The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-10-21

L WIKI w 0POAOkA0O 0U0 0NResA y
did nothing. Ny mind ran on the ides
with some sort OF satisfaction, but
could not think how anything OF the
kind was to be expressed in action.
Again Mr.. Beaufoy's voice came e
my ears-angry, evidently. 1t seemed
that he could not get the attendance
that he wanted. He was Tuning, and
the calm tones Of his daughter evident.
~ did not assuage his annoyance.
"The man must have lost his senses
az we'll. He and Gibbs both out to.
gether! ! must have him. (evidently
speaking Of me) ''out Of this before nc
wakes"
..What does it matter" said Miss
Beaufoy, IF he does wake be cant
| see"
Even this had sarcastic ring in 1t.
. though not being able to see wero I
| defect worthy Of scorn instead Of pity.
What Of that p said her father
quickly. THAT other fellow couldn't
zee. but he found out . lot-a lot more
than was good for him, he added with
short Singer.
..That'll do. father said tho lady, in
3 tone that served to show that she was
morally the master of the twain. I'll
you had been less fidgety he would not
have been put on the track OF any sus-
picions."
..Hush r. said Mr.. Beaufoy in q
fierce whisper. d that Hardy r.
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 all
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 had heard seemed at first to be
external altogether to myself, but as
regained more and more Of the usual
mental balance, I remembered every
thing only too distinctly; and my mind
busily employed its recovered strength
in reading the riddles presented to it.
/ did not yet fully grasp the situation,
but / realized enough to know that ]
ought to assert my consciousness.
THAT fool. Hardy said Beauf0y
I'VE can move our friend now he's
come back.
A further conversation ensued,
which I did not catch, then heard
Miss Beaufoy say:
Besides, Mary can look after him
then. It will be blessing to keep her
employed in that, until she can take to
her music.
..She's nuisance!' said Beaufoy.
II don't know what to do with her. -
"You must keep her." Miss Beaufoy
replied, with the same scorn which l
had before noticed. s.She goes with
!! the property"
"D-r' said her father.
1t was long time since 1had heard
profane language. The blind found q
singularly patient race, and / was the
more struck with hearing strong ex-
pressiOns from the mouth OF one who
had been painted as precise and for
NAL benefactor.
The power of motion seemed sudden
| " to have returned to me. essaYed
to move. The voices ceased. Steps up
preached me.
Hush! he's awakening"
tried to sit up; but the effort was
too much.
How do you feel?" asked Miss
Beaufoy, in a more gentle voice than l
had expected to hear from the whis-
pered colloquv which had occupied my
| haf-dOrn, ant infNllipence
''Thank you, / am all right" l
| answered. II shall be able to move
presently"
A quick and eager whispering now
took place, the purport Of which quite
failed to gather. l then heard the
gentle chink of glasses, and presently
Miss Beaufoy brought me draught.
Drink this" she said In tone Of
command.
l had no strength to resist even II
had wished to. but was thirsty. and
swallowed what she gave me. Then
oblivion fell upon me once more.
Iawoke again to . strange vision
the strangest had had in all my years
of darkness. Time seemed to have rolled
back to the period before my calamity.
opened my eyes-in the old sense oi
the words | opened my eyes. A dim
soft light met my senses. / lay ana
wondered, and delighted in the vision
seemed to be il small room, will
some amount Of luxury in its fittings,a n
well as Icould Judge in the soft light
Strange and beautiful was this vision
Of lost sense. ! enjoyed it too ex
quisitely to move, or even to thinl
much. And all was very still.
Then heard q sound-the sound oi
an opening door. turned my eyes tina
way, and sure enough the door wa
opened. The vision had some consist
ency. Then there approached figure
"A woman's figure. Dimly ant
vaguely she seemed to me
She came towards me. Th'
soft light played most realistically OF
her dress. She stopped towards me
and. the light fell most realistically OF
shining hair. Two soft kind eye
looked into mine for moment, an,
lest should too soon wake up to m,
darkness again, dropped my eyelids
and trembled with hope that was al
most terror.
TO BE CONTINUED.
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