The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1886-10-14
THE BASILISK
A STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER Nv.

"A SIO1t1 OE IO-DA4s
CHAPTER Nv.
ANEW DEPARTURE.
Twas quite surprised, and not little
touched, at the amount of good feeling
elected by the news of my departure
from St. Bartimeus's. 1t was not al
together pleasant to realize that one
had been neglocting so many possibili-
ties of friendship. and keeping seltishly
aloof from people who were full of
simple kindness. Not that friendly
manifestations are necessarily worth
much when bestowed to speed part
ing guest. 1t is easy enough to show
a little extra civility to one whom you
never expect to SEQ again. And in our
little community there was certain
importance attached to going away,
which made me for the time person.
age of some note, SO that, possibly, a
proportion of the interest manifested
by my worthy "co-mates and brothers
in exile" in my pending departure was
duo to desire to be associated as
closely as possible with the involuntary
hero of the hour. I remember how, at
school, the dignity of an unexpected
journey made any of US feel considers
bly, taller; and how boys with whom
we were, under ordinary circumstan-
ces, on terms of decidedly unsettled
kind, would gladly lend a hand
in the preparations for departure. to
help to carry bag or rug, if need were
to the station. Some such spirit as
this was abroad in the Home, and
brought my school-days wildly back
to my mind. The care that had been
taken of me, and the little I could do
for myself in the matter of my journey
took me back, indeed, to an earlier
period OF my school-life than I could
distinctly remember. Other feelings
also were working in my breast which
were amusingly, if somewhat pitifully
childish. was, during the last days
of my sojourn under DR.. Shaw's care,
in state of suppressed excitement
and impotence, such as I used to feel
as boy. when within measurable dis
lance of the holidays. was almost
fiercely eager to mix in some sort with
the world again. I did not consider
how small that world must necessarily
be. I only realized that was no
longer to be shut away into corner.
classed with other sufferers, whose fell
low in af1liction l could not bear to
think myself. And above all there
was the strange and growing charm Of
Miss Beaufoy, with her power, of which
Shaw had so evil an opinion, and the
sympathetic chord struck by the gentle
voice and kindly words of her quiet
cousin. To Mr.. Beaufoy I did not give
much thought. The human interest
was centred for me in the two women
And SO, living in state of concen
trated expectation, the hours went
slowly by for me, till the time of my
emancipation should arrive.
At last the eventfnl Saturday came
!awoke, feeling as if I were about t.
| begin new life, leaving the helpless
ness and suffering of years behind me
Shaw, not for the first time, ratheI
rallied me on the Joy with which wa
preparing to leave the Home, where, il
truth, had met nothing but kindness
did not attempt to dissemble my JOY
but assured him, in the most forcibl
words could find, of my sense of al
| his goodness to ME, and of all his ad
vantages of St. Bartimeus's. Thought
still like schoolboy, of the pleasure
and even the triumph, of coming t
visit him and my former associate
among the patients. with something Q
the glory of an old boy revisiting hi
old comrades who are still in stat
Pupilla,'i.
"My dear DOCTOR" said warmly, /"
can never forget all you have done TO
me-"
Il haven't done much,' said Shaw
who loved to be correct on professions
points. YOU'RE neither better nc
worse than when you came, exceF
that you have picked up marvelousl
in spirits, and therefore in gener:
health, during the last few weeks"
IL don't mean what you've done fC
me professionally, answered
THAT, no doubt, is all man could hav
done. But you've kept me alive
That's the long and short OF it,"
'I've kept you alive for Miss Beaufo
to take you off, and try some Of he
wiles on YOU"
what wiles can Miss Beaufoy tr
on blind music master?'
Il don't know what she can do. 70
can't see her as can. There is notl
ing straightforward, nothing plainl
good about her, or any of her works.
''Iwill be on my guard. doctor,
said l, laughing. 1t was really ridic'
lous, the way in which the mention, {
even the idea of Miss Beaufoy affecte
tho cool and kind-hearted Shaw.
will come and report progress 500
and you shall Judge whether thing
are getting really desperate"
you'll never cOme," said SHAY
"Beaufoy seems to have the stronge
objection to letting anybody either il
to or out of his house now. Since b
wife's death they scarcely over
out themselves, and no one, 20 Tar as
know, ever goes there"
"Well, I will take care of mysc]
but 1 certainly will see you now ar
then. He cant surely make any o
iection.''
HE has had two or three patien
from here in various capacities whe
they could be generally useful to hi1
We never saw anything of them, al
when I have made inquiries, or invite
them here, he has always put mo O.
No; it will be good bye to US when y
once get to the Beaufoys.'
was rather pleased at this. T.
idea of being over-ridden in any la,
full matter of choice by Mir. Beaufo
or by anyone else, now that my spiri
had revived with the interest and ho
of the new engagement. did not col
mend itself to me for an instant.
smiled ut Shaw's gloomy tone, al
held my hand out to him. saying
more than, 1--WE shall see." An e
preston which used from habit, b