Dawn Eleanor Porter (free novels to read txt) 📖

the lettercame the telegram. The operation had been performed—and had failed,they feared. They could not tell surely, however, until the bandageswere removed, which would be early in August. But even if it hadfailed, there was yet one more chance, the doctor wrote. He would saynothing about that, however, until he was obliged to.

In August he wrote about it. He was obliged to. The operation had beenso near a failure that they might as well call it that. The Parisoculist, however, had not given up hope. There was just one man in theworld who might accomplish the seemingly impossible and give backsight to Keith's eyes—at least a measure of sight, he said. This manlived in London. He had been singularly successful in several of thefew similar cases known to the profession. Therefore, with their kindpermission, the great Paris doctor would take Keith back with him tohis brother oculist in London. He would like to take ship at once, assoon as arrangements could possibly be made. There would be delayenough, anyway, as it was. So far as any question of pay wasconcerned, the indebtedness would be on their side entirely if theywere privileged to perform the operation, for each new case of thisvery rare malady added knowledge of untold value to the profession,hence to humanity in general. He begged, therefore, a prompt word ofpermission from Keith's father.

"Don't you give it, don't you give it!" chattered Susan, with whitelips, when the proposition was made clear to her.

"Why, Susan, I thought you'd be willing to try anything, ANYTHING—for

Keith's sake."

"An' so I would, sir, anything in season. But not this. Do you thinkI'd set that blessed boy afloat on top of them submarines an' gas-mines, an' to go to London for them German Zepherin's to rain downbombs an' shrapnel on his head, an' he not bein' able to see a thingto dodge 'em when he sees 'em comin'? Why, Daniel Burton, I'm ashamedof you—to think of it, for a minute!"

"There, there, Susan, that will do. You mean well, I know; but this isa matter that I shall have to settle for myself, for myself," hemuttered with stern dignity, rising to his feet. Yet when he left theroom a moment later, head and shoulders bowed, he looked so old andworn that Susan, gazing after him, put a spasmodic hand to her throat.

"An' I jest know I'm goin' to lose 'em both now," she choked as sheturned away.

Keith went to London. Then came more weeks of weary, anxious waiting.Letters were not so regular now, nor so frequent. Definite news washard to obtain. Yet in the end it came all too soon—and it waspiteously definite.

Keith was coming home. The great London doctor, too, had—failed.

CHAPTER XX

WITH CHIN UP

Keith came in April. The day before he was expected, Susan, sweepingoff the side porch, was accosted by Mrs. McGuire.

It was the first warm spring-like day, and Mrs. McGuire, bareheadedand coatless, had opened the back-yard gate and was picking her wayacross the spongy turf.

"My, but isn't this a great day, Susan!" she called, with an ecstatic,indrawn breath. "I only wish it was as nice under foot."

"Hain't you got no rubbers on?" Susan's disapproving eyes sought Mrs.

McGuire's feet.

Mrs. McGuire laughed lightly.

"No. That's the one thing I leave off the first possible minute. Someway, I feel as if I was helpin' along the spring."

"Humph! Well, I should help along somethin' 'sides spring, I guess, if

I did it. Besides, it strikes me rubbers ain't the only thing you're

leavin' off." Susan's disapproving eyes had swept now to Mrs.

McGuire's unprotected head and shoulders.

"Oh, I'm not cold. I love it. As if this glorious spring sunshinecould do any one any harm! Susan, it's LIEUTENANT McGuire, now! I cameover to tell you. My John's been promoted."

"Sho, you don't say! Ain't that wonderful, now?" Susan's broom stoppedin midair,

"Not when you know my John!" The proud mother lifted her head alittle. "'For bravery an' valiant service'—Lieutenant McGuire! OhSusan, Susan, but I'm the proud woman this mornin'!"

"Yes, of course, of course, I ain't wonderin' you be!" Susan drew along sigh and fell to sweeping again.

Mrs. McGuire, looking into Susan's face, came a step nearer. Her ownface sobered.

"An' me braggin' like this, when you folks-! I know—you're thinkin'of that poor blind boy. An' it's just to-morrow that he comes, isn'tit?"

Susan nodded dumbly.

"An' it's all ended now an' decided—he can't ever see, I s'pose,"went on Mrs. McGuire. "I heard 'em talkin' down to the store lastnight. It seems terrible."

"Yes, it does." Susan was sweeping vigorously now, over and over againin the same place.

"I wonder how—he'll take it."

Susan stopped sweeping and turned with a jerk.

"Take it? He's got to take it, hain't he?" she demanded fiercely."He's GOT TO! An' things you've got to do, you do. That's all. You'llsee. Keith Burton ain't no quitter. He'll take it with his head up an'his shoulders braced. I know. You'll see. Don't I remember the look onhis blessed face that day he went away, an' stood on them steps there,callin' back his cheery good-bye?"

"But, Susan, there was hope then, an' there isn't any now—an' youhaven't seen him since. You forget that."

"No, I don't," retorted Susan doggedly. "I ain't forgettin' nothin'.

'But you'll see!"

"An' he's older. He realizes more. Why, he must be—How old is he,anyway?"

"He'll be nineteen next June."

"Almost a man. Poor boy, poor boy—an' him with all these years ofblack darkness ahead of him! I tell you, Susan, I never appreciated myeyes as I have since Keith lost his. Seems as though anybody that'sgot their eyes hadn't ought to complain of—anything. I was thinkin'this mornin', comin' over, how good it was just to SEE the blue skyan' the sunshine an' the little buds breakin' through their brownjackets. Why, Susan, I never realized how good just seein' was—till Ithought of Keith, who can't never see again."

"Yes. Well, I've got to go in now, Mis' McGuire. Good-bye."

Words, manner, and tone of voice were discourtesy itself; but Mrs.McGuire, looking at Susan's quivering face, brimming eyes, and