Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-03-20
CALLED BACK.
a Weu-Told Story of Continuous
and Absorbing Interest.
ley HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER VIII.

aud Absorbing Interest.
BY HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER VIII.
CALLED BACK.
write this chapter with great re-
luctance. Ii l could make my tale
connected and complete without it.
should prefer to say nothing about the
events it records If some of my expe-
rienceS have been strange ones. all save
these can be explained; but these never
will. never can be explained to my salts
faction.
Pauline awokc. and. as saw her eyes.
l shuddered rs ii a freezing wind had
passed over me. 1t was not madness
saw in them, neither was it SENSE They
Were diiated to the utmost extent: they
We're fixed and immovable, vet | knew
they saw absolutely nothing; that their
nerves conveyed no impression to the
brain. All my wild hopes that reason
would return at the expiration of her
fainting fit, were at an end. 1t was
clear that she had passed into state
far 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 i'll one direction.
Suddenly she rose, and, before Icould
interpose to prevent her, passed out of
the 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;
entreatlng, even commanding her to
return. No sound of NV voice seemed
to reach her ears. In her critical state,
Tor so | felt it to be, | shrank from re-
stralning her by force, thinking ii would
be better to leave her free to 90 as she
listed; of course accompanying her to
guard her against evil.
caught upmy hat and a large cloak,
both of which were hanging in the hall;
the latter | wrapped around her as she
walked, and managed to draw the hood
over 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 swift but uniform pace,
as one who had certain destination in
'AS"' cilS bulICu hCI eyes nClIltE 10
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.
made no further attempt to check
her progress. She was not wandering
about in an aimless manner. Some
thing, L knew not what, was guiding or
lmpelling her steps to some set purpose.
Something in her disordered brain was
urging her to reach some spot as quickly
as possible. | dreaded the conse-
quences of restraining her from so do
ing. Even if it was but an exaggerated
case OF sleep-walking itwould be unwise
to wake her. Far better to follow her
until tie fit ended.
She passed out e 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
dow-panes were dusty, and in one of
them was a bill stating that this de-
sirable residence was to let, furnished
marveled as to what strange freak
of mind could have led Pauline to this
Mt el,
had known in former days lived here?
fso, it was, perhaps, a hopeful sign
that some awakened memory had in
duced her to direct her unwilling steps
TO q 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. as 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 60
in there tonight Tomorrow, if you
ike, we will come again.
She answered not. She stood before
that door with her hand pressing
against it. / took her arm, and tried
gently to lead her away. She resisted
with passive strength ! should not
have believed she possessed. Whatever
was the dimly conceived object in my
poor wife's brain, it was plain to me
it could only be attained by passing
through that door.
l was quite willing to humor her.
Having come so far, feared to retreat.
To cross her wishes in the present state
of things / felt might be fatal. But
how could we gain entrance?
There was no CLEAN of light up
stairs or downstairs. As YOU looked at
the house YOU knew intuitively it was
uninhabited. The agent whose name
appeared on the bill carried on business
mile away, and, even if had ventured
to leave Pauline and 60 In search Of
him, at this time of night, my expedi-
ton would be fruitless.
AS / cast around, wondering what
was the best thing to do-whether to
fetch the cab and carry the poor girl
into il, lor 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 aecord-as / debated these
alternatcs sudden thought struck me.
Once before my latch-key had opened a |
a strange door, it was within the bounds
Of possibility is might do so again.
knew that uninhabi.ed houses are often |
from carelessness or convenience left |
with doors only latched. It was an abb |
surd idea, but, after all, there was no |
harm In trying / drew out my key, a |
duplicate of that used on another occa- |
zion Iplaeed it in the keyhole with |
ont hope CT success, aud, as felt the |
lock turn snd saw the door yield, q |
thrill of something ike horror ran
through me, for now that it had come |
to pass knew this thing could be no
msEs egincidence-