Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1890-11-28
QUITE IN THE DARK.

ADlAllAA iitEli, iiONONNl Slltbt BGliCtA tlitn
remaining senses may become, would
not exactly be selected as the flttest
agents for the purpose in which once
found myself engaged. Still there is no
knowing to what they may have to put
their wits, and although have no pre-
tentions to being sharper than the rest
Of my fellow sufferers, or claim the pos
session of any special dodginess, yet
there is no doubt when one has to rely
very persistently on all ones faculties
in order to keep fairly abreast Of ordi-
nary mortals it is wonderful how quick
the apprehension and the power of
drawing conclusions become. You are
not concerned with the history of my
iniirmity lost my sight and 50
forth-it is enough for the present pur
pose if | say that l have been blind for
some twenty years-that / have grown
quite accustomed and reconciled to my
fate, and without making light of it
have ceased to think about it, or re-
gard it rs interfering materially with
the ordinary conduct of daily life
Very well, then. | CHANGED some
three years ago to be staying with some
friends in their country house, not very
far from London, but nevertheless sit
uated in a delightfully."- rural and Sc
Guided district My host and hostess
lived in good style, kept much com
pany and entertained in muniilcent
fashion. Most of their friends, too,
were wealthy, and tho jewelry, as
was told, which occasionally aparkled
within those hospitable walls repre-
scented large sums of money. 1t was a
thoroughly easy going establishment;
meals were made movable festivals, to
suit the varied arrangements which
constant programme of amusement
sometimes entailed.
The month was August. The weather
was fine and hot, and on the particular
evening in question it so happened the
dinner was to partalie of the character
of supper, to suit the convenience of the
house party, who were going on some
picnic boating excursion ON the neigh
boring Thames.
Now, did not join them for two
reasons firstly, because l wanted to
enjoy tho quiet and peace of the house,
gardens and shrubberg when entirely
deserted; secondly, because, always
rather bad sleeper had been moro
than usually wakoful for some nights,
and determined to go to bed early
and take a certain narcotic which had
been recommended as quite harmless
and exceedingly pleasant. 1t consisted
of powder and the directions said it
was to be mixed with a pint bottle Of
light clarct--a glass or two of which
might be taken on going to bed or in
the course of the night, if occasion re-
CURED. EARLY in the evening l secured
the vino from the butler and myself
mixed it with the drug by simply shoot
ing the latterdexterously into the bottle.
Then Ishook it, corlled it and stood ton
the bed table, with large claret glass,
to be ready for use when l retired for
the night This did, as proposed, a
little before 10, at which time / was the
sole occupant Of the house, with the
exception of the servants. Their quar-
ters, with kitchens, etc, lay at the ex-
treme opposite wing from that in which
my bedroom was situated.
Thus Us l crept up the main staircase
with Che aid Of my stick, and by feeling
the well known landmarks by which |
am always able to guide myself after
very little practice along passages and
corridors, my footsteps echoed strange
ly, and ] was conscious that an unusual
mir ol solitude pervaded the place. OF
course the autumn twilight had faded
into night 10y this time, but that made
no difference to me, and equally, of
course / carried no chamber candle.
Somehow, nevertheless, had a strange
feeling of not quite liking the solitude
a sensation akin to nervousness, /
suppose it would be called. Unaccus-
toned 10 regard myself as a coward, |
yet could have wished that the house
had not seemed quite so lonely. 1t was
u vague, vain and ridiculous idea, !
knew -still, the nearer got to my
room the more it possessed me. When
laid my hand on the lock for mo-
ment it quite overwhelmed me, and l
need hardly say that when I found tho
door resist my effort to open it my dis
was complete. Then, after a
moment, pulled myself together, feel
ing heartily ashamed of the rapidity
with which my heart was beating.
Another push at the door, and il
opened partially-enough to admit me-
had fallen inside and
blocked it, / stopped to discover what
it was and presently my fingers lighted
ON a wedge shaped block of wood with
a screw sticking psrtially through it.
This had caused the jam. But what
could it be- However, les it on the
door, closed the door and walked slow |
iy toward the window, knowing every
stop OF the way nearly as well as you
would with your eyes. The window
q French one-opening on to small /
balcony, to my surprise was not closed,
rs / am certain left it an hour or two |
earlier, when brought up the vino TO
my room. You might think these little /
wcald have increased my I
they had contrary eff +
feet; at least every sensation was swat 1
lowed up-in surprise and curiosity as to !
what could have happened
However. | began to slowly undress I