Why Love Is Blind

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Peter Stone and his wife have two boys, Bobby and John. John is a strong, energetic youth, while Bobby is a hunchback. The father favors John and when Bobby is abused by his brother, the father is always inclined to condone the offense. Finally Bobby leaves his home. The Rogers Circus camps on the road to Ludlow, and Bill Rogers, proprietor, tells his daughter, Ruth, who is blind, that he will soon have the necessary $500 for an operation which will enable her to see her fond parent. Bobby applies to Bill Rogers for employment and joins the circus. He accompanies Ruth everywhere, and the sightless girl does not know that Bobby is a hunchback. Rogers places his savings in a secret place, and telegraphs to the specialist to come and make an examination of his daughter's eyes. Bobby's interest in Ruth has developed into love, which is sincerely returned by the blind girl. He learns that Ruth's sight may be restored through the operation. Bobby concludes to steal the $500 rather than Ruth should see him as he is. The specialist arrives, examines Ruth's eyes and says: "A successful operation can be performed." When Bill Rogers reaches into the hiding place for the carefully hoarded $500 he finds it missing. Bobby resolves to tear himself away from his beloved Ruth. But once again before his departure they go hand in hand to a trysting place. Bobby kisses Ruth's hand and says: "Why do you let me kiss your hand?" and the girl replies, "Because I love you." "You must not love me, Ruth," replies Bobby, "I am a hunchback. I am a selfish thief. I wanted you to be blind forever." In a frenzy Bobby leaves the sightless maid alone on the edge of a lake. And then it is that Ruth calls aloud for her beloved Bobby, and he cannot ignore the call. He returns to the maiden, who whispers to him, "Bobby, I love you, and the things we love are not the things we can see. I will always love you," and hand in hand they return together to the circus grounds.