Motion Picture Story Magazine (Aug 1911-Jan 1912)

A BLIND DECEPTION 63 to protect or avenge me ! How could you do it?" "Miss Fullerton," he begged, his face as white as her own, "indeed, I meant you no harm. I never meant to wrong you. Please let me explain ; listen to me, just one moment." But she drew away from him, slipping along the wall toward the stairway, her white arms groping for the banister, as if the dark horror in her eyes rendered her sightless. One hand clutching the banister, the other pressed against the bright coils of her hair, she climbed the stairs, slowly. At the top, she turned, facing him, steadily. 1 ' Please let me go away without seeing your face again," she said, brokenly; "that is all I shall ask of you. ' ' The week that followed seemed intolerably long to the repentant Nelson. He had entered into the deception in a spirit of thoughtless fun, never dreaming that the result would be so serious. For the first time in his life he was desperately in love, and the object of his affections seemed entirely out of his reach. He called at her boarding house, to be refused admission; he sent her a letter, and it came back unopened. Matters were in this unprogressive stage when Burt and Hal came bouncing in with a new plaything — a real gun, this time. "You haven't played with us in such a long time," they pleaded. "Please come out while we shoot at the target." Nelson consented, listlessly. He might as well give the children some pleasure, since he never could have any more pleasure himself. He followed them into the garden where the target was set up, and the fun began. But the fun ended, tragically, as Nelson took the gun from Hal for a moment's examination. There was a sudden flash, a sharp explosion, and both boys screamed, as the man staggered backward, his hands pressed tightly to his eyes. "Run for Doctor Graham, boys," he directed, and they obeyed him, with wildly beating little hearts. "What shall we do?" sobbed Hal, as they waited outside Nelson's home after the doctor had gone in. "It's our fault that he got hurt — what shall we do?" "I'll tell you what we'll do," said Burt, suddenly. "Let's go and get that nurse, the one that stayed with him when he was sick. I know where she lives. I saw her on a piazza yesterday when I was riding with father." Without telling any one, they set off on their mission. It proved to be a long one, for Miss Fullerton had only been calling at the house where Burt saw her, but they persisted, and after two hours' search, they found her. She grew very pale, as they told the story in their graphic, childish way, urging her to come with them at once. 1 ' You see, there 's no one to care for him, only the servants, and maybe he will be blind," urged Burt, with quivering voice, "and it's all our fault, 'cause we coaxed him out to play with us. Please come with us. ' ' The girl consented. How could she refuse, when her heart was beating with such terror and anxiety for the man for whom she had longed every day, in spite of her just anger ? When she entered the house, followed by the two boys, Jenks came forward, his troubled face brightening as he saw her. "I'm glad to see you, Miss," he said. "Mr. Nelson is hurt badly. There's a great specialist upstairs and they're operating now. They are afraid he will never see again. ' ' It seemed hours to the girl, as she waited with the little group at the foot of the stairs. All her anger and resentment ebbed as she stood there, waiting, hoping, dreading the message from the room above. At last the specialist himself appeared, with his face so grave, that she knew the worst before he spoke. 1 1 Let me go to him, ' ' she begged ; " I am sure he will want me." The doctor looked keenly into the