Page:Peterson's Magazine 1842, Volume I.pdf/99

82

who had returned. She was- truth must be told-ugly. Her features, that had formerly been beautiful, were disfigured by a frightful scar, which appeared to divide the forehead, and extended all along one of her cheeks. And yet there was, in the softness of the melancholy that characterised her features, a touching grace. In her look there was benevolence and mind, combined with great talent. In the eyes of Sir Richard Elrington she was truly beautiful, for if he had recovered his sight—his love had still continued blind as ever. Dazzled by the stream of light that inundated the apartment, he remained without movement and without voice. On the other hand Sarah, with the true instinct of love, comprehended at a glance all that had passed in her absence.

"You see, Richard," she cried, " you see, I am certain of it, and all my happiness is destroyed." "Why, dearest Sarah, should your happiness be destroyed ?" " Because I now must no longer be the object of your love-because I am now about to separate from you for ever." "Separate ! You and I to separate ! You to separate from me-you ! and wherefore ?" " I have long since told you, Richard, that the day on which you should recover your sight must be also that of our separation. I love you, and you are perfectly conscious of it- for I have never attempted to conceal the weakness of my heart. I know, too, yours. It is ardent- it is generous ; and from generosity,-from a feeling of duty, perhaps, you would insist on marrying me ; and if I should accede to the proposal, acting under the influence of a sentiment that I do not pretend to disguise, I must do that which I know would cause the misery of my life. I wish not at all to afflict you by calling to mind the remembrance of your first wife. Death has separated you from her ; but remember that Arabella was a most beautiful creature- that she doted on you, but still your affections were not always hers. How, then, could I, with this countenance, expect to find you more constant to me ? I shall not attempt that which I know to be impossible ; but in the retreat in which I am now about to bury myself for life, I will carry with me the sweet memory of the happiest epoch of my life. Farewell, my dearest Richard. I bless Heaven that it has afflicted me, in accomplishing your dearest wishes. When I shall be no longer near you, preserve in your memory the remembrance of my devotion, and forget, if you can, the miserable image that my features must present to you." "Since it must be thus," replied Sir Richard, "I shall not detain you but—until I have recovered my sight. In the meanwhile you may remain ; for I am still blind. I now see no more." "Do not hope to deceive me, for you cannot do so," she answered with a bitter smile.

Sir Richard had not time to answer her, for the Doctor, running up to him, exclaimed"Madman ! why did you remove the dressing. Is it that you wish to make your blindness incurable ; but, no, no," said he, examining Sir Richard's eyes, " noHeaven be praised, your eyes are quite healthy, your look is steady -you do see ; the cure is complete. Quick, quick, let us put on the bandage again." "Wait one moment, Doctor," observed Sir Richard. "What will you say when I tell you, that I am now just as blind, as I was before." "I would then say, that my own studies, my own eyes, and all my past experience, had gone for nothing-but it cannot, I say, it cannot be." "Very well, then, Doctor, I say to you, that your studies, your eyes, and your experience have misled you ; I do not see at all." "Can it be true ?" said the Doctor, in amazement, while Sarah smiled incredulously. Perfectly true," answered Sir Richard, quite calmly. "I have seen but two instances of this in all my life, for they are exceedingly rare," remarked the Doctor, in a perfect consternation. "Then me must try another mode of treatment. Are you disposed to undergo a new operation ?" " Exceedingly well disposed, and quite ready for it," answered the patient. The Doctor took out his instruments, and asked for linen, that he might make ready a bandage. "Stop !" exclaimed the lady, " stop, I say ; Sir Richard sees perfectly well, although he does not like to admit it." " This is no child's play," observed the Doctor very gravely. " I must tell you, that the mode of treatment which I am now about to employ, is one that may restore sight to one actually blind, but that would inevitably render blind one who has his sight." "Go on, Doctor, go on," was the observation of the gentleman, " for I unfortunately have nothing to risk in that way." The bandage was prepared, and already there was flashing in the hand of the Doctor the shining blade of a bistouri ; when Sarah, who, up to that moment, had been in a species of stupor, recovered from it, to throw herself in the arms of her lover. (6 My beloved Richard," she said, " my senses do not deceive me ; you see, and I am perfectly sure of the fact. Look, Doctor, how clear and serene are his eyes. They have none of that fixity which is to be noticed in the eyes of the blind. Richard, your glances now rest upon me ; there are in them the tokens of the deepest affection. Oh, say, then, that you see us. I entreat-I supplicate you to do so. Say it, and I will remain-I will never quit you ; but let there be no new operation- let these hateful instruments be removed. But do not- oh ! do