The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1885-01-21

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heavy drowsiness came over me.
Thoughts grew incoherent and reason
seemed leaving me. My head fell first
ON one side. then on the other. The last
thing | can remember is a strong arm
encireling me and keeping me from
tumbling out of my chair. Whatever
the drug was, its action was strong and
swift.
For hours and hours it held me sense
less, and when at last its power faded
and my mind, struggling back to cloud
ed sort of consciousness. made after
many attempts, the fact apparent to me
that was lying on bed, and, more
over, as found by stretching out my
arms and feeling around, my own bed,
is it to be wondered at that / said to my
self. Il have dreamed the most fright
full dream that ever came to a torment
ed mind" After this effort Of mind /
sank back once more into seml-eon-
scious state, but fully persuaded / had
never quilted my bed. My relief at this
discovery was immense.
Yet if my mind grew easy, I cannot
say the same for the body. Ny head
seemed preparing to split in two: my
tongue was dry and parched. These I'M
noticeable as consciousness gradually
returned. I sat up in the bed and press
ed my hands to my throbbing brows-
"Oh dear heart" heard my old nurse
say. He is coming round at last. -
Then another voice-a mans voice, soft
and bland.
Yes. your master will soon be well
again. Kindly let me feel your pulse,
Mr.. Vaughan
\ soft finger was laid upon my wrist.
"Who is it," l asked.
Il am DR.. Deane, at your service"
said the stranger.
Have l been i'll? How long? How
| many days.
a few hours only. There is nothing
| TO be alarmed at. Lie down again and
| keep quiet for while. Are you thirsty"
Yes, L am dying with thirst-give me
| water"
They did So I drank greedily, and
| felt somewhat relieved.
Now, 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 l
was wide awake and the experiences of
| the night were coming back to me with
a distinctness and detail far above those
| of a recalled dream.
What is the time?" | asked.
Nigh upon noon. Master Gilbert
Priscilla spoke in sorrowful, injured
| manner.
Noon! what has been the matter
with me?"
The old servant was weeping. l could
hear her. She made no answer, sol re-
peated my question.
ooh. Master Gilbert" she sobbed
how could you do it? When / came
| into the room and saw the empty bed
thought should have dropped"
When she saw the empty bed! Itrem-
bled. The horrors of the night were
real!
How could you do it. Master Gil
hertz" continued Priscilla. TO go out
without word, and wander half over
London, all alone and not able to see
thingl"
sit down and tell me what you mean
what has happened?"
She had not quite aired her grievance.
"If you wanted to get tipsy or to take
any of them stuffs to send you to sleep
and make you insensible. you might
have done it at home. Master Gilbert. |
shouldn't have minded once in 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
heard her account of what had occurred
my head was whirling. This is what
she told me.
1t must have been about an hour aft
ter my stealthy exit that she awoke.
She put her ear to the door to make GER
tain that | was asleep and wanting moth
ing. Hearing no sound of life in nv
room. she entered it, and found the bed
untenanted and me gone. Probably she
was even more frightened than she
owned to being. She knew all about my
dependency and complainings, of the
last few days, and | have no doubt but
her first fear was that had destroyed
myself. She started in search of me,
and at once recognizing the impoSsi-
bility of finding me without assistance.
turned to that first and last resource of
an Englishwoman in such difficulty
the Police. Having told her tale at the
nearest station, and by entreaties, and
by enlarging on my infirmity. made
known the urgency of the case and Sc
cured sympathy, Geographic messages
were sent to other police stations ask
ing if any one answering to my descrip-
ton had been found. Priscilla waited
upon thorns until about five o'clock in
the morning. when reply came from
the other end of the town. 1t stated
that a young man who appeared to be
blind, and who was certainly drunk and
incapable, had just been brought in.
Priscilla flew to the rescue. She found
me lying senseless, and destined, upon
my recovery, 10 be brought before the
magistrate. A doctor was soon procur-
ed, who testified to my innocence so far
as alcohol was concerned. The ener-
getic Priscilla. after placing me safely
IN cab, gave the officers bit of her
mind as to the discomforts under which
she had found me laboring She then
departed triumphantly with her uneon-
scious charge. and laid him on the bed
he had SO rashly quilted.
/ am grieyed to be compelled to gath
er from her words. that, in spite of the
Indignation she displayed toward the
policemen, her estimate of my condi-
ton was the same as theirs. She was
particularly grateful to the doctor,
whom, / fear, she looked upon as a
clever and complaisant practitioner,
who had extricated gentleman from a
scrape by well-timed but untruthful
explanation.
But never knew a body stop in
sensible so long after it. Don't We do it
again, Master Gilbert" she concluded
4 | did not combat her suspicious. Pris-
ella was 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
own, and, perhaps, not unnatural con-
/ illusions.
Il won't do it again." said. @Now
get me some breakfast. Tea and toast
anything"
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 left the door of my house.
The entranced walk. the drunken guide.
the song had heard. and, afterward,
those horrible, eloquent sounds and
touches. Everything was clear and
connected up to the moment the opiate
was forced upon me: after that my mind
was blank. Priscilla's tale showed
me that during that blank must have
been transported several miles and de-
posted in the thoroughfare where /
was found by the policeman. 1 saw
through the crafty scheme. had been
dropped, insensible, far away from the
scene of the crime at which I had been
present. How wild and improbable nv
tale would seem. Would any one be-
lieve itp
Then I remember my horror at what
felt streaming over my hand as lay
pinned down upon the fallen man. /
called Priscilla.
Look" l said. holding my right hand
toward her. is it clean-was it clean
when you found me?n
"Clean-la, no. Master Gilbert!v
What was on it," I asked excitedly.
All covered with mud. just 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 / hope
ed 1t would bring you round-it gener-
ally does, you know
But nv coat-sleeve The right-hand