, 1888-12-04

'menting fancies would return and the old
experiences were lived through once more.
In this way almost ten years OF my life
passed away. In all that time had never
voluntarily swallowed a morsel of food.
At length my physical condition was
such that my sister determined to bring
me to South Germany, where there was a
celebrated insane expert. / remember
distinctly the first time he came into my
room. | was conscious of no physical
presence, l only saw q pair of enormous,
persuasive, compelling eyes, which were
following me about the room and enforc-
ing obedience. / was their captive, their
slave. A cup Of brea% and milk was
placed upon the table. The eyes babe me
eat of it. l tried to lift the cup but could
not. The eyes came toward me, 1 felt the
touch Of the spoon upon my lips, the
taste OF food in my mouth, and | swal-
lowed 1t. You n guess the joy /
felt No strait jacket confined me, the
dove moaned no longer, | was free at last.
So for days and weeks these watchful
eyes, which seemed to burn into my very
soul, came to conquer me, and l grew
strong and restfuL. 1 could think, 1 could
reason, l knew some mighty change was
taking place in me.
One day the eyes came as usual, and
stopped just opposite me, where a food of
AbAb NAo "LAA4o" 1911 lu11 uDOn
them. Suddenly there appeared round
about them a luminous mass, which, as l
gazed, formed itself slowly into first q
forehead, then a chin and cheeks. Oh,
heavensl it was a mans facet / was too
fascinated to move. Gradually I saw the
shoulders forming, then the arms and
body, and finally the feet, which were ad-
vancing toward me. A voice said: Come,
Mr.. B, will you not have some break
faufSp --az Y,kNn-1 -
sat upon the edge of the bed while he fed
me the contents Of a bowl he held In his
hand. From that day l knew only his
will, and as my health improved my
reason was gradually restored. l slept,
ate and ived like any other man.
One day In June, ten years from the
time / was first locked up, l was invited
to take tea with the DOCTORS family. You
can imagine my sensations when 1 was
received by the DOCTORS wife in the family
room. knew that l had been insane and
that l was cured, n hereafter l was to
be free. resumed my relations with my
family before a great while, and was per-
mitted to go home. l have lived a wan
dering life ever since, but, strangely
enough, never daring to stay away for
any length of time from my dear doctor
of the eyes. There nave been times during
the past ten years when n very devil would
seem to enter my body, but a couple of
weeks under the doctors care would al
ways rid me of it.
l am at this moment not entirely sane.
Have you not seen it2 My abrupt en-
trance into your parlor tonight and my
threatening to kill you should have
alarmed you. Why did you not call as
sistance2 Why, even now, with the
slightest pressure upon your throat, l
could stop your breath.
l was quite alone. The fire had died
down and my teeth were chattering with
the cold. The lamp had almost burned
ont; the whole house, the village, even,
was wrapped in slumber. With a super
human effort l rose to my feet and said,
coolly and distinctly: Your story was
most interesting. If it is not all told let us
have it to be continued, " and smilingly
stepped to the door and took the knob
in one hand, while l held out the other
one for the key. He handed it to me and
| unlocked the door, never taking my eyes
from his for an instant. | opened the
door; be bent over, and, like q c~ourtier of
the olden time, lifted my finger to his
lips, and with the remark, you are a
brave woman" passed out into the hall.
l closed the door, locked it and drew the
bolt. l glanced at the clock. 1t was
about to strike 8. For three hours, then,
| had been locked in that room alone with
u mailman. The strain was over; my
strength was gone; my knees gave way
under me; my head swan. l tried to call
and then all was oblivion. Mynurse told
me l was lying against the door stone
dead when she found me. l never hear
the shuttle of slippered feet that l do not
shudder. 1t always recalls that night of
terror.
AS soon as l recovered from my fright l
was told that about 10 o'clock in the
morning the doctor OF the eyes" had
r. V.
TIL above story is true in every detail.
Boston Globe.