The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1867-188?, 1884-10-29
METLINGToN ENTERPRIsE, WEDNESDAY OCT 20, 1884

awhile went up and down--up ana
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 | felt glad to think that
my appearance and gait were not such
as to attract notice. Most men like to
conceal their infirmities.
This night excursion did me great
deal Of good. Perhaps it was finding
that | was not altogether SO helpless
and dependent that changed in a few
minutes my whole frame OF mind. The
mental rebound took place. / went
from dependency to hope-extravagant
hope--even to certainty. Like reye-
lation 1t 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 q firm, quick
step, almost forgetting that I was sight
less. began to think Of many things,
and my thoughts were happier ones
than | had known for months. ! gave
up counting my PAGES, walked on and
on, planning what should do, where l
should 60 when my darkness was re-
moved. | do not know whether may
have at times guided myself by the
wall or pavement edge; but II so / did
it mechanically and instinctively, with
out noticing the action or remembering
II afterward.
can not say whether 1t may be pos
sible Tor blind man, who can diyest
himself of the fear OF encountering un-
seen obstacles, to walk as straightly
and accurately as one who can see. /
only know that in my preoccupied and
elevated state of mind, must have
done so. Intoxicated and carried away
by the return Of hope, l may have
walked as sonnambulist or as one in q
trance. Any way, forgetful of all save
my brighter thoughts, l went on and
on, needless of the missing sense, until
coming full against person walking
in the opposite direction recalled me
from my visions and brought me back
TO my misery. felt the man had en-.
countered shake himself free: l heard
him mutter "stupid. fool" and &C
swiftly on his way, leaving me motion
less on the spot where the collision had
occurred, wondering where l was anC
what | should do.
1t was no use trying 10 find my way
back unaided. Not having brought my
repeater with me could not even say
how long had been walking. 1t nigh
have been ten minutes, IL might hav,
been an hour since l gave up counting
my steps Judging by the number o
things | had thought of since tina
raplurous exaltation of mind com
menced it seemed more likely 10 be tn
latter. Now that | had come back Il
the earth | must be content to remail
on this particular spot of it until
heard the step OF a policeman or som
one else who might happen to b
abroad at this unusual hour-unusual
at least in this quiet part Of London.
leaned my back against the wall ant
waited patiently.
/ soon heard an approaching step
but such staggering, uncertain, lurch
ing kind of step, that from the sound @
the feet alone was able to determin
the condition OF their owner, and wa
obliged TO decide he was not the man
wanted. must let him pass and wal
tor another. But the feet staggered u
TO me and stopped near me, whilst
voice, jolly, but like the feet, unsteady
cried:
"Nother feller worsh than mi
Can't get on at all-eh, old chap
Comfort T. think some ones head :
ache worsh than mine tomorrow"
[To BE CONTINUED L.