The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1891-11-02
DOCTOR MAX.

Three months more Of sight leaned
forward In the big armchair-the only ar
ticle Of absolute comfort In my poorly fur
nished room-and looked steadily 1t the
yellow and brown squares on the wall paper
beyond my study table. They stood ont
angular and ugly for moment Then the,
lamp light changed into reddish mist
that stung my eyeballs. aud made the flame
blur in It's sickly center. The figures on
the wall paper wavered. gradually grew in
distinct. then blended into neutral blot
and knew ! was going blind.
Overwork, the drudging mental toll that
feeds upon the brain, had touched the win
dows Of my soul with its cold fingers and
the white frost was quickly gathering on
the crystal panes. Three months more Of
sight That was the limit the skilled but
kindly oculist had fixed Three months;
the borderland Of years of darkness and
despair. For the first time realized that
my life was a failure. cursed the nights
OF study that had won forme distinction
in my college classes; cursed the pride Of
my professor that had encouraged me to
the prodigal waste Of my powers that he
might point to me as the best Greek and
Latin scholar OF a decade: | heaped re-
proaches on the ambition that had led me,
anundefpaid village school teacher. to some
I
thought and thought, ms stared into the
gray half light, till all the subtle nerves OF
my body seemed to concentrate behind my
throbbing eyeballs Then the pain was
lost in an agony Of mental torture so fierce
that reason seemed to tremble, and
threw myself upon the floor.
lyon seem to be in trouble, professor?''
Startled by the sound OF a voice, | stag
gered to my feet and confronted the
speaker.
II knocked at your door. and not getting
an answer | came in unannounced" Ny
visitor was DR.. Max.
did not reply. was angered and con
fused by the intrusion Besides, DIR. Max
was man whose acquaintance had never
sought. He had persistently held aloof
from me. avoided me purposely. thought.
He was tall and robust, with n massive
head. His beard was full and black, with
a rich gloss, indicative of fine health and
great vitality. He was Of uncertain age;
past fifty. should judge. He had resided
in NJ for five years. and in that time
had built up large practice among the
lower classes in section OF the town
known as Dutch Bottem."- For some
cause he was socially ostracised
Your eyes are troubling you" DIR. Max
continued, not noticing my constraint
...Sit down." he said, and before | could
protest he had gently forced me into my
chair ard turned my face to the lamp
light. There was an instant's silence,
then he said, AN operation may save your
sight, but it cannot be delayed"
A great hope sprang up within me- The
desire for death fled, and the doctor from
Dutch Bottom faded from view to give
place to n messenger from heaven in his
ha | will xs,ffh so.w
The world of light would yet be mine the
blue mountain and the golden grain fields
Of my homS my mothers face, my books
afi-and | broke into fit of historical
laughter as | grasped the DOCTORS hand
and caressed it.
II have no money! said, recollecting
myself, and for moment tide of hone
lessness swept back and obliterated NV
newborn joy.
sBut I have, and that is what brought
me here tonight" Dr. Max pushed the
hair back from my hot forehead with his
cool, moist hand and peered long and
searchingly into my aching eyes.
A shudder shook me- The fierce recur-
ring shocks of hope and fear. despair and
joy, were too much for my serely tried
nerves. A faintness was creeping over nv
heart, but I.ciutched the arms OF my chair
with grip that forced the flesh on5my
palms into red ridges. from whieha the
blood seemed ready to start and waited for
my strange visitor to proceed
Like all mankind. II am selfsh,p he
said presently, with quiet laugh ~ will
give you the money with which To save
your sight-perhaps- have a demand
to make
go on" exclaimed. petulantly, as he
paused,
"Of course. you are not aware of it, but
am very poor Greek scholar; in fact,
never was very proficient in the languages,
even in my college days. have in my
possession Greek manuscript of fifty
pages or SO that picked up while travel.
ing in the east some years ago. | know
nothing OF its history, save that it was said
to have been among the plumber obtained
by Constantine in the temple at Delphos.
n 1t is very valuable, and have never trust
ed 1t out OF my hands. want literal
translation of it. Ii you will undertake
the work | will pay you $500
"Whatl1 yelled, as leaned forward
on the edge OF my chair and searched his
face to see If he were not in jest.
Il will give you ten dollars page,n he
went on quietly-''with restrictions"
What do you meani"
That you permit no person to see either
the manuscript or the translation and that
under no circumstances will you trust the
original out Of your possession, or here
after reveal its contents 9N
| accepted with indecorous haste, it is
needless to say, and DR. Max left me
prey 70 emotions that am utterly unable
to describe. Long after midnight | fell
asleep, but still behind my burning eye
balls my brain was busy. A phantom
troop swept constantly in review. The
letters Of the Greek alphabet took life and
fought innumerable battles For hours /
labored in vast library. piling manu-
scripts upon miles Of amending shelves.
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