River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-10-07
--a- .
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER III.
A DECIDED STEP


How well can imagine the scene,
which l can not seel st. Bartimeus's en-
fete always appealed grimly to what
what was left of the humorous side of
my nature. The brightness of light
and of color which was so lost on the
persons chiefly concerned; the floral
and other decorations. which the sensi-
tive fingers of patients helped to con-
trive, and which were greeted with so
much admiration by the fleeing visit
ors, who crossed our dark orbit for a
night. and came no more; the stir of
preparation which heralded the visits
of the children of light to the children
of darkness; the cares and the vauities
which bridged that dreadful gulf more
firmly than the mOCkery of a sympa-
thy, which tried in vain to forget its
own security-all these things usually
moved me only TO an unwhOlesome
mirth. kept apart IN spirit even from
my blind fellows, reSerying a nook of
special darkness for myself. They
were not like me. luckily for them,
They had brought their past lives with
them into their strange land. and kept
touch unimaginstively with those who
loved them. l had found my new life
so awful that ] had lost the saving
sense Of the reality of tho wholesome
hOmeliness that surrounded US all. To-
dav, while we were busted, under COM
petent direction, in fitting up our large
hall for the entertainment of the evening
had lost much of the armor of herce
dependency in which TRUSTED. felt
very little Ike that blind mixture of
blind Milton and the Devil whom he
pOrtrays, on which | had somewhat
tried to mold my character. 1t was
not without shame that felt an actual
sensation Of eXhilaratiun as | did my
fair share in carry ing heavy piano
from one room to another. Nor was
it in the old unintere Sted spirit that
ran nv fingers over the KEYS. when we
lad deposited the instrument in its new
place, and made the large c"lpfy room
ring and re-echO with str ms IF almo {
aggressive iubllance. | knew very well
that, beside those whom | should re-
spect IS musicians, my powers were
= nothing. The applause | had re-
ceived in old days he'd gratitied, but it
had never deceived me. / had loved
music too truly to dishOnor it by think
Ing that nv attachments We're worth a
thought, and now rolled off my thanks
to it Tor rewardirg my devotion by
bringing me back into the warm cir
Gle Of human syInpatlies. should no
longer be Outcast- i ShO1ld no longer
be useless. The iuperious and mystic
riouS Giulia Bcaufoy had owned the
spell Of my music; the gen,lc-yoiced
cousin was to profit bY my powers of
instruction. Lie seemed positively
about to relax into Il smile
once more. and the crimly humorous
view of 81. BIrtimeUs HJetc had given
place TO the eagerly cxpectant.
80 you're determined 10 despise the
warnings of fricndship?' said DIR.
Shaw. Is we stood by the fire in the
hall expecting momeutarily the arrival
Of the earliest guests.
In what way, doctor?'
In leavingu US, and going to the Beau
toys" =.
Il don't see how can stay here"
said 1; you don't think l am likely to
recover.
Il can't tell" said Shaw, rather
testify. He hated To be pressed on a
point where BE did not feel justified in
giving 4 decided opinion. You re 80
impatient. One of the main objects Of
this place IS 10 give paopls'a chance Of
recovering in peace. Yours Is a curious
case. I. is chiefly nervous. 4 morbid
nervous state, and a shock. slight TO
anybody else, serious to You, were the
real causes of your loss Of sight. IL
might return under favorable cOndi-
tons You won't give yourself a
chance
nut very Little faith in Shaw's med
ical views of my case, clever and sue
ces sful as he undoubtedly was. : had
too good reason to believe that he real
Is regarded mine rs hopeless. As a
really strong feeling of friendship had
grown up between us, l put these Oc-
casionally hopeful views down to his
desire to encourage me. and, At present
particularly, to his wish to keep me al
the Home. and more especially To pre-
serve me from the imaginary and to
me rather inviting, dangers of the Bias
ilisk. Mss Beaufoy.
well, Doctor / said. eff that s
your view. am much more likely to
meet syith some homeopathic cure out
ia the world than in this security. And
| can t go on living on charity like this
forever
..Boshl'' said Shsw. "a wilful
man will have his way These enter
taiuments won't 20 on half so well
without YOU"
Il can come over to them" ! said.
''Be>ideS. the matter ism tsettled yet.
have nos seen Mr.. Bcaufoy. and he will
have something to say to it all. .
as lightning"
Il nope he won't sit by while l give
my lessons, was all l could say.
A loud peal at the frOnt-door bell
brought our conversation to 8 close.
made my way 10 a sofa near the piano
which was convenient for mo in the
discharge of my duties. and there
awaited the beginning of the proceed
ingS, and whatever events fate might
have in store for me. Shaw assumed
his p0St to welcome the early arrivals.
Gradually the room begins TO fill
The first eomcrs are apparently sub
Gued in some measure by the size and
emptiness of the room. for they talk il
n subdued tone, and suddenly drop
.-IIe viii only have to say ditto to
his daughter, depend upon it. he re-
piled grmlv. Though | should say
she Is about the only person he would
take his orders from
VIVA; is he like?' : asked for the
first time, for l had rather av / ed the
subject when it had become so interest
ing TO me, aud so distasteful to the
good doctor.
Like? Oh. he's quiet, and as hard
as nails. Something between a groom
aud a dean, aud talks like an ideal
sch00lmaster."
rs lie Old?"
'.He's Cry, in a hard robust wsy,
with an eve a. blue IS ice, and IS keen
their voices to q whisper; a somewhat
OtiOSe piece of courtesy. for l know
very well that il means they are talk
ing of me. They are soon relieved
from their solitary prominence. as the
rustic Of dresses and sound of voices
become continuous. and ere long the
general hum Of conversation enfolds
my individuality. and the old feeling of
lOst-fellOwship begins to reeur. The
seats are Lot arranged regularly. as for
a concert but for some time the wish