Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-01-30

from scene of the crime at which had
been present, How wild and improb-
able my tale would seem. Would any
one believe it9
Then | remembered my horror at
what felt streaming over my hand rs
lay pinned down upon the fallen man.
called Priscilla.
Look" | said, holding my right
hand toward her, lis it clean-,waS it
clean when You found me?'
''Clean-lS, no, Master Gilbertr''
What was on it2H asked eNcitedly.
"All covered with mud. Just as if
you'd been dabbling in the gutter. The
first thing did when | got You home
was to wash Your poor hands and face
l hoped it would bring You round-it
generally does, you know
But my coat Sleeve-my shirt sleeve.
The right-hand side. See if anythingis
on them,
Priscilla laughed. ''Yoa haven't cot
ne'er right-hand sleeve Left. They
We're cut or torn of above the elbow.
Your arm was naked"
Every scrap of circumStantiale evidence
which would confirm my tale was van
iShing away. There would be nothing
TO support it except the assertion OF \
blind man, who left his house in the
dead Of night, secretly. and who was
found, several hours afterward. miles
away, in such state that the guardians
of the pualic morals We're compelled to
take charge of him.
Yet could not remain silent with the
| knowledge OF such crime weiS hing on
my mind. The next day | had entirely
recovered from the etc Is of the opiate.
and alter consideration sent for my
solicitor. He was a confidential friend.
and l resolved to lie guided BY his adj
vice. In very short time found it
was homeless to think of carrying con
viction to his mind, He listened grave
", giving vent to well. wellr' BLESS
my SOUL "Shocking," and other set
expressions of surprise. but knew he
was only humoring me. and looked upon
. the wno.e thing rs deluSioa. have
10 donht that Priscilla had been talking
to him and telling him all she knew.
His incredulity annoyed me, so | told
him, testify, should say no more about
the affair
Wen, l wouldn't if were You" he
said.
You don't believe me-"
II believe YOU are saying what you
think is true; but if you ask HE. my
opinion is that vou walked in your sleep
and dreamed ali this. :
Zoo cross to argre with him. | took
his advice, SO far aS he was concerned.
and sad no more about il. Afterward
| tried another friend with a similar re-
suit. II those vino had known me from
childhood wo9ld not believe me. how
could | expect strangers 10 do 50?
Everything | hal to reveal was So
vague and unsupported. could not
even fin upon the spot where the crime
was committed. had ascertaincd that
no house in Walpo!e street could be
opened by q key similar to mine. There
was no other street of that name any
where near. My friend with the unsteady
feet must have misunderstood me and
conducted ME To another row of hoa SEES.
thought, at one time. OF advertising
and asking him to communicate with
me, bat | could not word request
which should be Ineligible to him.
without, Tcrchaucc. exciting the sus-
picionS OF those Who were concerned in
the crime. Even now, if they had dis
covered my true name and abode, there
might be some one on tho watch for
any movement | might make. | had
been spared once, but no mercy would
be shown me Il second time WHY
should | risk my life by making dis
closures which wodld not be believed
accusations against men who were I'M
known to me? What good could do?
BY row the aSSassius must have hidden
all trace of the crime, and made good
their retreat. Why should | face the
ridicula which must attach to such a
tale a mine, the truth of which could
not prove? No; let the horrors of that
night be as dream. Let them fade
and be forgotten.
Soon | have something else TO think
of; something that may we'll drive such
dismal memories from my mind. Hope
has become certainty. am almost de-
lirous with delight Science has tri-
umphcdl My defeated .oe has left me.
| am told his return IS almost beyond
possibility. The world is light again.
| can see!
But my cure was long and tedious
affair. Both eyes were operated upon.
First one, and, when the success of that
o. Grafton was assured, the other II
emerge altogether from darkness. Light
was do!ed out 10 me sparingly and eau
tiousiy. What did that matter so long
shat knew there was light again for
me? | was patient, very patient and
grateful. | followed Mr.. Jays instruc-
tons to the letter, knowing | should
reap the reward of so doing
My ease had been treated by the sim
plcst and safest method of operation
the one which is always chosen when
the nature of the disease and the are of
the patient permits solution or ABSORB
ton it is termed. When it was all over, |
and all danger of Inflammation at an
end; when | found that by the aid of |
strong convex glasses | could see well |
enough for all ordinary purposes Mr.. !
Jay congratulated both himself and me I
1t promised, ne said, to be the most .
thoroughly successful cure he had ever
taken part in. 1t mast have been some
thing above the common, as / am in
formed that every book on the eye which
has since been published cites my case
as an example of what may be done.
Not until my dying day shall forget
that time when my cure was declared n
fact; when the handages were removed, I
and ! was told | might now use, spar.
ingly, my uncurtained eyes.
The .oy. from what seemed never
ending night, to wake and see the sun,
the stars-the clouds sped by the wind
across the fair blue SKY, To see green
branches swaying with the breeze, and
throwing trembling shadows on my
path! To mark the flower: bud but
yesterday-to-day q bloom! To watch
the broad bright sea grow splendid
with the crimson of the vest To gaze
on pictures, people, mountains, streams
to know shape, color, form and tint!
To see, not hear alone. the moving lips
and laurh of those who orasnef my