Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1893-08-26
DOCTOR MAX.

forward in the big Armchair--the only ar
tiele OF absolute comfort In my poorly fur
nished room-and looked steadily Mt the
yellow and brown squares on the wall paper
beyond my study table They stood out
angular and ugly for moment. Then the
lamp light changed into n reddish mist
that stung my eyeballs and made the flame
a blur in its sickly center The figures on
the wall paper wavered. gradually grew In
distinct. then blended into a neutral blot
and knew | was going blind
Overwork the drudginR mental toll that
feeds upon the brain, Ind touched the win
dows Of my soul with it, 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 yenrs OF darkness and
despair. For the first time | realized that
my life was failure. ! cursed the nights
of study that had won for me 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 AZ the best Greek and
Latin scholar OF a decade, heaped RS
proaches on the ambition that had led me
an underpaid village school teacher. To some
day hope for distinction at the bar,
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 tremhle. and |
threw myself upon the floor
"You seem TO be IN trouble, professor
Startled by the sound of voice. stag
gered to my feet and confronted the
speaker
II knocked at your door, and not getting
an answer ! came IN unannuunced' My
visitor was DIR Max
did not reply was angered and con
fused by the intrusion. Resides. Dr Max
was man whose acquaintance had never
sought. He had persisteutly held aloof
from me, avoided me purnosely. thought
He was tall and robust, with q massive
head His beard was fun and black. with
rich gloss. indicative OF fine health and
great vitality. He was OF uncertain age
past fifty, should Judge He bad resided
in NJ for FIVE years. and In that time
had built mp a large practice among the
lower classes in section Of the town
known Nv Dutch Bottom" For some
cause he was socially ostraeised,
"Your eyes are troubling YOU" DIR Max
continued. not noticing my constraint
"Sit down. he said. aud before | could
protest he had gently forced me into my
chair and turned my face To the lamp
light There was an instant's silence,
then he said. An operation may save your
sight, but IL cannot he delayed"
great hope spraug mp within me. The
desire for death fed, and the doctor from
dutch bottom" faded from view To give
place To n messenger from heaven In his
habliments. ! was wild with sudden joy
The world of light would yet be mine. IN,
blue mountain and the golden grain iied-
Of my home my mothers face my books
nl-and | broke into a fit OF hysterica
laughter as | grasped the doctors hand
and caressed IL,
II have no money" | said, recollectlnl
myself, and for moment tide OF hope
lessneSs swept back and obliterated my
newborn Joy
"But have, and that il what brought
me here tonight" DR. Max pushed tn,
hair back from my hot forehead with hi
cool, moist hand and peered lHg ant
searchingly into my aching eyes.
shudder shook me The fierce recur
ring shocks OF hope and fear, despair ant
Joy. were too much for my sCrely trie,
nerves A faintuess WAS creeping over ml
heart, but elutched the arms OF my chat
with a grip that forced the flesh on IN,
palms into red ridges, from which tn
blood seemed ready to start, and waited 70
my strange visitor 20 proceed.
Like ali mankind. | am selfish" b.
said presently, with quiet laugh. II will
give you the money with which 10 saw
your sight-perhaps-bu have q deman,
70 make
go on exclaimed. petulantly. as b
paused.
"Ot course. You arc not aware OF II, hu
am q very poor Greek scholar; In fact,
never was very proficient in the language.
even in my college days, / have In IN
possession Greek manuscript OF lift
pages or 20 that picked up while traye
ing In the east some years ago, ! knol
nothing Of its history, save that IL was sal
TO have been among the plumber obtaine
by Constantine in the temple NJ Delphoi
1t is very valuable and have never trus
cd It out OF my hands want a liter,
translation Of IT, II You will Gndertah
the work viii pay you 500
WHAT | yelled, | leaned iorwaT
on the edge OF my chair and searched h
face 10 see il he were not In Jest
Il will give you ten dollars page
went on quietly-"with restrictions"
What do you meant"
That you permit no person TO see eth
che manuscript or the translation, and III
under no circumstances will you trust Il
original out Of your possession, or her
after reveal It's contents"
accepted with indecorous haste, II
needless % say, and DIR Max lett me
prey to emotions that am utterly unah
20 describe. Long after midnight | I,
asleep, but still behind my burning e,
balls my brain WAS busy A phanto
troop swept constantly In review T
letters Of the Greek alphabet took life a
fought innumerAble battles For hours
iaoored In a vast library, piling man
scripts upon miles OF amending shelves
Then, IN my troubled steep stnp
seemed TO come over me was In a Dc
wood where vergeiess glades stretch
away on either side into purple ohscari
II was dead forest. where every vestige
life was mute The leaves, the grass. ,
flowers on the damp turf were a. mott,
less As though omuipotauce had whisper
through the labyrinth 'be still Al
went on ] stumbled, once, twice, in
dim light Behind me a faint GLOW fr
rcd sunset threw my shadow grin
along the path until IL was lost In
depths stepped aside. aud then / !
that--ah-ah--l shuddered In nv sIeer
had fallen over gaunt arms that rose n
the nod and twined their skeleton hp.
seross M way. Here and there graz al