Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1885-01-23
CALLED BACK.
a Wen-Told Story of Continuous
and Absorbing Interest.
EY HUGH CONWAY.
CHAPTER /.

CHAPTER |.
IN DARKNESS AND IN DANGER
| have a reason for writing this tale,
or it would not become public property.
Once, in moment of confidence. |
made friend acquainted with some
curious circumstances connected with
one period OF my life. l believe asked
him to hold his tongue about them-he
says not. Any way, he told another
friend, with embellishments | suspect:
this friend told another, and so on and
on. What the tale grew to ut last |
shall probably never learn; but since
was weak enough to trust my private
affairs TO another / have been looked
upon by my neiglibors as man with a
history-one who has romance hidden
away beneath an outwardly prosaic
life.
For myself should not trouble about
this. | should laugh at the garbled
versions of my story set floating about
by my own indiscretion. 1t would mat
ter little TO me that one good friend
has an idea that was once a Commu-
mist and member of the inner circle of
Il secret society--that another has heard
that | have been tried on capital
charge-that another knows | was at
one time 4 Roman Catholic, on whose
behalf special miracle was performed
If l were alone in the world and Young,
dare say / should take no steps to still
these idle rumors. Indeed, very young,
men feel fattered by being made objects
OF curiosity and speculation.
But l am not very young, nor am |
alone. There is one who is dearer to
me than life itself One from whose
heart, | am glad to say, every shadow
left by the past is rapidly fading one
who only wishes to live her true sweet
life without mystery or concealment -
wishes to be thought ne ther better nor
worse than she really is. 1t is she who
shrinks from the strange and absurd
reports that are flying about as to our
antecedents-she who is vexed by those
leading questions sometimes asked by
inqusitiye friends; and it is for her
sake that l look up old journals, call
back old memories of joy and grief, and
tell every one who cares to read all he
can possibly wish to know, and, it NAV
be, more than he has a right to know.
of our lives. This done, my lips are
sealed forever on the subject. Ny tale
is here let the inquisitive take his
answer from il. not from me.
Perhaps, after ALL | write this for
my own sake as we'll | also hate
mysteries. One mystery which l have
never been able to determine may have
given me dislike to everything which
will not admit of an easy explanation
To begin, | must 90 back more years
than | care to enumerate; although l
could, II necessary, fix the day and the
year. was young, just past twenty
five. was rich, having when | cane
of age succeeded to an income of about
two thousand year; an income
which, being drawn from the funds, |
was able to enjoy without responsible
ties or anxiety as to its stability and
endurance. Although since my TWEEN
ty-tirst birthday l had been nv own
master. had no extravagant follies to
weigh me down, no debts to hamper
me. l was without bodily ache or
pain; yet turned again and again on
my pillow and said that my life for the
future would be little more than a curse
to me.
Had death just robbed me of one
who was dear to me? No; the only
ones had ever loved, my father and
my mother, had died years ago. Were
my rawlings those peculiar to an I'M
happy lover? No; my eyes had not yet
looked with passion into woman's
eyes-and now would never do SO.
Neither death nor love made my lot
seem the most miserable in the world.
/ was young, rich, free as the wind
TO follow my own devices. | could
leave England tomorrow and visit the
most beautiful places on the earth:
those places | had longed and deter
mined to see. Now, | knew | should
never see them, and ] groaned in an
guish at the thought.
My limbs were strong. | could bear
fatigue and exposure, | could hold INV
own with the best walkers and the
swiftest runners. The chase, the sport,
the trial of endurance had never been
too long or too arduous for me- /
passed my left hand over my right arm
aud felt the muscles firm as of old.
Yet / was as helpless as Samson in his
captivity.
For, even as Samson, | was blindi
Blind! Who but the victim can even
family comprehend the significance of
that word? Who can read this and
gauge the depth of my anguish As |
turned and turned on my pillow and |
thought of the fifty years of darkness |
which might he mine-a thought which |
made me wish that when l fell asleep |
it might be to wake no more?
Blind After lowering around me |
for years the demon of darkness had at |
last laid his hand upon me. After let |
ting me, for awhile, almost cheat my
self into security. he had swept down
upon me, folded me in his sable wings
aad blighted my life. Fair forms,
sweet sights, bright colors, gay scenes
mine no more! He claimed them all, I
leaving me darkness, darkness, ever
darkness Far better to die, and, it
may be. wake in a new world of light
Better, cried in my despair, ''bet-
ter even the dull red glare of Hades
than the darkness OF the world.'
This last gloomy thought of mine
shows the state of mind to which was
The truth is that, in spite of hope
held out to me, had resolved to be
hopeless. For years had felt that my
foe was lying in wait for me. Often
when gazing on some beautiful OBJ .ect.
4
some fair scene, the right to enjoy
which made one fully appreciate the
gift of sight. whisper seemed to reach
my ear-..Some day win strike again,
then il viii be all Ger" I tried to
laugh at my fears, but could never
quite get rid of the prcsentiment of
Evil. Ny enemy had struck once-why /,
not again?
Well can remember his first appear
lnce-his first attack | remember .
ight-heai ted schooi-boy so eDgrossed in /
sport and study that he scarcely noticed I
row strangely dim the sight o. one eye !
vas getting or the curious change ]
which was taxing place in its appear
lnce | remember the boys father i
aking him 10 Lea .ou. TO large dull /
ookine ouse n quiet dull street j !
cmembeg our usi.Lsng in = room in