“Yes, I can see,” he said. “The
sight has been slowly coming during the last month,
and I have dimly discerned things around me.
Yesterday Mrs. Minturn made a startling statement regarding
sight being ’spiritual perception’—that
’it is not dependent upon the physical eye,
the optic nerves, etc., but upon Mind, the all-seeing
God,’ and I caught a glimpse of something I had
not comprehended before. To-day I found I could
read my ’Science and Health’ clearly,
with both eyes; but I have not spoken of it to anyone
until now—’twas you who first assured
me that such a boon could be conferred. Miss
Minturn”—he removed his hat and bowed
his head reverently—“all honor to
the ‘Science of sciences’ and to her,
the inspired messenger through whom it has been given
to a needy world.”
The traveler returns.
One evening Sadie was sitting by herself upon the
veranda that overlooked the ocean, and where she was
watching a glorious full moon which seemed to be rolling
straight out of the glimmering sea into the cloudless
vault above. It was unusual for her to be alone,
but Mrs. Minturn had slipped away for a chat with Mrs.
Seabrook, and Katherine, at the invitation of Dr. Stanley,
had gone for a walk to the library in search of an
interesting book for Dorothy.
Sadie had changed much during her summer with her
friends. She had grown more thoughtful, more
self-poised, more orderly and systematic in her ways;
while, it goes without saying, she had become deeply
attached to every member of the family.
Just now she was absorbed in a mental discussion with
herself regarding what would be the most acceptable
and appropriate gift she could offer each one, to
attest her appreciation of their united kindness and
unrivaled hospitality in taking her so lovingly into
their household for the long vacation.
Without having heard a step or a movement, without
a suspicion that any living being was near, her name
was suddenly pronounced in familiar tones directly
behind her.
“Sadie!”
She sprang to her feet and faced the intruder.
“Oh, Ned! Why have you come? Why cannot
you let me alone?” she cried, in a startled
tone.
“I have come to make you take back your ring,”
and he held out the box to her. “And I
cannot ‘leave you alone,’ because—you
know why, Sadie.”
“No, I shall not take back the ring,”
she replied, waving it away, “and I wrote you
that everything was at an end between us; that I would
not be bound to you any longer.”
“But you are bound—you have given
me your promise.”
“I have taken back that promise.”
“Why?”
“Because—oh! for many reasons.
I have my course to finish; I mean to put my best
work into the coming year, and I will not be hampered
in any such way,” resolutely returned Sadie,
who was fast recovering tier self-possession.
