The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1886-10-07
THE BASILISK.
a STORY OF TO-DAY.
CHAPTER III.

How well l can imagine the scene,
which / can not see, st. Bartimcus's en-
fete always appealed grimly to what
what was left of the humorous side of
my nature. The brightness of light
and Of color which was so lost on the
persons chiefly concerned; the floral
and other decorations, which the sensi-
tive fingers Of patients helped to con-
trive, and which were greeted with SO
much admiration by the fleeing visit
ors, who crossed our dark orbit for a
night, and came no more; the stir of
preparation which heralded the visits
Of the children Of light to the children
| of darkness; the cares and the vanities
which bridged that dreadful gulf more
firmly than the meckery of a sympa-
thy, which tried in vain to forget its
own sccurity-all these things usually
moved me only to an unwholcsome
mirth. l kept apart in spirit even from
my blind fellows, reserying a nook Of
special darkness for myself. They
were not like me, luckily for them,
They had brought their past lives with
them into their strange land, and kept
touch unimaginatively with those who
loved them had found my new life
SO awful tina. / had lost the saving
sense of the reality of the wholesome
homeliness that surrounded us all. To-
day, while we were busted, under COM
petent direction, in fitting up our large
hall for the entertainment of the evening
had lost much of the armor of herce
dependency in which TRUSTED. felt
very little like that blind mixture Of
blind Milton and the Devil whom he
portrays. on which | had somewhat
tried to mold my character. 1t was
not without shame that felt an actual
sensation of exhilaration as l did my
fair share in carrying heavy piano
from one room to another. Nor was
ii in the old nninterested spirit that l
ran my fingers over the keys. when we
lad deposited the instrument in its new
place, and made the large e'npiy room
ring and rc-echo with STR ins II almo
aggressive jubilance. | knew very well
that, beside those whom | should re-
spect as musicians, my powers were
as nothing. The applause | had re-
ceived in old days had gratitied. but it
had never deceived me. l hads loved
music too truly to dishonor it by think
ing that my attachments were worth a
thought. and now rolled off my thanks
to it for rcwarding my devotion by
bringing me back into the warm cir
Gle Of human sympathies. Ishould no
longer be ou'cast. should no longer
be useless. The inperious and mystic
rious Giulia Beanfoy had owned the
spell of ny music: the geHtle-yoiced
cousin was to profit BY my powers Of
instruction. Life seemed positively
about to relax into Smile
once more. aud the grimiy humorous
view of ST. Bartimeu, eng ete had given
place to the eagerly expectant.
$50 you're determined 10 despise the
warnings IF frielldship?" said DIR.
Shaw. as we stood by the fire in the
hall expecting momentarily the arrival
of the earliest guests.
LII WIN NAN uO1lOl!
In leaving US, and going to the Beau
foys.''
IL don't see how can stay here"
said l; You don't think am likely to
recover
II cant tell" said Shaw, rather
| testify. He hated to be pressed on
point where he did not feel justified in
| giving decided opinion. You re 50
impatient One of the main objects of
this place is to give people a chance of
recovering in peace. Yours is curious
case. II is chiefly nervous. A morbid
nervous state, and shock, slight to
anybody else, serious TO you, were the
| real causes of your loss Of sight. 1t
might return under favorable condi-
tons. You won't give yourself .
chance
put very little faith in Shaw's med
ical views of my case, clever and sue
cessful as he undoubtedly was. had
too good reason to believe that he real
IN regarded mine as hopeless. As
really strong feeling of friendship had
grown up between US, put these oc-
casionally hopeful views down to his
desire to encourage me. and. at present
particularly, to his wish TO keep me at
the Home. and more especially to pre-
serve me from the imaginary and to
me rather inviting, dangers of the Bas-
ilisk. Miss Beaufoy.
"Well, DOCTOR" | said, ''if that 8
your view. | am much more likely to
meet with some homeopathic cure out
in the world than in this security. And
! can't go on living on charity like this
forever
.Bosh!' said Shaw. "A wilful
man will have his way These enter
tainments won't go on half SO well
without YOU"
Il can come over to them,'' / said
"Besides. the matter ism settled yet
have not seen Mr.. Beaufoy, and he will
have something to say to it all =
''He will only have to say ditto to
his daughter, depend upon it, he re-
piled grimly. Though l should say
she is about the only person he would
take his orders from
What is he like?' asked for the
first time, for had rather ay = ed the
| subject when it had become so interest.
ing to me, and so distasteful to the
| good doctor.
| Like? Oh. he's quiet, and as hard
as nails. Something between groom
and dean, aud talks like an ideal
1 schoolmaster.
'Is he old?'
Hes grey, in hard robust way,
with an eye as blue as ice, and as keen
as lightning"
/ hope ne won't sit by while give
/ NV lessons" was all | could saw,
A loud peal at the front-door bell
brought our conversation to close. l
made my way to u sofa near the piano
which was convenient for me in the
discharge of my duties, and there
awaited the beginning Of the proceed
ings. and whatever events fate might
have in store for me. Shaw assumed
his post to welcome the early arrivals.
Gradually the room begins to ill.
The first corners are apparently SUBJ
dued in some measure by the size and
emptiness Of the room. for they talk in
q subdued tone, and suddenly drop