The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1885-01-09
CALLED BACK.
a wen-Told Story Of Continuous
end Absorbing Interest
BY HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER VIII.
CALLED RACK.

CALLED RACK.
write this chapter with great re-
auctance. If l could make my tale
connected and complete without it, /
should prefer to say nothing about the
events it records. If some of nv expe-
riences have been strange ones. all save
dhese can be explained; but these never
will, never can be explained to my salts
2action.
Pauline awoke, and, as saw her ewes.
shuddered as if n freezing wind had
passed over me. 1t was not madness
saw In them, neither was it sense. They
were dilated to the utmost extent; they
were fixed and immovable, vet knew
they saw absolutely nothing; that their
nerves conveyed no impression to the
ssin. All my wild hopes that reason
Would return at the expiration of her
faintlng nj, were at an end. 1t was
clear that she had passed into a state
lar more pitiable than her former one
spoke TO her called her by name;
but she TOOK no notice of my words.
-She seemed to be unaware of my pres
-ence. She looked ever, with strange
fixed eyes in one direction.
Suddenly she rose, and, before Icould
pOSc W piSfCHt ntt- plSStu Oul vi
ahe room / followed her She went
swiftly down the stairs. and | saw she
was making for the front door. Her
hand was on the latch when came up
to her and again called her by name:
sentreatIng. even commanding her to
return. No sound of my voice seemed
to reach her ears. In her critical state,
fer so l felt it to be, | shrank from re-
Straining her by force, thinking it would
ybe better 20 leave her free to 90 as she
listed; OF course accompanying her to
guard her against evil.
caught up my hat and large cloak.
both of which were hanging in the hall:
The latter wrapped around her as she
walked, and managed to draw the hood
soreA her head. She made no resistance
to this, but she let me do it without a
word to show that she noticed the action.
Then, with me at her side, she walked
straight on.
She went at n swift but uniform pace.
as one who had n certain destination in
View. She turned her ewes neither to
the left nor to the right-neither up nor
down. Not once during that walk did see
them move, not once did see an eyelid
culver. Although my sleeve was touch
ing hers. | am certain she had no
Thought or knowledge of my presence.
l made no further attempt TO check
her progress. She was not wandering
about in an aimless manner. Some
thing. | knew not what. was guiding or
impclling her steps to some set purpose.
Something in her disordered brain was
sirging her to reach some spot as quickly
T., II ~.
quences of restraining her from so do
ing. Even if it was but an exaggerated
ease of sleep-walking it would be unwise
to wake her. Far better to follow her
until the fit ended.
She passed out of Walpole street. and,
without a moments hesitation, turned
at right angles and went along the
straight broad road. Along this road
for more than half mile she led me.
then, turning sharply round, walked
half way through another street; then
she stopped before house.
An ordinary three-story house of the
usual London type. A house differing
very little from my own and thousands
of others, except that, by the light of
the street lamp, could see it looked
i'll cared for and neglected. The win
sdow-panes were dusty, and in one of
them was bill stating that this de-
SIrable residence was to let, furnished
L marveled as to what strange freak
of mind could have led Pauline to this
untenanted house. Had any one she
had known in former days lived here?
If so, 1t was, perhaps, Il hopeful sign
that some awakened memory had in
Aduced her to direct her unwilling steps
10 a place associated with her earlier
days. Very anxious, and even much
excited, / waited to see what course she
would now take.
She went straight up to the door and
laid her hand upon it, rs though she
expected it would yield to her touch
Then, for the first time. she seemed to
hesitate and grow troubled.
Pauline, dearest, / said, ..let us 90
back now. 1t is dark, and too late to 90
an there tonight. Tomorrow, if you
like, we will come again"
She answered not. She stood before
shat door with her hand pressing
against il. took her arm. and tried
gently to lead her away. She resisted
with passive strength l should not
have believed she possessed. Whatever
was the dimly conceived object in nv
poor wife's brain, it was plain to me
it could only be attained by passing
through that door.
i was quite willing to humor her.
Having come so far, feared to retreat.
To cross her wishes in the present state
of things l felt might be fatal. But
how could We gain entrance?
There was no CLEAN of light up
stairs or downstairs. As you looked at
fhe house you knew intuitively it was
'uninhabited. The agent whose name
appeared on the bill carried on business
"A mile away, and, even if had ventured
to leave Pauline and go in search of
him, at this time of night, my expedi-
.tion would be fruitless.
As / cast around, wondering what
was the best thing to do-whether to
6aetch the cab and carry the poor girl
lnko it, Tor whether to let her wait
here until she recognized the impossi-
.bility of entering the house, and, at last
growing weary, choose to return home
.of her own accord-as l debated these
4alternates sudden thought struck me-
Once before my latch-key had opened a
a strange door, it was within the bounds
4of possibility it might do so again.
knew that uninhabited houses are often
from carelessness or convenience left
with doors only latched. 1t was an alb
ssurd idea, but, after all, there WAS no
harm in trying. drew out my key. a
duplicate of that used on another occa-