The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-10-28
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER VI.
SUSPICIOUS.

SuCIiSnCu SAO POSSiuhIIy ~ AAiS AOO3
toration with . trembling hope, which
shrunk from putting it to the test.
Whether the vision which had mani
tested itself were freak Of imagina-
ton or wonderful reality, dared not
for time attempt to decide.
| heard light step moving about
the room; was aware Of soothing
presence. Who it was did not know.
Should find it to be really IN the
likeness Of the vision that had vague
" seen? This was the question which
1 dreaded, yet more and more burned
to solve.
In this suspense, moments seemed TO
expand to hours. With heart beat
ing violently from the agitation Of the
moment, | opened my eyes.
could not be dreaming now! There
was light! A soft subdued light, just
as had fancicd it, or seen it on first
awaking.
This time would test the vision to
the utmost. 1t would afford mo .
temporary il delusive JOY, or confirm
my widest hope. by proving me re-
stored to the land Of light.
Everything was indeed very dim,
but this rather treasured me, / had
beheld familiar scenes often enough
during the years of my blindness, de-
picted with all the delusive clearness
of q waking dream. Precise and dis
tinct in Gctail they had always been.
but there had never been any novelty,
never any reassuring vagueness. Now
as gazed into the hardly lighted room
was conscious for the first time Of
reassuring nOvelty-Of an indistinct-
ness which spoke strangely and swectly
of reality. saw nothing very strik-
ings When l had fully realized the
sense OF light. became accustomed to
puzzling perspectives. and objects be-
gan to draw themselves into recogniz-
able shapes. The foot rail Ct a BRASS
bedstead is not promising text for
poetic raptures. But as this prosaic
object grew into consistency from con-
fusion. it struck note Of wild exulta-
ton in my heart, with which the JOY
of the Greeks on sighting the sea could,
should imagine. bear little compare
son. turned my head upon the pill
low. towards the light. Instinctively
l shrunk from too full q view. even of
that shaded illumination. This was
precaution which had never occurred
to me in any dreams of restored sight.
With care and caution l looked. The
shaded light of lamp fell upon
small table, and upon the form Of q
woman standing near it.
made slight movement in extend
ing my field Of observation, and, sure
enough, the figure moved, as if in re-
sponso.
'.Are you awaken" asked soft voice,
the voice which had already learned
to know as that of Mary Fortescue.
''Is that Miss Fortescue?" l asked.
"Yes. Can l do anything for your"
.sWhat time is itp" was my next ques-
ton.
.'Nearly half-past nine"
"How long have been here?"
had no notion Of the lapse Of time.
Il might have been days since l set out
on my eventful journey; it proved to be
only hours.
You came this afternoon" she
said. .'How do you feel?'
confused
ut was terrible" she said, '.that
flash of lightning"
ut stunned me-"
.'Yes; we thought you were killed. !"
felt mOmentary impulse to con-
fess all that | believed | owed to that
shock; but fear Of finding myself de-
ceived after all, and natural secret
iveness, intensified by years of lonely
self-communing, restrained me.
Would you like anything9" she
asked.
Not now. thank you. Is this my
room? How did come here?"
Hardy and the gardener brought
! you here: but you were quite uncon-
scious. Hardy will wait on you for
the present." she added. He is rath-
er rough, but think he will be careful.
You mustn't talk much," she said,
rather in the tone Of nurse to child.
Il will send you some supper, and we
| can talk tomorrow ii you are better =
| felt very loath to be left alone, and
reluctant to be consigned TO the care
Of Hardy. l believed directly that he
would prove to be the man who had
conducted me from the lodge gates up
to the house. And SO it proved. For
while lay. musing. still in sort Of
trance, on my position, and the WOn-
derful possibilities that seemed to be
opening to me, heard heavy step,
and man entered the room. l tested
my powers Of vision again. and again
Twas not disappointed. Very indis-
tinctly, but still unmistakably. per-
to carry something.
us that HardyP' asked.
..Yes, sir" said the gruff voice
which had greeted my first arrival at
the lodge. "I've brought you some
supper" he continued. How will
you have itp''
sat up, and Hardy. with more skill
and kindness than was prepared to
give him credit for, helped me to dis
pose comfortably Of some light refresh
ments.
There was certain hardness in the
way he looked after me. which was
strangely at variance with the gruff-
ness of his voice and demeanor, as
exemplified out of doors at my arrival;
and though felt sort of repugnance
to him Of the instructive sort, l was
conscious that l might have fallen in
to the hands of very much less SER
viceable valet
| He was not given to conversation,
which quite suited me, and having
made all snug for the night, and di-
rected me as to the bearings of an
electric-bell If wished to summon him
at any time, he turned the light out
and departed. In spite of the strange
| nosa ~ nv ,,os;t;on and thu alafiOn nj