The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-08-30

|
broken only by tho measured regular ticking
! OF clock somewhere IN the room. Slowly.
noavily tho time wore on. while seconds
! changed into minutes and minutes into hours
At the expiration OF the nth hour the doctor
came into the room again; he walked UP to the
bod aud looked vt me for a moment. II had
expected him TO say anything I was disap-
pointed. for after watching me for . minute.
he left tho room. only to return In few
| moments with another tray OF food. In silence
| hs again took his seat by tho bedside: in
silence no again fed mo; in srence he left me
whom tho meal was finished. Something In
| his manner repealed me and forbade my i'd.
! dressing him.
| Thus at regular intervals tho doctor came to
| me and gave mo my medicine and food and
! watched tho progress OF the case. but never
| spoke. On the morning OF tho second day
| following my first awakening to tn, new lifo
| he took the iron collar from round my neck
| and placed me in an upright position on tn
bod. The frst sensations then produced were
no. pleasant. Perhaps 1 may best describe
them BY saying that I felt ms though new
| head had Just b,en placed upon my shoulders.
| My neck felt worry stiff aud sore, but this soon
I wore away and by night l was able to move
about as freely as l had ever done. On tho
| morning OF tho third day the doctor brought
| q huge armchair into the room and placed It
by the window. Then, assisting mo TO rise and
dress. he lod me to tho hair ami sat mo In It.
Having done this he cxtineuished the light OF
| the lamp which had never ceased bu rning from
the time wa, first brought into the room.
Coming back to tho window he drew aside the
| curtains. arranging them so rs to hide mo
| from Wow. and lot In tho light OF day. For n
| moment my sight was dazzled and blinded
with tho rays Of the sun shining through the
window. ami l lay back In tho chair With my
eyes closed scarcely daring to open them.
scarcely daring to believe thstI lived In tho
radiance OF the autumn morning once moro.
Whom at last opened my eyes the doctor had
gone. He had never onoe broken the silence
through 1t all, nor did he speak again until
the hour came for mo to CO. Two DAYS longer
| REM aimed In tho chair BY the window. That
made i've days In nil since had boon brought
| to the house. On tho night Of the fifth day
| had been moro than usually wnkeIu. but
townrd twelve I fell into q light sleep from
which I was awakened BY q touch nron my
hand. Is;srted up. The doctor was standing
| over me-
"Ihave to toll YOU" no said. that your re-
| oovery Is complete The time spoke OF has
come. 1t is now one hour before sunrise. ami
light enough TO walk. have chosen this as
| the best OF all times. because 1t ia tho time
| when scarcely any one Is awake, and you will
| therefore, be safe from observation. Get up
and dress. Here are your clothes" pointing
to some wearing apparel that was lying on the
chair. Without replying In words. / rose as
was hidden and slowly dressed myself. the
doctor watching me the while. When had
finished dressing no turned and motiuntng
mo to follow lett the room. Softly" he whs-
| perel a he went ont L have q servant
sleeping in the house."
We stole gently down the stairs into tho hall
Here the doctor gave mo q hat. and taking o
long. light overcoat from Q peg on tho wall.
gave me that also
You may wantit." he said. "We are much
the Same build. and can spare It." When had
donned tho coat. he lifted small knapsack
l from the ground and strapped It on my back.
1T contaiaslinen and food" he went ON. and
this will be useful quitting a thick stout ash
stick into my handl.
| turned IA II to 90.
| "One moment: have something to say
before you leave mo-" he exclaimed. Plac-
ing his hand In his rocket he drew out
some money wrapped in piece OF paper.
| Hero are two sove:eiRns to help you on your
way" he continued. 1t is all 1 can spare. for
am but Door man. One thing more 1 have
to say. The law counts you a. among the
dead-gfve the law its way" Thus speaking
he opened tho street door. III tho same
momen. the bells OF tho neiGhboring churches
chimed the hour OF i've.
stopped for moment irresolutely. and then
turned 10 him. You have brought me back to
life" said. half timidy. Il must hold that
In my grateful remembrance You will lot mo
know the name OF IN s benefactor?"
That is not necessary-added to which I
have my own reasons for prsferring to conceal
| it," no an wered dryly. For what have
| done need no thanks. My work has been not
| for YOU but for scien nee"
| Invent out upon the stop. There 10 ono
| thing that it occurs to me to ask" said. turn
| ing to him once more; you will keep the Sc
cret Of my existenceT"
Go your wav." be answered: 1T Is no con-
Germ of mine: tho INV has parted with you; let
the law get you again il it can"
| The door close behind mo. and found my
self alone In the street-out In the world, In
the dawn OF my new liie-born again at s
o'clock In the morning with two soversigns In
my pocket.
1t is diff .ult for me. writing at this distance
Of time. TO re all what my first emotions were.
as tho realization OF the awful strangsness OF
my position thus broke upon ma in all It's
force. A dazed. bswlldering sensation. some
| thing akin to that OF n man who had been
buried under the ground for long time and
should nnd msslt suddenly taken out OF the
grave. recalled to life and set upon his feet Ia
the heart OF q city utterly unknown to him.
| Only tnree thinGs were clearly oorne IN upon
me. There was the sky above my head and
the ground beneath my feet. and there was I.
the man wao. to ell intsnts and purposes. was
| dead. Even then / could scarcely bring my
mind to bear on the situation. l put my hand
abslractedy In my pocket and my fingers
touched the soverelgns. Curious As 1t may
supsar, the touch OF the money recalled me to
myself We'll there's no mistake about
these" thought. After oil. am luckier
than the majority. Most men are born with
| less than two sovereisns."
Istood for minute or more LOOKING ND and
down the street undecided which way to turn.
Il Will 90 TO tho rlcht-tba' will take me to-
ward London-and lssvs the rest to fate"
burst forth At length. and thus speaking start
| oil or ut sharp walk. As won't along my
| feet sounded on the pavement with hollow
clanR that revsrbsrated all along the deserted
streets. looked up at the sky. dark and gray;
| look ed at the houses, deRthly still, with the