The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1885-04-01

wished TO conf1ue 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-
clusions
"I won't do it again, I said ''Now
get me some breakfast. Tea and toast
anything"
She went to do my bidding. It was
not that was hungry. | wanted to be
alone for few minutes to think-or
think as well as my aching head would
allow
I recalled everything that had hap
pened since I left the door Of my house.
The entranced walk, theldrrnken guide,
the song I had heard, and, afterwards,
those horrible, eloqueHt sounds and
touches. Everything was clear and con-
nected'up to the moment the opiate was
forced upon me after flat my mind was
a blank. Priscilla's tale showed me
that during that blank must have been
transported several miles and deposited
in the thoroughfare where was found
by the policeman. I saw through the
crafty scheme. [ had lbeen dropped,
insensible, far away from the scene of
the crime at which had been present.
How wild and improbable my tale would
seem. Would any one believe it
Then [ remembered my horror at
what I felt streaming lover my hand
as lay pinned down Upon the fallen
man. i called Priscilla.
"Look, /" | said holding my right hand
towards her, SIS it clean-was it clean
when you found me?"
Clean-la, no, Master GILBERT"
"What was ON it 2" / asked excitedly.
"All covered with mud just as if you'd
been dabbling in the gutter. The first
thing I did when I got you home was to
wash your poor hands and face. | hoped
it would bring you arounh-it generally
does, you know"
"But my coat sleeve-in shirt sleeve
The right hand side. See if anything is
on them. ("
Priscilla laughed ''You haven't got
ne'er right hand sleeve left. 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
to support it except the assertion of a
blind man, who left his house in the
dead of night, secretly, and who was
found, several hours afterwards, miles
away, in such state that the guardians
of the public morals were compelled to
take charge of him.
Yet could not remain silent with the
knowledge of such crime weighing on
my mind. The next dayI had entirely
recovered from the effects of the opiate,
and after consideration sent for my
solicitor He was confidential friend
and L resolved to be guided by his advice.
In a very short time I found it was
hopeless to think of carrying correction
to his mind He listened gravely, Civ
ing vent to "Well, WE'LL. Bless my
soul r Shocking md other set
expressions of surprise, but I knew lie
was only humoring me- and looked upon
the whole thing as a delusion. I have
no doubt that Priscilla had been talking,
to him and telling him all she knew.
His incredulity annoyed me, SO I told
him, testify, I should say no more about
the affair.
well I wouldn't if I were you," he
said.
You don't believe me?"
| believe you are saying what 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. Afterwards
tried another friend with similar result.
1t those who had known me from child
hood would not believe me, how could
expect strangers to do so? Every thing
had to reveal was so vague and unsup-
ported. l could not even fix upon the
spot where the crime was committed. /
had ascertalned that no house in Walpole
street could be opened by key similar
to mine. There was no other street of
that name any where near. My friend
with the unsteady feet must have mis-
understood 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 q request which
should be Ineligible to him, without
perchance, exciting the suspicious of
of those who were concerned in the crime.
Even now if they had discovered my
true name and abode, there might be
some one on the watch for any movement
/ might make. / had been spared once
but no mercy would be shown me a Sec
ond time. Why should 1 risk my life
by making disclosures which would not
be believed accusations against men
could do? BY now the assassins must
have hidden all trace of the crime, and
made good their retreat. Why should /
face the ridicule which must attach to
such tale as mine, the truth of which I
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, will drive such
dismal memories from my mind. Hope
has become certainty. l am almost de.
lrious with delight. Science has tli-
umphed. My defeated foe has left me.
I am told his return is almost beyond
possibility. The world is light again! I
can seel
But my cure was long and tedious
affair. Both eyes We're operated upon.
First one, and, when the success of that
onpratiOn was oaSrrad tho other IL