The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-09-30
THE BASILISK.
A STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER II.
AN INTRODUCTION.

CHAPTER III.
AN INTRODUCTION.
Il will introduce you to the Bas-
ilisk.'
This promise of DIR. Shaw's, insight
icant as it sounded. produced great
effect upon me; an effect Of which.
while l owned its beneficial influence,
l was in truth little bit ashamed.
During all the time of my darkness |
had kept up passive rebellion against
the calamity that had befallcn mo. I
had abstained from open complainings,
but this was more from pride than
from submission; and while felt most
deeply the blight that had fallen on my
interests, | never thought of acquiring
new ones or of trying to find amuse-
ment or occupation in the little events
of the daily life around me. Blindness
was calamity which had no more
regarded as likely to happen to me
than death itself. And death, though
generally recognized as inevitable, is
about the very last thing young man
expects to meet with in his proper per-
son. Moreover, had always had q
kind of contempt for blindness, asso-
eating it very intimately with some
aggressive form OF dissent, as an
alternative with desperate villainy.
Charles Dickens was responsible for
the latter idea, the character Of Stage
having made deep impression upon
my boyish mind. The former notion
was derived from the wife of q village
shopkeeper, who, If not actually blind,
was in the habit of wearing portentous
blue spcctacles. This good woman
would check the high spirits Of q
schoolboy, home for the holidays, BY
launching at my needless head APP
posite texts of Scripture of commina-
tory character. ana crushing any At.
tempts at conversation which touched
upon the weather, by intimating plain
~ the impiety of commenting upon the
direct dealings of Providence.
When recovering from my illness at
home shrank from tho Kindness Of
friends and visitors. Their sympathy
enraged instead of soothing me. How,
indeed, could they sympathize? They
were out liz the light Of the sun; Twas
/ down-far down in the abyss. 1t was
/ nothing to me that | could hear their
voices from above, hnshed only when
they spoke to me, TO q tcnderer tone.
| l was cut off from them: and they only
aggravated my misery by kindness
| which brought no comfort, helpful
ness which frightened not the edge OF
my despair. shrank from all efforts
to draw me out of myself, and would
doubtless have mopcd myself to mad
ness il concern at being burden to
my mother had not drawn me to &C.
cept the shelter of st. Bartimeus' e
Home. Here had gradually been LED
to mix IN the musical pursuits which
were 90 much in favor there: not tina,
/ took any interest III them, but thai
being among fellow sufferers had les.
longing to shrink from the insolen
happiness that could only play at being
touched by my misfortune.
The growth. then, of an ordinar,
interest in my mind was new ant
wholesome sign-yet l was ashamed o
its cause. The mere prospect of bein,
introduced to L stranger, whom coult
not even see, somehow made me fee
that still belonged to the general fel
lowship Of mankind. in way that n,
care or kindness had hitherto enabled
me to realize.
l was very curious to make Mis-
Beaufoy's acquaintance, and DR.
Shaw's dislike OF her did nothing t
diminish my curiosity. The similar
ity of idea conveyed by the doctor
name for her, with that which was s
impressed on my mind by the visio
that remained with me al! these years
led me to attach, believe, sort Q
superstitious Importance to the meet
ing. ! said very little of this kind I
DIR. Shaw; but he knew very we'll tbs
the prospect had made . difference II
me already. For one thing, be
thought ne OF my personal appear
ance. l remembered, among Othe
impressions of the past, one that blin'
people generally wore long coats an
long hair. 1t was not easy to pictur
myscli in such gnise; but ! realize'
that my hair was decidedly bunchy
and soon made an expedition undo
the charge of a faithful attendant. fror
which | returned shorn according {
the ordinary custom of mankind.
. IN the &, Do went round to ID
Shaw's room for q talk.
.Hallo!' he cried on seeing mi
why, what have you been doing
yourself?"
1--WE only had my hair cut properly,
I said; ''unless-I say, | hope he h'
cut il properly"
"Oh yes; it's all right. But why tn
,, sudden change Of stylo?'
well, don't sec why one shouldn
look rs much like other people as pc
, sible,' said. IL don't want to figul
! at the piano on Wednesday like ma
!. who has cut his string, and escape
3 from his dog
"Oa-ahr' said Shaw. "Wedncsds
evening! to be sure. I wish some
l the others would take the same view
, At the same tir..- EoplestOue. /. seen
to me that you're unusually intereste
about Wednesday"
'.lt's the first time I have taken il
terest in anything for four years."
answered. Il don't know why"
Il think do said Shaw. "Som
thing has excited your fancy-som
thing said about one of the que ITS.
That's exactly what it is. Ev'
since you told me about Miss Beauf6
: the Basilisk-I have been lookin
J forward to seeing her." The q
: pressions Of my previous life chung
). me. Indeed, we all habitually spoil
I of seeing" people who visited US.
avail MN dn~r follnxv ~ cold Che