A Matter of Eyes.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVII, Issue 81824, 17 August 1906, Page 4

A Matter of Eyes.

Dinner was at an end and Sadie Wilson nut sorry, for the meal had been more than usually dull. Never a communicative man at tin- Ik.;* of limes, Mr. Jacob Wilson h:id -unused himself in h-ping silent on this evenir.g. So Sadie gave a si;_h of relief when coffea appeared, and, in n rising it, swenfc around to her father's si-le, l-.nscd his stony cheek and bade him -rood night. So complete!} immersed was he in his thoughts that the rap on the door of tlie incoming servant passed his hearing; indeed, it was not until the man, who unnoticed, stood silent for a full minute at his paster's ride, emitted a diplomatic cough, thai Jacob was recalled to himself. Then he glared ferociously into the ser« rant's face, snatched up the card from the lilver salver and fixed hia eyeglasses. " Mr. Gordon Smith," he grunted. "Never beard of the man. What's his business?" *• Wishes to see you privately, sir," was the answer. *' Show him in—if it's not charity. Inquire i' its charity first, Green," and as the servant bowed and departed Mr. Wilson iafumed his cigar. II was a tall, well built young man on whom Mr. Wilson gazed—a smart looking man with ruddy cheeks, sparkling eyes and coal black hair carefully parted down the eentre. " Mr. Jacob Wilson ? " be said in a cheerful vo»?e, locking him straight in the face. 44 Mr. Gordon Smith?" queried Jacob, fingering the visiting card. Mr. Smith turned towards a chp.ir, but Jacob did not take the hint. Instead he laid : " I'm a busy man, Mr. Smith." " Therefore 1 won't waste your time, Mr. Wilson," anrwered Suiiiii. "The fact is I've called to ask your consent to my marriage. " Yoar marriftge? " he asked. Then as the other nodded he added, "It doesn't matter to me whether you get married or buried." 41 But I did not finish," Smith protested. 44 1 was going to add, Mr. Wilson, with your daughter." •*Eh? What? My daughter?' 1 and Jacob rose from his ch:*.ir and looked the young nan up and down. "Exactly." 44 You surprise me. I don't know you, Mr. Smith; never heard of you." "Quite possible," Smith agreed with a «r*:ile. " World's so big that one can't expect to be known to all the mhei's in it. !'.-jhab!y ! should ne\er have l.wid o: yr.\, Ur. Wilson, .-.over dreamt you exLud, but '.vr tout ilf.T:ihter." "Nov:. Mi'. Smith, kindly take a s'-nt I'm _"mg to<w*M the i . 0 e ;r .\t thn.e wi.e:s I'V'j finished ih-jiVii Ic neth.ng tarUiaßbesi":d. !! " When ij.v daughter mnrrif-s IVi <o .rive her £lo.'**). bat I'm g-:t:g ?> :!n! fees ni-j for her, an 1 ho'; a M !>• fwA in c-»ii; in hr.:'ns— not d:< .'•;!) Li :s -ir ;;3 rva a,;d [lO •:; n I'::; : -:, d s. v-:u.. : ■ > ~.\o - t w:-?n, .Mr. .. •. ;.»«! are wa.-tin;,' th»-a; r»t«vo:.i .a.vui't. If V"U have, you r.iil ! marry Si..:;--; if you haven't, y.ai won't." "I qni'o appreciate tii<- situation," he •aid. "I'm quite giad i < tail vo; do iivi regard me in an un.'avoralle 1;.-"a." "I don't worry abaut legu-iaig y-vj :it ill. Mr. Smith. The one ey • I've t: " is fully O'.rapied regarding my can aiLiirs. (Jootl *»«gh<.'" as lie rang the ir.-ii for th*i s~r»aut to *:,ow Go;duii Smith the door. "Xo more b.uiiii than a bat," was Mr. ♦Villa's comment on his son ir: aw. »*Beckon Sadie wants s.tvii;g from iiersetf. Better speak to her at cnc«. :l Sadie appeared in answer lo a inc:?. :.i from her fa;her her presence. " So you've tiled of living h-ae, Sadie ? lie said in the sauic tone and manner in whlcii he addiPssM /imlth. "You fere going to Jwmarrhd revive -'f, fatlier," she :an he 1.-ul one mistiu.-s ia the }j j.: r; n.iturr.Mv, too-la-will be wife. Put siju-e uothVr <?i»-d I ha\e be'-n h-ure, und f c;.n r.-) u:!: r ta':i- :n Jlh .-L'j place." Mr. Wii ■>;; >iiut hi# one eye. " I»ui tiiis man Smith—a mere fortune 14 Nothing r! 11,5 rrjrt," broke i;i the <::. l. ' lie ii a -MKi'-nr;:.. II- ----M ::i:c .n; Sis i;'ca:no i.-. £ YS) ? :\r. We love " 44 Ajhl can live on air! For a thy or ro. i have heard enough of iovc," he said with t sneer in his voice. "Bat sun-!? you love Mre. Graham?" Jadic remarked in ?urpri>e." 'No!" gi'Jd J.ieuh bluntly. 4, Thi« is r s; at least so far as lam conv.-rrjrJ. vVc unrrv, an:l I thu vot'ng p;\ver of ncr shart-5 in the coppe;* mine. Combined with my Vruiics hers ;;ivc n-c !:•.:» whij* hand, and I uiiJ wreck tho company i' Eieeds be, but 1 vali force Grant to his *;n:e:." " 0!i, I do not understand all thi.3," Sadie in. "But herein a you will un 1 ; r s f-i;..!, Sadie,'" her father a::.--"4..*t-d. " Wiumi \ .:i isarry I f^ivo yon /.'JO.OOO, h'it you will tanrry the h.:.-h.w>d I jiad for you." " And it iMt ? " " I say you will do ?.o." It was a few days later when the lovors, oiceiins at the house of a mutual tiio::;l, *x*rc able to exchange conetriling the attitude of Mr. Wilson tovv;a .l tlitir unicn. What they s■:.:<] no- 'l ;;ot □e here repeated apart from the he: that sa>lie declared her willingness to beeomp Mrs. Gordon Smith any unment he was ready, an<l he indicated a moment some fo'.:r recks ahead. " We'll be married on the same day as father," she s.iid in surprise. "And we as well be married a!, the am. l altar," Smith a'lunl. "By the s:me divine," Gordon wen 1 4, a:id at the same time." " But it migiit irritate a ftroat deal. Indeed, lam sure it \v;uid f " Sadie pr. tested. Smith, however, shook hi- hend. "He will, on the be eminently ph*a.ved, I may say deli,;l.;~d," he assured her. • • • A month htsr che prrpiraticns had kr-;n made for {'.vo '"eddii!..-: that of Mr. Jacob WiUc,n t-> M:-s. Gr..ham t r.ad that of Mr. Gordon S.ai. i to Sadie W-^on—hut of the latter event Jacob was completely ignorant. WVn he awoke on the morning of the wedding day : J . was wish the sense that something was m.-oing. He sat up in bed trying to think v.'h;.t it waa. His eye wandered round the room and over the floor, and, horror of horrors, it stooped on his other eye—the false—one, smashed into a dozen pieces. It was an eye that could not be easily replaced—the only other one like it was the real one in his head ; a most difficult eye to match or approach in matching, ft r it was of no decided color, such as blue or black or brown. This eye had beea specially made to the order of Jacob Wilson. To get another exicllr like it would take r.t least a week—the :ost was a mere trifle to him—and here vtas the wcading morn. He made a hasty toilet after dancing in his rage on the broken glass eye and started out for the shop of the ocuiist who had supplied him with it. He recognised he must another ere going to church, and he hfU ««t hour to spare.

