Part 26 (1/2)

He had written occasionally since his blindness, but it was not a frequent thing, and his fingers closed awkwardly about the pen she placed in his hand. Feeling curious to know the meaning of all this, he felt for the paper and then said to her,

”I am ready for you to dictate.”

But dictation was no part of Nina's intentions. The lines traced upon that sheet would contain a secret which Richard must not know; and with a merry laugh, as she thought how she would cheat him, she replied,

”No, SIR. Only Miggie and I can read what you write. Nina will guide your hand and trace the words.”

Dipping the pen afresh into the ink, she bade him take it, and grasping his fingers, guided them while they wrote as follows;

”I, THE BLIND MAN, RICHARD HARRINGTON,--

”That last was my name,” interrupted Richard, who was rewarded by a slight pull of the hair, as Nina said,

”Hush, be quiet.”

A great blot now came after the ”Harrington,” and wiping it up with the unresisting Richard's coat sleeve, Nina continued:

”--DO HEREBY SOLEMNLY--”

She was not sure whether ”swear” or ”declare” would be the more proper word, and she questioned Richard, who decided upon ”swear”

as the stronger of the two, and she went on:

”--SWEAR THAT THE MARRIAGE OF--

”As true as you live you can't SEE?” she asked, looking curiously into the sightless eyes.

”No; I can't see,” was the response, and satisfied that she was safe, Nina made him write,

”--ARTHUR ST. CLAIRE AND NINA BERNARD, PERFORMED AT MY HOUSE, IN MY PRESENCE, AND BY ME--”

Nina didn't know what, but remembering a phrase she had often heard used, and thinking it might be just what was needed, she said,

”Does 'NULL AND VOID' mean 'SCRATCHED OUT?'”

”Yes,” he answered, smiling in spite of himself, and Nina added with immense capitals,

”--NULL AND VOID,” to what she had already written.

”I reckon it will be better to have your name,” she said, and the cramped fingers were compelled to add: ”RICHARD HARRINGTON, COLLINGWOOD, November 25th 18--”

”There!” and Nina glanced with an unusual amount of satisfaction at the wonderful hieroglyphics which covered nearly an entire page of foolscap, so large were the letters and so far apart the words.

”That'll cure her, sure,” and folding it up, she hastened back to Edith's chamber.

Old Rachel watched that night, but Nina had no difficulty in coaxing her from the room, telling her she needed sleep, and Miggie was so much more quiet when alone with her. Rachel knew this was true, and after an hour or so withdrew to another apartment, leaving Edith alone with Nina. For a time Edith slept quietly, notwithstanding that Nina rattled the spoons and upset a chair hoping thus to wake her.

Meanwhile Richard's curiosity had been thoroughly roused with regard to the SCRATCHING OUT, and knowing Victor was still up, he summoned him to his presence, repeating to him what had just occurred and saying, ”If you find that paper read it. It is surely right for me to know what I have written.”

”Certainly,” returned Victor, bowing himself from the room.