The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1884-11-15

the sleeper ulSmay IL Sne aWOhe anu |
discovered my absence. / closed the |
door, then, guiding myself by the bal
ustrade, passed lightly down the stairs |
and reached the street door without &C
cident,
There were other dodgers in the |
house, among them young men who |
came in at all hours. so, the door be-
ing always left on the latch, had no
bolts TO contend with. In moment |
was on the doorstep, with the door be-
hind me closed.
l stood for a short time irresolute al
most trembling at my temerity. This
was the first time l had ventured be-
You'd the house without guiding hand
to trust to. Yet | knew there was
nothing to fear. The street-a quiet
one-was deserted. The pavement was
broad. l could walk up or down with
out let or hindranre, guiding myself,
after the manner of other blind per-
sons, by tapping my stick against the
curbstone or the ratings. Still l must
take few precautions to enable me to
ascertain my latitude and longitude at
will.
came down the four steps which led
from the front door, turned myself to
the right and, by aid of the lire of rail
ings, set my face toward the end of tho
street. Then / began to walk and to
count my steps, siXty-two OF which
brought my right foot on TO road.
which told me had reached my limit.
l turned, counted back the sixty-two
PAGES, and then sixty-tive more in the
same direction before 1 found myself
again off the pavement My calcula-
tons were verified by my knowing that
my house was very nearly in the center
of the row. was now quite at my
ease; | had determined the length of
my tether 1 could walk up and down
the deserted street, yet, at any time l
wished to do so, could, by counting
from either end, arrest my steps in
front of my abode.
So, nightly proud of my success, for
awhile | went up and down--up and
down. / heard one or two cabs pass
me, and also one or two persons afoot.
AS these latter seemed to pay no at
tention to me l felt glad to think that
my appearance and gait were not such
as to attract notice. Most men like to
conceal their intirmities.
This night excursion did me great
deal of good. Perhaps it was finding
that was not altogether so helpless
and dependent that changed in few
minutes my whole frame of mind. The
mental rebound took place. l went
from dependency to hope--eX travagant
hope even to certainty. Like reve-
lation it came to me that my malady
was durable; that, in spite of my pre-
sentiment, what friends had been assur-
ing me would prove to be the truth.
So elated l grew that threw my head
back and walked with firm, quick
step, almost forgetting that was sight
less. began to think of many things,
and my thoughts were happier ones
than | had known for months. l gave
up counting my PAGES, walked on and
on, planning what l should do, where
should 90 when my darkness was re-
moved. | do not know whether l may
, have at times guided myself by the
!. wall or pavement edges but ii so l did
it mechanically and instinctively, with
out noticing the action or remembering
, it afterward.
can not say whether it may be pos.
/ sible for blind man, who can divest
i himself of the fear of encountering un.
i seen obstacles, to walk as straightly
. and accurately as one who can, see.
+ only know that in my preoccupied ant
/ elevated state of mind, [ must have
; done So Intoxicated and carried away
by the return of hope, 1 may hav'
walked as sonnambulist or as one in 1
h trance. Any way, forgetful OF all saw
a my brighter thoughts, went on anC
!, on, needless of the missing sense. unit
+ coming full against person walking
p in the opposite direction recalled M
:. from my visions and brought me bacl
+ to my misery. | felt the man had en-
a countered shake himself free; | heart
4 him mutter stupid fooln' and g
II swiftly on his way, leaving me motion
N less on the spot where the collision hat
= occurred, wondering where l was ant
, what l should do.
y 1t was no use trying 10 find my wa,
~ back unaided. Not having brought m,
II repeater with me could not oven sa,
n how long | had been walking. 1t nigh
/ have been ten minutes, it might hav
been an hour since l gavs up countln
n my steps. Judging by the number {
70 things | had thought of since tina
; rapturous eXaltation of mind com
n menced it seemed more likely to be tn
7 latter. Now that l had come back T.
n the earth | must be content to remain
Iy on this particular spot of it until
A. heard the step OF a policeman or som
:. one else who might happen to b
abroad at this unusual hour-unusua
m at least in this quiet part of London.
10 leaned my back against the wall an
~ waited patiently.
A. / soon heard an approaching stel
~ but such a staggering, uncertain, lurcl
~ ing kind of step, that from the sound {
a. the feet alone was able to determir
"a the condition of their owner, and W;
RI obliged to decide he was not the man
- wanted [ must Let him nasS and wa