The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-11-27
CALLED BACK.
a wel-Told Story Of Continuous
and Absorbing Interest.
nY HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER I.-corrrsuKp.

seemed preparing to split in .wo; my
tongue was dry and parched. These
unpleasant facts became more and more
noticeable as consciousness gradually
returned. ! sat up in the bed and
pressed my hands to my throbbing
brow.
80, dear hearth 1 heard my old
nurse say. He is coming round at
last Then another voice. mans
voice. soft and bland:
Eyes, your master will soon be well
again. kindly let me feel your pulse,
Mr.. Vaughan"
A soft finger was laid upon my wrist
"Whoi itT' 1 asked.
81 am DR. Deane, at your SERVICE"
said the stranger.
..Have l been ill? How long? How
many days?"
"a few hours only. There is moth
ing to be alarmed at. Lie down again
and keep quiet for awhile. Are you
thirsty?"
..Yes. am dying with thirst-give
me water"
They did so. l drank greedily, and
felt somewhat relieved.
Snow, nurse" | heard the doctor
say, make him some weak tea, and
when he wants anything to eat let him
have it. will look in again later on"
DR.. Deane was shown out, and old
Priscilla. returning to my bedside, pat
ted and punched the pillows to make
me more comfortable. BY this time /
was wide awake and the experiences of
the night were coming back to me with
,,,1 1aza Gov h..
of a recalled dream.
'What is the time?" l asked.
Nigh upon noon, Master Gilbert"
Priscilla spoke in a sorrowful, injured
manner.
'Noonl what has been the matter
with me?"
The old servant was weeping.
could hear her. She made no answer,
so repeated my question.
ooh, Master Gilbertr' she sobbed,
how could you do it? When l came
into the room and saw the empty bed l
thought should have dropped"
When she saw the empty bed l
trembled. The horrors OF the night
were real!
"How could YOU do il, Master Gil
hertz" continued Priscilla. $40 go out
without word, and wander half over
London, all alone and not able to see a
thing"
.'Sit down and tell me what you
mean-what has happened.
She had noF9uite aired her grievance.
eff you wanted to get tipsy or to take
any OF them stuffs to send you to sleep
and make YOU insensible, YOU might
20
] shouldn't have minded once in a
way"
You're kind old fool, Priscilla"
Tell me all about last night"
1t was not until she saw was getting
quite angry that her tongue would con-
sent to run pretty Straight, and when l
heard her account of what had occurred
any head was whirling. This : what
she told me.
1t must have been about an hour aft
er nv stealthy exit that she awoke.
She put her ear to the, door to make
certain that was asleep and wanting
nothing. Hearing no sound of life in
my room. she entered it, and found the
bed untenanted and me gone. Proba-
bly, she was even more frightened than
she owned to being. She knew ali
about my dependency and complain
ings of the last few DAYS, and | have no
doubt but her first fear was that l had
destroyed myself. She started in searcn
of me. and at once recognizing the inn
possibility of finding me without assist
ance, turned to that first and last re-
source of an English-woman in such q
diiiculty-t police Having told her
tale at the nearest station, and by en-
treaties, and by enlarging on my in
FIRMLY, made known the urgency of
the case. and secured sympathy, teie-
graphic messages were sent to other po-
lice stations asking if any one answer
ing to my description had been found.
Priscilla waited upon thorus until about
five o clock in the morning, when re-
ply came from the other end of the
town. 1t stated that a young man who
appeared to be blind, and who was GER
tainly drunk and incapable, had Just
been brought in.
Priscilla flew to the rescue. She
found me lying senseless, and destined,
upon my recovery. to be brought be-
fore the magistrate. A doctor was soon
procured, who testified to my innocence
so far as alcohol was concerned. The
energetic Priscilla, after placing me
safely in cab, gave the officers a bit
of her mind as to the discomforts under
which she had found me laboring. She
then departed triumphantly with her
unconscious charge, and lad him on
sbe bed he had so rashly Quilted.
am grieved to be compelled to gath
er from her words that, in spite of the
,oIsrnotion che d;e,,1araI rowarJ %
policemen, her estimate of my condi-
tion was the same as theirs. She was
particularly grateful TO the doctor,
whom, l fear, she looked upon as a
clever, complaisart practitioner, who
lad extricated gentleman from a
scrape by well-timed but uItruthful
explanation.
"But never knew body stop in
sensible so long after it. Don't ee
do it again. Master Gilbert" she con-
cluded.
1 did not combat her suspicious.
Priscilla w&s scarcely the one to whom
] wished TO confide the adventures of
the night. BY far the simplest way
was to say nothing, to leave her to draw
her OWE, and perhaps not unnatural
conclusions.
Il won't do it again." said. Now
get me some breakfast Tea and toast
--anyihng."
She went to do my bidding. 1t was
not that | was hungry wanted to be
alone for a few minutes to think--or
think as well as my aching head would
allow.
l recalled everything that had hap
pened since L left the door of my house.
The eDtranced walk, the drunken guide,
the song L had heard, and afterward