He slipped from the cab he had engaged into the shop, holding a handkerchief to hhr and hi.s head down as he crossed the p;iv> uieiit, for he dreaded recognition by •Ja<;"b : inti-d his c;i.<o, itnd the oculist re jrieiud : -*j ccuih! nuf match the eye. He had tut one ..nytiiing near it in colour. " lilies .uie, Mr. Wilson, I forgot! But as a mattei of (act I haven't a single eye of any color," said the oculist. "A yor:i; man came in yesterday ami cleared my .-.ock. A most re:naik;ib!(j tiling. Xever had such a sale b-.'fore. AVhy don't you try Grcgson, Mr. \\i!.ic.i? Bcsiduii him there's only Thomas in the town, and he never has much of a stock Of course, if you can wait a week " " A week ! " shrieked Jacob. 41 Man. that eye has got to be found ia ler-s than an hour," and he disappeared outside and into the cab on his way to Grcgson's. But Gregson had sold out, too, like the other man, and it was the a-une tale with Thomas. There wasn't a false eye to be had ? : i town, apparently not an eye of any color; even if the millionaire had been disposed to put up with a makeshift. He alighted from the cab at his mansion to run into the arms of Mr. Gordon Smith. "Confound you!" he giowled. "Can't you see where you are going? " "Same to you," said Smith. "But it eecnis to me you have no wish to see, since you are covering one eye with a patch. What are you after ? " "None of your business," snapped Mr. Wilson. "But it might U9," was the insinuating answer. "You never know5 it might be. While some people have all the brains others have to bo contented wi! h the nyes." Smith followed Mr. Wilson into his house and into his private room. u Ho you cornered all the eyes in the town? " remarked Mr. WiKon. "Not exactly," said Smith; "nearly all, But there are just two I was not able to secure." "Same color as mine?" Jacob asked eagerly. " No; I've got cnc the same as yours, an absolute replica, but " "What's the price? Name it! Got it with you? " lie was dancing in a frenzy. - "Here's the eye," and Goidon Smith pro duced it. "Name the price and be quick," said hij cheque book. " Twenty thousand pounds and " "This is simple robbery!" he cried. " Outrngoous! llidieulous ! " " But you did not permit me to finish," complained the novelist. " I said I wis to add and a pair of blue eyes." S:lus lixed bis pinc-J-ne;: and ran his one eye in admiration o\\r the smiling Sniitii, He saw he had Ijcu conuaod, hut he w.t? not a man to depsive genius uf its due credit*. " Done! " he snid, smaching Smith on the b-ok. " Yoiwy ei.'ver; yufve got brains. 1 admire you, Sn:i'h. (iive me that eye. Not a w.). l to ,'i >•: ail a'- mt <his. I should bfj tho 1./ig'dn:; al.v-lmf tiie p]-!'.':\ Jump i:;!o the carri;- J'.iul ("•uie ::!'Uig to i.iy v.- d- ! !f.-_ f ." \ k only rcunhjs to be icij .'.d' d that Mr. .;-::i.h compli-ted I.:.- cuineriji eyes lv a- jaiiiii l .' t!:e M • nai.' v. 1;i• ': looked love :»! hi;u from l.ici.t!.: t 'A:-. Gi'jiha'jt d he* nanie tc V»'ii--:>u : t 1 , * .1 1 • • -»l !h" control oi I:':.' Ki!:-;.,!..nd miu- a:.id a ku'lj.2! ir