62 1717

o

keen eyes; yet in the rapid glance she recalized ancw that the baby was verv hke him. The tender thoughts and hopes which had been her sole consolation during the long months of his abscnce had fulfilled themselves in her mfant daughter.

“Let me look at you, 1vo,” she entreated, gently turning up his reluctant chin. Then she saw, as she gazed upon him, gaiming courage from his undaunted calm, many

things she had never noted in his face before:

lirst, great weariess, then a terrible pallor, then—ah'! surcly she was feared to resolve her doubt. “You have been 11”7 she eried., “VYes. It owas that which kept me from you.”

“There 1s something the matter with vour

cyes 7 His answer sounded more like a sobh than a sigh. “You faltering, “Totally,” saad Ivo, with o gesture of unuttcerable WCArIness. “Can you sce the child ?” “No,” he re sponded, drawing a deep breath that expressed a sort of heart-broken resig- nation. “Nor—me ?”

bhhind??” Nasha,

are

questioned

Nnot

“No, my be- loved : but I can remember your

face. 1 shall never forget.”

Nasha was silent ; the tumult in her hecart was too great for speech. Sheclasped him close, and caressed his tired head, kissing the cyes that were so pathetically un- aware of all her outward deficiencies. Blind? Could it indeed be true? Would he never- more behold the light? What was the impious prayer which had been upon her lips when darkness overtook her, and she was stricken down at the foot of her bridal altar 7 “ Come what may, let me keep his love! Let him never know But

STRANLD

dreaming --she

MAGAZINL.

she had not meant 72" No, no; s was not an answer to her prayer. She writhed under the thought, though she

repelled 1t so quickly. She had only prayed to retain s love ; she had not asked God to hide her from him ; and, with her, his child, and all the beautiful carth, the flowers, the trees, the sunshine he had so rejoiced ! No, no; this was too crucl! Cradually, while her arms were twined about him, the (il extent of his calamity became clear to her mind, and with the realization a faitness overcame her. She released her husband, and lay back among the pillows, with difh- culty repressing a groan of mingled terror and remorse. e o sat patiently upon the hed, Tistenimg keenly to her movements, and fondling the child, which his hands had discovered.

After a while Nasha spoke - r “ow was 1t? 7

“There was a ire at the hotel Volmer had come mto my room. I tricd to save him.”

“You lost your sight trying to save Volmer's ife?”

“ My darling, he was vour brother.”

“Te was your worst cnemy—and minc !’

“ Hush, Nasha'! Hes dead 17

“And he de- served to die! But vou --you—oh ! to have this death m lifc close down upon you! It s my sin, my sin that

has brought 1t about! but you shall know the truth, and then “Nasha, dear LOCTKRIED IO OSAVEE HianL” 1(_’)\*‘(?, he calm ! You arc over- wrought. Let me call Getha.” “No; no! Stav here. I must tell vou

I am nothing that you believe me 1o be, Ivo. You have thought me beautiful. I am hideous ! Now—go 17 “ Nasha, Nasha, 1 entreat you! 1t 15 not vou who speak. You are beside yourself 7

• Not now-—I have been --and vyou, too,