The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1869-09-26
AN OPTICAL pELusEoN.

At ten Won rsIiat it IS, Peti, you've just fssfie
in luclls way-that's where it is,'
l had spent the evening with him we had
supped. PenHel CrossIey, my old schoolfellow,
the dunderheadedest boy in the school, with
out u shillings-worth of brains, or sxpence.
worth of expectations had, somehow or othcT
managed 10 make n good match year ago, on
the strength of which he had just taken the
Manor-house in our little village of Copseford
and settled down in dignifed ease a country
squire" with four-Wheeler of his own );
whilst l, who used to write half his exercises
for him, was still working hard for living,
and trudging it Oh foot. l didn't esrudge him
his prosperity, but i wanted him Mt least to
admit that ii came through effort of his
@own--that it was, in fact, nothing but luck
Luck - CRIED Crossley, " luck do you say Z?
Look here, my good fellow, my luck is just
this--it's all ma eye! That's where it,is.p L
Nonsense" retorted. "Do you mean to
say that yonr gold is the fruit OF your brains
or your hands-won by the sweat
Now, don't" he interrupted; don't I tell
You it's all my eye' Look at me. You don't
see an xthin@ wrong a bout me. then ~ he asked
when had concluded my scrutiny.
Nor yet now ~ and he took loati-pcncil,
and deliberately tapped it against his left eye,
right on the eyeball, and played little tattoo.
Pen, what do you mean ?" / cried, aghast.
Just this tell You it's an my eye It's
only glass one, but capital bit of glass it is;
too dark tosee through, bntkecps the drauGht
out"
"But which is the artificial eye ?" 1 asked
Tor declare | could not tell as looked Mt him.
Left" said Pen, tapping it aflectionately>
!" There are only three people know it beside
yoHrself-the oPtician, my father-in-iaw and
-sFife--I did il at school, after You left. |
had loaded u small brass cannon which would
not fire, and looking down the ln6zzle to see
why it wouldn't go Off the charge went in and
my eye went out. When l recovered, and had
my eve replaced went home to Stepminster
to study medicine under my father, who was
medical inspector to the local board of health,
ztnd had little or no private Practice. After
-Tew years began TO relieve my father of his
duties, aud on his retirement, which shortly
preceded his death, the appointment was trans
1orred to me.'
n wealthy gentleman by the name of TrcNlsold
n widOwer, had settled In Stepminstcr. He
had very pretty only daughter, Laura. They
were not ut all proud, and appeared found of
society, went o,st q good deal, aud gave parties
at,their house. They were much liked, I believe
for their own sakes more than on account OF
Mr.. TrGdgold's wealth.
e. /" Miss Iredgold was stiilLtliscngaged. She
referred NIL suitors to her father who told each
of them, with never-failing aifahiity, be had
other intentions respecting his daughters
future. This was his reply to all applications,
and he never varied n word.
81 became acquainted with thc family
through my connection with q private jnHsical
society. The-socety had been founded very
recently by Mr.. Tredgold, himself no mean
bers houses alternately, and spent some of the
pleasantest evenings in this way. Laura Tired
gold played the piano or organ with real ner-
vous feeling, besides which she had "a very re-
spectacle sOpIano voice.
" Invent on like this for good bit, frequent
" coming down to duets between Miss Tired
gold and myself. At last began Co feel that
loved Laura Tredgold, and that my position as
a miserable one-eycd inspector was an insupeT-
able barrier to telling her so, and much less