LOVE IS BLIND
“Who knocks at the portal—so late?” whispered the little Greek maid.
“That may depend,” replied a clear voice outside, “some say I am a friend, some a foe.”
The heart of the little Greek maid beat fast in her bosom. For three nights she had heard this voice and for three nights a beautiful youth, with silvery wings and his face concealed by a silver gauze, had appeared to her in a dream.
“No, no, I have been forbidden to open the portal,” said the little Greek maid.
“It is very cold and dark out here,” sighed the voice wistfully, “open the portal but half way.”
“Only half way,” she replied, curiosity impelling her.
In this manner the beautiful youth, with silvery wings and his face concealed by a silver gauze, affected an entrance.
“Oh, take the silver gauze from off thy face!” prayed the little Greek maid.
“On a single condition,” answered the youth, “and that is, that I may cover thy face with it.In love, one, or the other, must always wear a silver veil across the eyes.”
So she suffered him to bind the fillet about her forehead, but still she could not see him.
“Oh, take the silver gauze from off my face!” prayed the little Greek maid.
“In that case, I will be compelled to leave thee and never come again,” he answered sadly.
But still she plead with him, whereupon he removed the silver gauze from off her eyes and for the space of a second she gazed upon his countenance, which shone resplendent, like the sun in his strength.
And she fell at his feet as one dead.
But when again she ventured to raise her face, he was gone!
—William Theodore Peters.