River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-09-30
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER III.
AN INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER III.
ANINTRODUCTION.
81 will introduce you to the Bas-
ilisk.'
This promise of DIR. Shaw's, insight
icant as it sounded. produced a great
effect upon me; an effect of which,
while l owned its beneficial influence.
| was in truth little bit ashamed.
During all the time of my darkness 1
had kept up passive rebellion against
the calamity that had befallen me. 1
had abstained from open complainings,
but this was more from pride than
from submission; and while felt most
deeply the blight that had fallen on my
interests, never thought of acquiring
new ones or Of trying to find amuse-
ment or occupation in the little events
of the daily life around me. Blindness
was a calamity which 1 had no more
regarded as likely TO happen to me
than death itself. And death, though
generally recognized as inevitable. is
about the very last thing a young man
expects to meet with in his proper per-
son. Moreover, 1 had always had a
kind of contempt for blindness, asso-
ciating it very intimately with some
aggressive form of dissent, as an
alternative with desperate villainy.
Charles Dickens was responsible for
the latter idea, the character of Stagg
having made deep impression upon
my boyish mind. The former notion
was derived from the wife of a village
shOpkeeper, who. If not actually blind.
was in the habit of wearing pOrtentOus
blue spectacleS. This good woman
would check the high spirits of q
schOolboy, home for the holidays, by
launching at my needless head ap-
pOsite texts of Scripture of a commina-
tory character, and crushing any at
tempts at conversation which touched
upon the weather. by intimating plain
IL the impiety of commenting upon the
direct dealings of Providence.
When recovering from my illness at
home shrauk from the kindness Of
friends and visitors. Their sympathy
enraged instead of soothing me. How,
indeed, could they Sympathize? They
were out in the light OF the sun; was
dOwu-far down in the abyss. II was
nothing to me that / could hear their
voices from above. hushed only when
they spoke to me, To tenderer tone.
/ was cut of from them: and they only
which brought no comfort, IA helpful
ness which frightened not the eige of
my despair ! shrank from all efforts
10 draw me out of myself, and would
doubtless have mOpCd myself to mad
ness if concern AT being q burden to
my mother had not drawn me to ac-
cept the shelter of ST. Bartimeus's
Home Here / had gradually been led
to mix IN the musical pursuits which
were so much in favor there: not that
! took any interest in them, but that
I being among feilOw-suflerers | had less
/ longing to shrink from the insOlent
happiness that could only play at being
/ touched by my misfortune,
The growth. then, of an ordinary
/ interest in my mind was new and
I wholesome sign-yet | was ashamed of
| its cause. The mere prospect OF being
I introduced to a stranger, whom could
not even see, somehow made me feel
/ that l still belonged to the general fell
/ lOwship of mankind. in n way that no
care or kindness had hitherto enabled
me to realize.
/ was very curious to make Miss
\ Beaufoy'S acquaintance, and DIR.
! Shaw's dislike OF her did nothing to
/ diminish my curiosity. The similar
I ity of idea conveyed by the doctors
name for her, with that which was so
impressed on my mind by the vision
that remained with me all these years,
led me to attach, l believe. sort of
superstitiOus Importance TO the meet
ing. l said very little of this kind to
DIR. Shaw; but he knew very well that
the prospect had made difference IL
me already. For one thing. l be-
thought me of my personal appear
ance. l remembered, among other
impressions of the past, one that blind
people generally wore long coats and
long hair. 1t was not easy to picture
myseli in such guise; but L realized
that nv hair was decidedly bunchy.
and soon made an EXPEDITION under
the charge of faithful attendant, from
which | returned shOTn according to
the ordinary custom of mankind.
In the ey ng went round 10 DIR.
Shaw room for a talk.
..Hallop' he cried on seeing me.
why. what have you been doing to
yourself?"
I've only had my hair cut properly, "
| said; ..unless-I say, hope he has
cut it properly"
oh YES; It'll all right. But why this
sudden change of style?'
well, / don't see why one shouldn't
look a much like other people as pos
sible.' | said. Il don't want to figure
at the piano on Wednesday like a man
who has cut his string, and escaped
from ais dog"
.'Ch-ah," said Shaw. "wednesday
evening" to be sure. | wish some OF
the others would take the same view.
At the same tiTu.- Gopie-t0ne- i seems
TO me that you're unusually interested
about Wednesday"
..It's the first time l have taken in
terest in anything for four years,
answered. Il don't know why.
Il think | do. said Shaw. "SOme-
thing has excited your fancy-some.
thing l said about one of the cue It's
That's CZactly what it Is. EveI
since you told me about Miss Beautoy
the Basilisk-I have been looking
forward to seeing her." The ex'
pressions of my previous life chung to
me. Indeed. we all hsbitually spoke
of seeing" people who visited US.
well. my dear fellow" said Shaw
rather sOurly, If you re in that frame
of mind. think it's just as well that