The Republican journal., 1876-05-04
The Glass Eye.
A REMINIsCENcE OF BOHEMIA.

| twenty years ago, and could tell a story
with such inimitable grace and verve that
the people of whom he talked seem to
| live and walk in animated procession be-
| fore ones eyes.
lie had been slipping glass Of old Sau-
terne one night, and, still holding the pale
green goblet in his fingers and looking at
it dreamily, he said:
''When L was a young fellow l was
thrilliEgly ambitious, and one of my pet
dreams was to become acquainted with a
large number of famous people. Some
times l took my ideas of fame from the
parties own representations, and so, be-
tween ignorance and bornbast, soon be-
| came little mixed
81 remember when | was introduced TO
Albert brisbane. He was an original, was
Fris; eccentric. but not malicious rich,
but peculiar to the last degree. He was
at that time very much interested in Follri-
er's works, and wanted some one to trans
late them for him. l was proud OF my
| thorough knowledge Of the French Ian
guage, which mad been nj much pains to
acquire, and glad of q chance to show off
my proficiency. 50 told him | would 90
to work at once, and together we grew
quite enthusiastic over the immense
amount Of good we We're TO do. the ben
eft to humanity, and ultimately the wealth
and fame that were to accrue to our lndl-
yidual selves from our great labor.
"AIeanwhile had nothing to live on,
and he offered me the merest p,ttanCe,
regular starvation wages. to be paid every
week, while | was to work from sixteen
to twenty hours per day if he 50 willed
| was too proud to complain or even to
make any suggestion. for a time; but
when found how much was to be done
and how long it would take me, | told
Mr. brisbane that needed more money.
He pleaded poverty, promised me large
percentages OF our unlimited future profits
and encouraged me to 90 on.
$50 went on, hungry but hopeful, until
one day brisbane came to my room to in
form me that he was called to Washing
ton, and would not be back until the fol
lowing Monday. Instantly made up my
mind to holiday, and, soon as he was
well out of sight, started for it. met
Swinton on Broadway. His fair, girlish
face had no line Of care or sorrow then :;
but, looking at me with the funniest eX-
preston in his brown ewes, he said, i'll a
tone at once gay and quizzical:
"'What is it, Cladd Y ou look pale rs
a ghost but fancy. by your jerky step,
you are on the straight road somewhere ,
''In a few words told him all-what |
had been doing what | intended to do
He laugheda merry heartsome laugh, and
when invited him to accompany me, he
said
"'l would in Il minute, old fellow, If
could get away; but at present | am play
ing Ixon for The Times, and there is no
use in trying to dodge that wheel 50
| bye-bye, and remember all day that / am
enjoying your fun.
Il strobe on down to the ferry ard over
to the handsome almost palatia residence
of my employer. had been there enough
to know the ropes, SO | marched boldly 10
the front door, rang the bell and inquired
for Mrs. brisbane When she appeared
told her that Mr. + had lett important
papers tor me to copy, and that was to
work in the library. She SAID Y cry well,
and waited upon me at once to the large,
elegant apartment, fairly lined with books
and scattered with portfolios. Deep, com
Portable casy-chairs, and low, cosy lounges
seemed whispering to each other Of the
infinite rest they held. quickly hinted
that | would have lunch served lii the
| library, and it came iii Very s0on-t nice
| bit OF broiled chicken, q couple oI hot
| biscuits, and cup Of coffee, ! knew
| W here hung the key that opened a heavy
| little cabinet set full OF slender-necke Ell
| bottles that prisoned the finest Old wines.
locked the door, helped myself, and felt
Enthusiastically happy, As my appetite was
satisfied and my spirits rose, put my feet
on q gorgeous inlaid table threw my head
back, aud commenced trolling gay song.
Suddenly, on the marble chimney
| shelf opposite me, saw strange sight.
! 1t was Frisbane's glass eye, staring straight
at me. Had he left it by accident, and
gone to Washington without it ? Had he
replaced it by a new Que? Or had he
| discarded all artificial yanites forever
| Useless questions, and no one to answer
| them but there lay the silent. horrible
thine-neyer winking, never blinking,
| staring straight at me, as il 1t took special
cognizance Of every Wild erratic act OF
mine Worse. 1t seemed to be impas-
siyely studying the mysterious workings
of my mental machinery, and reading
either the general status of my intellectu-
alitv. or the individual idea uppermost
| there. With strong effort shook myself
me, turned my back upon my tormcntor,
and tried to laugh, raised the slender
wine-cup to my lips and took q deep
draught. As the delicious liquid went
| down my throat felt a strange sensation,
as though the wine CONCEALED and slipped
a golden, glowing icice on its way, in ut
ter mockery oil It's own warmth and lie.
''Instantly | knew what that meant
| The cold glare Of the glass eye had pene-
trated that wonderful chamber at the base
of the brain, known to contain graysh
medula Q am quite positive it is a medul-
la or a medullary), where the will pow
err is supposed to reside, and it was thus
affecting my entire individuality. turned
around Calm and untlinching as the eye
of the Sphinx that steady glare met my
faltering gaze | could neither smile nor
Jest - that eye was too much for me
Moving cautiously, with ave. ted head
reached one hand out behind me, took
the smooth, shining sentinel firmly but
delicately between my thumb and finger,
and, going to a desk in the farther cor
ner OF the room, | unlocked drawer
which had long ago been deputed to my
especial work, and of which always car
ried the key. With the greatest care |
deposited the cold, glaring nuisance deep
among my papers. and closed and locked
the drawer with decided vim Then back
[ went to my merry feasting; | grasped
the bottles neck in sehgratulating glee !;
drank gayly, and was even essaying an
other song, when a strange, sickly chill
seemed to quench my pulses and stop my
hearts beating. looked around.
"Surely that basilisk eye could not reach
me now; and yet, slowly and surely, be-
came possessed of consciousness that in
that very drawer were some papers | had
written describing Frisbane's peculiarities,
and expressing in decidedly plain terms
my opinion of him. 1t must be that the
eye was reading these. And here psy-
Geological problem presented itself. Could
that eye, not having any brain near by to
which it could transfer its impressions,
treasure them up for future reference !?
Doubtless. If so, and if Mr.. +. should
wear the thing again. the transferring