Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1886-02-15

the proceeds, which he drew from
the Plumbstown bank and paid the
Deacon.
81 want all these squared up,
said Wilkins, wiping the sweat from
what was visible of his face, "for /
feel as though l couldn't stand an
operation. / feel just as if / was
going to die
Mrs. Wilkins went to the city with
him. Peter couldn't bear her out of
his remaining sight now, often gaz-
ing with lingering tenderness upon
her worn face. Once, when she start
ed with her hoe for the field, he cried
sharply.
"No more O. that business, Sary-
ann, mind, if anything happens to
me, forbid it forever. 1t amt your
work, little woman,-I'd ought to
seen that long age! | wish, ,''-brok-
emily, Il could have-another chance!
I'd make your life different. Say you
forgive me, Saryann."
"There amt nothing as [ know
on !" said Sarah Ann, wllfully blind
ed to the cruel past. 'sIf you-don't
get-over this, Pete, Til die too -
Awed by coming events, they jour-
neyed towards the city, Peters hand
clasping Sarah AIMS beneath her
shawl. AS Mr.. Wilkins wore thick,
green veil over his hat to protect his
eyes, and Mrs. Wilkins attire was
peculiar-to say the least, the pair at
tracted much attention. Somebody
called them ''fgured for comedy"
little dreaming that for them, life
was just then tragedy.
On arriving at the city Mr.. Wilk-
ins engaged board for week, or un-
til he could get over the operation,
with Deacon Somerby's sister. He
also purchased a large, tin visor,
painted green, and discarded the veil.
Mr.. Wilkins now summoned the
remnants of his great will for the or
deal. He knew nothing of ether OF
chloroform but supposed he must
screw his courage up and let the sur
geon extract the eye as if it had been
a tooth. He imagined a sort of egg
shaped forcep that would be opened
and thrust under each lid, until it
covered the eye; then, closing with
a click, gouge out the offending men,
Der. Mr.. Wilkins found himself un-
nerved if he saw the way his eye was
going, so he resolutely closed his
mental vision and went into the In
firmary.
"Well, DOCTOR said he, "I've
come to have my eye out, think it'll
hurt much?'
He wass.lked taadf somewhat We weakly y'tta TO
dark corner; took chair, threw
his leg over an arm, braced up, tore
off the visor and bandage, dropped
his chin, and closing the bad eye,
said with nervous volubility, ''Take
it out just as quick as you can, Doc
tor; our Doctor says if it amt at
tended to right off 'tother'll have TO
90, too / don't know what we'll do,
at home, if l get over the operation,
there's my carpet business, and the
farm, and Old Moleskin's getting
''If you'll come to the light, I'll
examine your eye said the sur
geon.
He looked at it closely through a
glass, while Mr.. Wilkins held his
breath.
"How long has this troubled you?
"About three weeks. Eve been
completely pulled down by it, too. "
Another minute examination, then
the surgeon said, ''Want it out, dc
you?"
"Well, yes, Eve got my mind
made up to it," replied Mr.. Wilkins
Then delaying fate, "Think you bet
ter take it out here, or over to my
boarding place? I've engaged to stay
a week. You see I'll have every
care,-they're relatives of neighbol
of NINE
While he talked, the surgeon gent
ly lifted lid. Wilkins eye wildly
rolled in its socket. A soft napkin
was pressed to it, the surgeon drop
ped the lid, and quietly repeated
$50 you want your eye out?" ant
Wilkins again declared he did, hi
mind was all made up to it.
"Why don't yon have them botl
out?"
Wilkins started from his chair.
"You speak as coolly as if yo'
were asking why l didn't cut m.
hair! / suppose you get so used tt
taking out eyes you don't make any
thing of it. I'm willing to lose on
to save t'other," said Wilkins pite
ously, ''but don't want to be teeto
tally blind and led about like duml
beast. And then there's my carpe
business and the farm l.
81 thought you might as we'll hav'
them both out while you are abou
it," said the surgeon. He added
with a smile that Wilkins soon faith
omed, "I'll take your eye out, if yo'
wish, but there is really no need o
it. 1t is only infamed little, BATH
it with that giving him bottle
s'keep it from the light for fe'
days, and it will be all right. :"
The eve surgeon walked away