Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-03-13

have said how seldom il was that Paul
inc raised her eyes 70 any ones face;
but to-day, during the whole timo
Macari was in the room. she never
looked away from him. He sat near
her, and after few more words to her.
addressed his remarks exclusively TO
me. All the while could see my wife
watching him with m eager. troubled
look; several times, indeed. l almost
persuaded myself that there was an ex-
preston of fear in her eyes. Let them
express fear, hate, trouble. even love.
so long IS could Sc. the dawn of re
turning reason in them, l began to
think that if Pauline was TO be restored,
it would be through my visitor.
So when he took his leave | pressed
him. with no assumed manner. TO call
again very soon-to-morrow, if possible.
he readily promised TO do SO, and we
parted for the day.
| can only hope he was as satisfied
with the result of our interview rs
was.
After his departure Pauline fell into a
restless state. Several times | saw her
pressing her hand TO her forehead. She
seemed unable to sit still Now and
again she went to the window and
looked up and down the street paid
no attention to her actions, although
once or twice | saw her turn her eyes
toward me with \ piteouS. imploring
glance. | believed that something
some old memory i'll connection with
Macari-waS striving to force itself to
her cloudcd brain. and looked forward
with impatiencc to tomorrow. when he
would pay us another visit The man
had something to get out of me, * l
felt certain | should see him again.
He came the next day, and the next.
and many other DAYS. 1t was clear he
was determined TO ingratiate me, if pos
Sible. He did all he could to make him.
self agreeable, and | must say he was.
under the present circumstances. very
good company. He knew. or profesSed
to know. all the ins and outs of every
plot or political event of the last ten
years. and was full of original anecdotes
and stirring experiences. He had fought
under Garibaldi through the whole of
the Italian campaign. He had known
the interior of prisons. and some of his
escapes from death had been marvel
Gus. l had no reason TO doubt the
truth of his tales, although mistrusted
the man himself. Let his smile be rs
pleasant rs he could make it--let his
laugh ring naturally could not for
get the expression l had seen on that
face, or his manner and words on
former occasions.
l took care that Pauline should al
ways be with us. 1t was the only wish
of mine the poor child had ever shown
even mute Discrimination to comply
with. She never spoke in Macari's
presence, but her eyes were scarcely
ever turned from him. He seemed TO
have kind of fascination for her
When he entered the room could hear
her sigh, and when he left it she
breathed a breath of relief; and every
day she grew more restless, uneasy and.
l knew. unhappy. My heart smote me
as guessed | was causing her pain;
but, ut all cost, determined TO pcrse-
we're. l felt that the crisis of her life
was fast drawing near.
One evening, after dinner, rs Macari
and | sat over our claret, and Pauline,
with her troubled eyes fixed as usual,
on my guest, was reclining on the sofa
little way of, he began to relate some
of his military adventures. How once.
when in imminent peril his right arm
broken and useless ut his side, his left
arm not strong enough TO WELD tho
rifle with thd bayonet fixed he had
taken the bayonet off, and holding il in
his left hand, had driven il through the
heart of an antagonist. As he de-
scribed the deed, he suited the gesture
to the word, and seizing knife which
lay on the table, dealt downward
blow through the air nj an imaginary
white-coated Austrian.
| heard a deep sigh behind me. and,
turning, saw Pauline lying with her
eyes closed, and apparently in dead
faint. ran to her, raised her mp, and
carrying her to her room, laid her on
her bed. Ii was now about nine 0 clock
Priscilla happened to be out. so | ran
back to the dining-room and babe Ma
carl hasty goodnight
Il hope there is not much the mat
ter" he said.
No; only a fainting fit. Your fierce
gesture must have frightened her"
Then returned to my wife's bedside.
and began the usual course of restora-
tives. Yet without success White rs
statue she lay there her soft breath
ing and the faint throb of her pulse only
telling that she was alive. She lay
there without sense or motion. whilst
chafed her hands, bathcd her brow, and
endeavored to recall her to life. Even
whilst doing so my heart was beating
wildly. l felt that the moment had
come; that something had brought back
the past to her, and that the fierce rush
with which it came had overpowered
her / could scarcely dare TO put my
wild belief in words, but II was that
when Pauline again opened her eyes
they would shine with light which had
never known in them-the light of per
fectly restored intelligence. A wild,
idea, but one had the fullest faith in.
So it was that | did not send for q
doctor: that after while gave up my
own attempts to awaken consciousness;
that | resolved to let her lie in that
calm, senseless state until she awoke OF
her own accord. took her wrist be-
tween my fingers that might feel every
bsat 81 her pulse. / laid my cheek
against hers that i might catch the
sound of every breath-and thus !
waited until Pauline should awake, and,
as fondly believed, awake IN her right
mind.
She remained in this state for nj least
an hour. So long that at last | began
to get frightened, and think l mast.
after all, send for medical aid. Just as
was forming the resolution to do SO.
noticed the beats Of her pulse grow
stronger and more rapid; l felt her
breath draw deeper; saw look Of re-
turning life steal over her face; and. in
breathless impotence. waited.
And then Pauhne---my wife--came
back to ife-she rose in the bed and
turned her face to mine; and in her eyes
l saw what, by the mercy Of God,
shall never again see therci
FRO BE CONTINUED.