River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1886-10-21
Beaufoy, ''if he does wake ? He can't

Beaufoy, IF he does wake de can't
see.''
Even this had sarcastic ring in it,
as though not being able to see were a
defect worthy of scorn instead of pity.
What of that p said her father
quickly. THAT other fellow couldn't
see, but he found out lot-a lot more
than was good for him, he added with
a short Singer.
''That'll do. father" said the lady, in
a tone that served to show that she was
morally the master Of the twain. elf
you had been less fidgety he would not
have been put on the track of any sus-
picions."
Hush - said Mr.. Beaufoy in
fierce whisper. d that Hardy !"
he added.
A low whistle sounded somewhere in
the room.
Perhaps that is Hardy" said Miss
Beaufoy.
A short conversation seemed now to
be taking place, by means of speak
ing-tube. / felt more and more uneasy
vaguely uneasy. The tenor of the
talk that had heard gave rise TO al
sorts of unpleasant ideas, not the least
of which, and one that gained strength
rapidly after its first inception. was
that / was in the position of spv-an
involuntary spy certainly. For much
that l had heard seemed at first 10 be
external altogether to myself. but as l
regained more and more of the usual
mental balance, | remembered every
FFafnsr ngaNr~ .NaufHrnflxr. a nd
busilv employed It's recovered strength
in reading the riddles presented TO it.
l did not yet fully grasp the situation
but realized enough to know that ]
ought to assert my consciousness.
That fool, Hardy said Beaufoy
1--WE can move our friend now he's
come back.
A further conversation ensued,
which l did not catch, L then heard
Miss Beaufoy say:
Besides. Mary can look after him
then. 1t will be a blessing to keep her
employed in that, until she can take to
her music.
shes a nuisancel' said Beaufoy.
Il don't know what TO do with her"
You must keep her" Miss BeaufOy
replied, with the same scOrn which |
had before noticed. "She goes with
the property
D. said her father.
1t was long time since had heard
profane language. The blind found
singularly patient race, and was the
more struck with hearing strong ex-
pressiOns from the mouth of one who
had been painted rs a precise and for
nal benefacior.
The power of mott n seemed sudden
" TO have returned to me. l essaYed
to move. The voices ceased. Steps APP
preached me.
"Hush! he's awakening"
tried to sit up; but the effort was
too much.
How DO you feel?" asked Miss
BeaufOy, il more gentle voice than l
had expected 70 hear from the whis-
pered colloquy which had occupied my
half-dornant intelligence.
Thank you, | am all right" |
answered. Il shall be able to move
presently"
A quick and eager whispering now
took place. the purpOrt of which | quite
failed TO gather. | then heard the
gentle chink of glasses, and presently
Miss BeaufOy brought me a draught.
Drink this she said ia tone of
command.
had no strength to resist even il
had wished to. but was thirsty, and
swallowed what she gave me. Then
oblivion fell upon me once more.
awoke again to a strange vision,
the strangest | had had in all my years
of darkness. Time seemed to have rolled
back to the period before my calamity.
l opened my eyes-in the old sense of
the words opened my eyes. A dim,
soft light met my senses. | lay and
wondered, and delighted in the vision.
| seemed to be in small room, with
some amount of luxury in its fittings,as
well as could Judge in the soft light.
Strange and beautiful was this vision
of a lost sense. l enjoyed it too eX-
quISitelv TO move, or even to think
much. And all was very still.
Then | heard q sOund-the sound of
an opening door. | turned my ewes that
way, and sure enough the door was
opened. The vision had some consist
eucy. Then there approached figure
"a wOman's figure. Dlmly and
vaguely she seemed to me.
She came towards me. The
soft light played most realistically on
her dress. She stopped towards me,
and. the light fell most realistically on
shining hair. Two soft kind eyes
looked into mine for moment, and
lest should too soon wake up to my
darkness again, dropped my eyelids,
and trembled with hope that was al
most a terror.
fTO BE CONTINUED.