Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-05-17

, | WuO uAu Ats duu ! CtuuOt r0OC U0vQ ~ cuse him of the crime before his unclet face, and denounce him for his dastardly deed. The motive2 I have 1t. Revene,
 on Newcomb!"
 Controlled by this thought, Noel fell
 that he must carry out his plan withou,
 delay, and hasten to the Carson mansion
 for the purpose of denouncing Clarence
 before he could have time to escape jus
 tice.
 Confused as his ideas were, he knew
 that it would be a difficult matter to
 leave the house if his family became
 aware of his determination, and he soon
 found way to evade them. His bed
 room was on the ground floor, and he
 could easily open it's window and step
 noiselessly outside. This he did, and
 fearing that he might be discovered, he
 groped softly away, and for the first
 time realized the utter helplessness of being blind. But his eagerness to carry
 out his idea made him overcome his in-
 hrmity. He wanted to reach the Carson
 mansion as speedily as possible, and ex- pose what he, in the wild delirium of his fevered frenzy, considered the real char acter of Clarence. Noel knew the direc- tion in which the house of the Carsons lay, but owing to his blindness, his pro- gress along the streets was extremely slow and painful.
 The hastily improvised bandage that had been placed on his head at the mill | shortly after the accident, proved a com plete disguise, so that his dearest friend might pass him by on the street and not be able to recognize him. But such a dis rrvvyn xl.>xl R--~ ter which robbed Noel of sight. had dis figured his manly face beyond recogni- tion.
 Slowly and cautiously he grOped his way along the streets that led to the Car son mansion stopping frequently to make sure that he was right, and to recall the ideas that he had formed of the local ity before he became blind. The crowds hurried by in the chill night air, and paid but little heed to the blind mans mutter- ings. Those who heard him talk aloud regarded him as drunkard or a dotard and passed on. A boy went whistling by, and Noel hailed him. The offer of a dime enlisted the lads services, and he agreed to lead Noel to the gate of MT. Carson's residence
 From that time forward progress was not so slow, and the cherry "Here we are!" of the guide was spoken much sooner than Noel expected.
 "That will do, my boy" he said, and he entered the gate and ascended the steps that led to the gorgeous house of the wealthy steel king. He found the outer door closed but unfastened, and he passed into the ample hall, whose warm glow ~s~ A@A NS@ cold of the winters night without.
 Now that he had reached the place to. ward which he had toiled so painfully, Noel Edwards was undecided as to what he ought to do next. His brain was throbbing feverishly, and his senses were in a mad whirl. Nobody seemed to no- ttce his presence there. The sounds of song and silvery laughter foated out from an inner room. A pure, clear so- prano voice rang out with thrilling sweet ness, and as Noel stood and listened, he could distinguish the familiar words: Ut may be for years. and 1t may be forever. Then why art thou silent, thou voice of heart !"
 The song seemed to finger in the atmos. phere long after the singer had ceased, and it seemed little less than profanity to
  lowed, with sounds less sweet. Noel was startled from his reverie by q burst of rippling laughter, as merry as a noun. tain brook and it embittered his spirit.
 "Cruel wretches !" he muttered, as he grated his teeth. "And thls is all they care for the victims at the mill."
 Again the frenzy which made him sus- pect Clarence Carson of causing the dis l aster at the mill took possession of him. The sounds of mirth which he had just listened to increased his anger, and made him feel that there was no sympathy in the Carson home for the poor workmen | who had been roasted to death in the casting-pit at the mill. Nobody noticed Noels presence in the hall, and he was growing inpatient He could stand it no longer, and he groped his way along un- til he reached a door. This he entered. but he no sooner did so than he was startled by a chorus of screams which were set up by some of the young ladies of the Carson family, who experienced severe shock on seeng such an uncanny visitor enter the room unannounced.
 The frightened girls fiuttered around the room like startled birds, and continu. ed to scream with all their might, in- tensifying the wild confusion of Noels tumultous thoughts. They imagined he must be some terrible apparition who had come to destroy them, and it was not until the dignifled head of the house, Philip Carson himself, appeared upon the scene that they felt comparatively secure.
 The president of the Grimsby Steel Works was tall, white-haired, austere, and not easily angered, but the appear. ance of Noel, whom he considered an inn pudent tramp, made him terribly in dignant. Noel, standing in the middle of that elegant and richly furnished parlor. was like harsh discord in the midst of sublime harmony.
 Philip Carsons first impulse was to knock the intruder down, but his splen. did spirit of self-control held him in check, and thinking possibly this must be some poor lunatic, he resolved on eiv. ing him into the care of the police.
 "What's the meaning of this imperti. nent intrusion ?" demanded MT. Carson. vifh a suDreme effect fo amothey h;s |