of an outdoor ram
BILE, she asked him to go with her 20
the picture gallery. A grand, gloomy
day it was, with the portraits of his an
cestors looking dark and stern in their
armor, and paintings of rare beauty from
the hands of the old masters, that he
had collected in his ramblings. He had
forgotten none of them, and gave her
the history of each.


"This is my mother. A perfect wo-
man, can hardly think her earthly.
All! if she had lived, my life would have
been different"


1t was the picture of fair, delicate
woman; her beautiful face was sur
rounded by rich waves of raven hair,
the blue eyes full of tender light
such a face as one would want for a
home angel.


"Who is this ~ asked Grace as they
passed before dark, brilliant woman,
with face proud as June, but rare
beauty.


"What do you think of herr" he
asked, with kind of tremor in his
voice.


81 do not like her, for all her WON
drous beauty. She lacks soul. and would
crush in the way of ambition, even
her own heart. Who is she?"


"Come to this window seat and will
tell you her history"


Seating her beside him, with one arm
thrown carelessly about her waist, the
little hands clasped in his, he told her
the story of his love and its betrayal,
keeping back nothing except the new
love that had blossomed into life. As
he proceeded he felt the hands nestled
in his grow cold, but he could not see
the pallor of the bright face, or the
look of pain that crept into the brown
eyes, as she looked into her heart and
found how dear this handsome guar
dian had become-dearer for his blind
ness and dependence upon her. But
the light came back to her eyes as he
told her how his love for the false syren
had died speedy death, and peace had
come back to him once more.


"It was your hand, Grace, that led
me back to the sunshine, giving me a
new hope in life. l can never repay
you for your kindness, and the sweet
blossoms you have cast over my hfe
What shall do without you? For, If
| remember rightly, you are to return
to school in few weeks"


oI will not go back to school. You
need me, and L am happier here than
elsewhere. Please let me stay;" she
said pleadingly, with an earnestness
that was hard to resist.


81 cannot, Grace" he said, drawing |
her closer to him. 81 must not be sell
fish. will try to be content until your
school life is ended, when you must stay |
with me until you are married."
Swiftly sped the intervening weeks,
bringing the time of separation. Mr..
Gleason determined to execute a plan
ong thought of, to visit Germany, and
near from skilful oculist there If there
vas any hope of restoring his sight. If
% he would try TO win this sweet flower
hat had shed so much fragrance over
his life; if not-but he would not think
# that.


Seating himself at the piano one even
pg, he drew forth a few rich notes;
hen as his thoughts wandered back to
he past, he gave them utterance in an
mprovision. As he closed the piano, he
urned to her, feeling her presence in
uitively.


'Grace, You here?" -rtf


"Yes, l have been listening to your
music. What is it that pains you SOP"
s'Nothing now. l can have no pain
While you are with me, my sunbeam"
He drew her to seat beside him,
md clasping her closely, as if to defy
he world to separate them, said:
Grace, Grace, cannot let you go.
owe you So with love that is more
han love. / know that you cannot re-
urn it. / could not ask you to link
Tour sweet young life with that of
,oor blind man. Forgive me. darling,


did not mean to tell you this, but In
he thought of separation forgot all
,ut the pain 1t would bring. Only tell
ne this, Grace. If we had met earlier,
re the darkness came, could you have
owed me?" 4
Her face had grown very white, as