The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-11-27

been present How Wild and improb-
able ray tale would seem. Would any
one believe it'
Then l remembered my horror at
what felt streaming over my hand as
i lay pinned down upon the fallen man.
I called Priscilla.
Look" I said, holding my right
hand toward her, sis it clean-was it
clean when YOU found me?'
"Clean-la. no. Master Gilbertr'
"What was on it?'' lasked excitcdly.
.sAll covered with mud, just as if
you'd been dabbling in the gutter. The
first thing did when l got you home
was to wash your poor hands and face.
l hoped it would bring you round-it
generally does, you know"
s'But my coat sleeve my shirt sleeve.
The right-hand side. See if anything is
on Them"
Priscilla laughed. "You haven't got
ne'er right-hand sleeve let. They
were cut or torn off above the elbow.
Your arm was naked"
Every scrap of circumstantial evidence
which would confirm my tale was van
ishing away. There would be nothing
10 support it except the assertion of
blind man. who left his house in the
dead of night. secretly, and who was
found, several hours afterward, miles
away, in such state that the guardians
of the pu lie morals were compelled to
take charge of him.
Yet could not remain silent with the
knowledge of such crime weis hing on
my mind. The next day had entirely
recovered from the effects of the opiate.
and alter consideration sent for my
solicitor. He was confidential friend,
and resolved to tie guided by his adj
vice. In very short time found it
was hopeless to think of carrying con-
viction to his mind. He listened grave
ly, giving vent to swell. WE'LL" "Bless
my soul.'' shocking" and other set
expressions of surprise, but knew he
was only humoring me. and looked upon
the whole thing as delusion. have
no doubt that Priscilla had been talking
to him and telling him all she knew.
His incredulity annoyed me, so told
him, testify, should say no more about
the affair.
"Well, 1 wouldn't if were you," he
said.
"You don't believe me?"
81 believe YOU are saying Whist you
think is true; but if you ask me, my
opinion is that you walked in your sleep
and dreamed all this
Too cross to argue with him, took
his advice, so far as he was concerned.
and said no more about it. Afterward
l tired another friend with sim lar re-
suit. If those who had known me from
childhood would not believe me, how
could l expect strangers to do so?
Everything l had to reveal was SO
vague and unsupported. l could not
even fix upon the spot where the crime
was committed. l had ascertained that
no house in Walpole street could be
opened by a key similar to mine. There
was no other street of that name any,
where near. My friend with the unsteady
feet must have misunderstood me and
conducted me to another row of houses.
thought, at one time, OF advertising
and asking him to communicate with
me. but could not word request
which should be Ineligible to him,
without perchance, exciting the sus-
picions of those who were concerned in
the crime. Even now, if they had dis
covered my true name and abode, there
might be some one on the watch for
any movement | might make. l had
been spared once, but no mercy would
be shown me second time. Why
should l risk my life by making dis
,I,,s,ros which would NOT bo bol;oyod
accusations against men who were I'M
known to me? What good could | do?
BY cow the assassins must have hidden
all trace of the crime, and made good
their retreat. Why should L face the
ridicule which must attach TO such a
tale as mine, the truth Of which could
not prove? No; let the horrors of that
night be as a dream. Let them fade
and be forgotten.
Soon have something else to think
of; something that may well drive such
dismal memories from my mind. Hope
has become certainty. am almost de-
umphed! My defeated foe has left me.
am told his return is almost beyond
possibility. The world is light again.
L can see!
But my cure was long and tedious
affair. Both eyes We're operated upon.
First one, and, when the success of that
o. Grafton was assured, the other. 1t
was months before | was allowed to
emerge altogether from darkness. Light
was do!ed out to me sparingly and eau
tiously. What did that matter so long
that / knew there was light agsin for
me? l was patient, very patient and
grateful. followed MIR. jays instruc-
tons to the letter, knowing / should
reap the reward of so doing.
NV case had been treated by the SIM
plest and ss'est method of operation
the ore which is always chosen when
the nature of the disease and the age of
the patient permits or absorp-
ton it is termed. When it was all over.
and all danger of Inflammation at an
end; when l found that by the aid of
strong convex glasses l could see well
enough for all ordinary purposes, Mr..
Jay congratulated both himself and me.
1t promised, ne said, to be the most
thoroughly successful cure he had ever
taken part in. 1t must have been some
thing above the common, as am in
formed that every book on the eye which
has since been published cites my case
as an example of what may be done.
Not until my dying day shall 1 forget
that time when my cure was declared ;
fact; when the bandsges were removed,
and was told might now use, spar
ingly, my uncurtained eyes.
The Joy, from what seemed never
ending night, to wake and see the sun,
the stars-the clouds sped by the wind
across the fair blue sky! To see green
branches swaying with the breeze, and
throwing trembling shadows on my
PATH To mark the flower: n bud but