The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-09-23


In vain; they had disappeared. After
this life was quite changed for me.
Nv mind was filled with thoughts Of
this once seen stranger; my eyes saw
nothing but the face with the wonder
full impressive eyes. It is difficult for
those who have never experienced one
of these wild passions, which are con-
temptuously Jumped in common cate
CORY, rs calf-loyes,to realize the intens-
ity and power with which they rage
among the most commonplace sur
roundings. In most places they pro-
duce an exalted state Of mind, which
does not betray itself except to the
most intimate OF bosom friends. The
victim goes his way in fairyland or
hell Of his own making. Occasionally
only, in very highly wrought natures,
. tragedy OF some sort happcns-brain
fever and sometimes suicide. l went
home with this new fascination upon
me. NY powers of studying were i'm
paired. l struggled to stick to work.
/ grew restless and wakeful, and in
my hours of relaxation took solitary
walks, worrying myself by fancying l
saw the face in my dreams in every car
rage that passed. My walks
always took me eventually to Bond
street, and past the shop where | had
seen my vision. The more let this
craze grow upon me, the more vretched
and anxious l became. haunted
Bond street, fearing that just when l
gave up my vigil she might come once
more to the music shop. l grew pale,
thin. utterly miserable. At length /
was roundly taken to task by friend
or two. They attributed the change in
my appearance simply to overwork.
In truth, work had something to do
with it; for though profited but little
by my application. ] worried myself
still more. take holiday" was the
advice of nv friends; and at last !
agreed. l planned to run down into
the country to my mother; but at the
last moment my courage failed me.
l could not tear myself away from
London. from the possibilities-the
wearing possibilities of meeting the
unknown beauty again. l wrote to
excuse myself tor a day or two. and
then on the morning had designed to
begin my holiday, | set out for long
walk
walked for miles building castles,
nourishing absurd hopes. l walked or
far behind my strength, and when
about two miles from station, where
/ meant TO take train tor London,
was caught in heavy rain. Tired and
wet through. l journcyed back.
could not face the thought Of solitary
evening in my lodgings. l walked UP
towards Piccadilly. Passing st. James /
Hal, found q big concert announced
for that evening. / went in. The
light struck with painful force upon
my eyes, as l took look round the
vast and crowded hall. But as re-
solved to withdraw them from the
painful glare and give myself UP
wholly to the music, caught sight Of
face in remote stall that made me
giddy with sudden emotion. 1t was
she. There was no thought of the
music now. ! stared, all eyes, in the
direction of the mysterious beauty.
shiveled with excitement or chilli
knew not which. Every now and then
the intensity of my gaze was hindercd
by intense shoots Of pain and rings Of
various colors floating before my eyes,
| was unable to remain pent up in the
room. | trembled at the thought
that ! might miss her al
the door. l do not know
exactly what nv intention was. re.
member only that l was madly anxious
to see err close once more. / made
my way out, and waited about the ext,
by which | knew she must come. II
was cold ana wet. l was fasting,
weary, and wet through. Yet waited
with only the thought that she would
sooner or later appear. At last people
began to come out. First in driblets,
then in a full stream, then in crowd.
My patience was rewarded. She ap-
peared. In watching her / forgot my
skill in maintaining my place. | was
born on in the crowd, and managed tC
stop myself just by the first step,
There chung and waited still. She
camo nearer. AS she came quito close
to me, lost my foothold again, and
was carried some steps into thu
street. She appeared on the step. A,
that moment a sort of rush behinC
drove those, who were waiting, against
the stream of people coming out Of thu
doorway. ! slipped and tumbled, ant
found myself falling against the wo
man who had for weeks been vainly
in my thoughts by night and day.
could not quite save myself. She put VI
her arm instinctively to protect her
self. l fell against her. A massive
bracelet. which she wore, was prob
ably driven into her arm. Keeling
dizzied, enraged, ashamed, collected
my senses for some sort of apology
but she turned upon me those splendit
black eyes that had haunted my NOR
bid fancy for weeks, and looked upol
me with such an expression of ange
whitening disdain, that felt as if l ha'
received a physical blow. reeled; darl
circles seemed to grow and grow be
fore me--thc centre of which were thos
cruel dark eyes. l stretched out IN
hands, staggered, and lost conscious
ness. 1t was the usual story. Wea
health, fatigue, exposure, excitemen
brought on dangerous illness; anG
when | recovered my health, my sigh
was gone.
Since then my life had been terri
bic struggle with despair. The fir
peace l had known had been in th
calm and pleasant precincts Of st. Bal
timeus, whittier had come after fee
ing for three years an intolerable bul
den at home. The state of Seminal
ness that preceded my illness SCENE
now almost ludicrous to me. except Il
its connection with my terrible cal
amity. The only feeling that RENAME
in my mind about the unknown lad
was one OF almost superstitious repu
sion. / felt that she was in some wa
responsible for my blindness, that hi
malignant glance had le.n the rel
cause Of my loss Of sight.
| Over all these reflections my min
ran, while my good kind friend, D
Shaw, was submitting his new poem
my critical consideration.
Blythe byc," said Shaw. when v
had discussed his effort little, .'b
the-bye. the Bcaufoys have come bacl
You will probably hear Miss Beaufc
sing"
detected again the tone of dislil
~ q