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

For hours and hs urs it held me sense
less, and when at last its power faded
and my mind, struggling back to a
clouded sort of consciousness, made,
after many attempts, the fact apparent to
me that was lying on bed, and more
over, as / found by stretching out my
arms and feeling around, my own bed, is
it to be wondered at that [ said to my
self, II have dreamed the most frightful
dream that ever came to tormented
mind" After this effort of mind sank
back once more into semi-unconscious
state, but fully persuaded had never
quilted my bed. My relief at this dis
covery was immense.
Yet if my mind grew easy, cannot say
the same for the body. My head seemed
preparing to split in two; my tongue
was dry and parched. These unpleasant
fac s became more and more noticeable
as consciousness gradually returned. l
sat up. in the bed and pressed my hands
to my throbbing brows.
"Oh dear heart !" heard my old nurse
say, HE is coming round at last. "
Then another voice-a mans voice soft
and bland
Eyes, your master will soon be well
again. Kindly let me feel your pulse,
Mr. Vaughan
A soft finger was laid upon my wrist.
"Who is it?" asked
g. am Doctor Deane, at your service, .
said the stranger.
''Have I been i'll? How long? How
many days?"
"a few hours only, There is nothing
TO be alarmed at. Lie down again and
teep quiet for while. Are you thirsty?'-
: Yes am dying with thirst give me
water"
They did So I drank grect,ily, and
felt somewhat relieved.
4. "Now. nurse, heard the doctor say,
"make him some weak tea, and when he
wants anything to eat let him have it. I
will look in again later on"
Doctor Deane was shown out, and old
Priscilla returned to my bedside patted
and punched the pillows to make me more
awake and the experiences of the night
were coming back to me with distinct
ness and detail far above those of a re-
called dream.
What is the time ?" | asked.
''Nigh upon noon, Master Gilbert.
Priscilla spoke in a sorrowful injured
manner.
moon what has been the matter
with me?"
The old servant was weeping. l could
hear her. She made no answer, so ]
repeated my question.
''Oh, Master Gilbert" she sobbed,
chow could you do it? When came
into the room and saw the empty bed |
thought should have dropped"
When she saw the empty bed! l trem-
bled. The horrors of the night were real
How could you do it, Master Gill
bert ?" continued Priscilla ITO go out
without q word, and wander half over
London, all alone and not able to see
thing!"
"Sit down and tell me what You mean
what has happened.
She had not quite aired her grievance.
" If you wanted to get tipsy OF to take
any of them strlffs to send you to sleep
and make you insensible, you might have
done it at home, Master Gilbert. I
shouldn't have minded once in way"
"You're kind old fool, Priscilla.
Tell me all about last night"
It was not until she saw was getting
quite angry that her tongue would con-
sent to run pretty straight and when |
heard her account of what had occurred
my head was whirling. This is what sic
told me.
1t must have been about an hour after
my stealthy exit that she awoke. She
put her ear to the door to make certain
that was asleep and wanting nothing.
Hearing no sound of life in my room
she entered it, and found the bed unten-
anted and me gone. Probably she was
even more frightened than she owned to
being. She knew all about my despond-
ency and complainings of the last few
days, and | have no doubt but her first
fear was that had destroyed myself.
She started in search of me, and at once
recognizing the impossibility of finding
me without assistance, turned to that first
and last resource of an English woman
in such difficulty-the Police. Having
told her tale at the nearest station, and
by her entreaties, and by charging on
my infirmity made known the urgency
of the case, and secured sympathy, tele-
graphic messages were sent to other
police stations asking if anyone answer
ing to my description had been found.
Priscilla waited upon thorns until about
five o'clock in the morning, when a reply
came from the other end of the town.
1t stated that a young man who appeared
to be blind, and who was certainly drunk
and incapable, had just been brought in.
Priscilla flew to the rescue She found
me lying SenSelesS, anu uesIlneu, upon
my recovery, to be brought before the
magistrate. A doctor was soon procured,
who testified to my Innocence so far as
alcohol was concerned. The energetic
Priscilla, after placing me safely in cab.
gave the officers bit of her mind as to
the discomforts under which she had
found me laboring. She then departed
triumphantlv with her unconscious
charge, and laid him on the bed he had so
rashly Quilted.
am grieved to be compelled to gather
from her words that, in spite of the in
dignation she displayed towards the
policemen, her estimate of my condition
was the same as theirs, She was par
ticularly grateful to the doctor whom, I
| fea,. she looked llnnn rs q CLEVER and