The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-10-14
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TODAY.
CHAPTER Nv.
A NEW DEPARTURE.

touched, at the amount of good feeling
ELECTED by the news Of my departure
from St. Bartimeus's. 1t was not al
together pleasant to realize that one
had been neglecting so many possibili-
ties Of friendship, and keeping seliishly
aloof from people who were full OF
simple kindness. Not that friendly
manifestations are necessarily worth
much when bestowed to speed part
ing guest. 1t is easy enough to show
little extra civility to one whom you
never expect to see again. And in our
little community there was certain
Importance attached to going away,
which made me for the time person
age of some note, SO that, possibly,
proportion of the interest manifested
by my worthy ''co-mates and brothers
in exile in my pending departure was
duo to desire to be associated as
closely MS possible with the involuntary
hero Of the hour. l remember how, at
school, tho dignity of an unexpected
journey made any of us feel considera-
bly, taller; and how boys with whom
we were, under ordinary circumstan-
ces, on terms of decidedly unsettled
kind, would gladly lend a hand
in tho preparations for departure. to
help to carry bag or rug, il need were
to tho station. Some such spirit as
this was abroad in the Home, and
brought my school-days wildly back
to my mind. Tho care that had been
taken of me, and the little l could do
for myself in the matter of my journey
took me back, indeed, to an earlier
period Of my school-life than l could
distinctly remember. Other feelings
also were working in my breast which
were amusingly, If somewhat pitifully
childish. l was, during the last days
Of my soiourn under DIR. Shaw's care.
in a state of suppressed excitement
and impatience, such as | used to feel
as boy. when within measurable dis
lance Of the holidays. l was almost
fiercely eager to mix in some sort with
the world again. / did not consider
how small that world must necessarily
be. I only realized that l was no
longer to be shut away into corner.
classcd with other sufferers, whose fell
low in affiiction could not bear to
think myself. And above all there
was the strange and growing charm of
Miss Beaufoy. with her power, of which
Shaw had SO evil an opinion, and the
sympathetic chord struck by the gentle
voice and kindly words Of her quiet
cousin. To Mr.. Beaufoy did not give
much thought. The human interest
was centred for me in the two women.
And SO, living in state Of conccn-
trated expectation, the hours went
slowly by for me, till the time OF my
emancipation should arrive.
At last the eventfnl Saturday came.
awoke. feeling as if | were about to
begin a new life, leaving the helpless
ness and suffering of years behind me.
Shaw, not for tho first time, rather
rallied me on the Joy with which was
preparing to leave the Home, where, in
truth, had met nothing but kindness
l did not attempt to dissemble my joy
but l assured him. in the most forciblt
words could find, OF my sense OF al
his goodness to me, and OF all his adj
vantages of st. Bartimeus's. Thought
still like schoolboy, of the pleasure
and even the triumph, of coming Il
visit him and my former associate
among the patients. with something Q
the glory of an old boy revisiting hi
old comrades who arc still in stat,
Pupilldri.
..My dear DOCTOR" said warmly, :.
can never forget all you have done to
me-"
II haven't done much" said Shaw
who loved to be correct on professiona
points. you're neither better no
worse than when you came, excep
that you have picked up maryelousl..
in spirits, and therefore in genera
health, during the last few weeks"
Il don't mean what you've done TO
me professionally" | answered
THAT, no doubt, is all man could hav
done. But you've kept me alive
That's the long and short OF it.
1--WE kept you alive for Miss Beaufo..
to take you of, and try some OF he
wiles on you."
What wiles can Miss Beaufoy try
on blind music mastcr?"
Il don't know what she can do. Yo'
can't see her as can. There is moth
ing straightforward, nothing plainl
good about her, or any of her works.
Il will be on my guard. doctor,
said l. laughing. 1t was really ridicu
lous, the way in which the mention, O
even the idea of Miss Beaufoy affecte'
the cool and kind-hearted Shaw. ~
will come and report progress soon
and you shall Judge whether things
arc getting really desperate. !"
you'll never come" said Shaw,
BE aufoy seems to have tho strongest
objection to letting anybody either in
| to or out of his house now. Since hi!
wife's death they scarcely ever g
out themselves, and no one, 60 far Us
! know, ever goes there"
well, will take care of myself
but certainly will see you now ant
then. Ho can't surely make any OBJ
| iection.n
He has had two or three patients
from here in various capacities wher'
they could be generally useful to him
We never saw anything of them, ant
when have made inquiries. or invitet
them here, he has always put me off
| No; it will be good bye to us when yol
once get to the Beaufoys.''
| was rather pleased at this. Tit
idea of being over-ridden in any law
full matter of choice by Mr.. Beaufoy
or by anyone else, now that my spirits
had revived with the interest and hope
of the new engagement. did not com
mend itself to me for an instant.
smiled at Shaw's gloomy tone, ane
held my hand out to him. saying NJ
more than, 1--WE shall see." An OK
preston which used from habit, bu
which sent a prophetic pleasure to my
heart whenever inadvertently uttered
it.
1t had been arranged, in accordance
with q letter which Mr.. Beaufoy haC
written to Shaw, that should drive tt
my destination, which was situated in
a remote part of northwestern sub.
urb, round which the tide of railroads
and villa residences was steadily rising