Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-05-16
~ AMERICAN PRESS Assc
CHAPTER Ill
THE TOTAL ECLIPSE

at all tlI0eS- On u sIlll udS IOOtSUepS
awake echoes there, not because it is
far from the busy center of the city, for
it leads directly out Of an important ave-
nue. through which there is much pass
ing, but because it is not thoroughfare.
On two sides substantial brick houses
present an uninterrupted front to the
street. On the third side high picketed
fence prevents it from leading over a
solid pile of masonry, rising only to its
level and known as 4 sea wall, directly
into the river. BallavOine place and all
the streets in this vicinity occupy what
is termed made land, " for the time
was not long ago when the tide from the
neighboring harbor flowed twice day
over the salt marshes 90 feet below the
present paved and solid surface There
fore it is that the buildings are all new
and stately, and that only we'll to dc
people live here. No. 20 is the last house
ON the street next the river. 1t is so neal
it indeed that only narrow courtyard
intervenes between the sea wall and its
foundation stones This house is what is
popularity termed IAN apartment house"
that is to say, it is let out in suits,
floor by floor, to different families.
In December, 1884, the name on the
books of the lessee of this house against
suit No. 5, which comprised the rooms
in the upper story, was Julian Maxey.
In that month of that year and a week
after the episode on the cliff road the art
list was talking with his friend, the
physician, in the large square chamber,
the last in his series, which he was &C
o,,S+O,,,a6 70 COLL his Ci+tiOcy room, Tho
great easy chairs and the comfortable
sofa in this apartment seemed to war
rant the appellation. The piano, the nu
merous rows of we'll filed bookshelves
and sidebOard with decanter on it
somewhat widened the range of posi-
bilities, however, and the presence of
bed, shut in with pretty lace curtains,
made the term entirely inadequate to
the subject. 1t was a room, in fact, in
which stranger might have spent days
and nights of profit and amusement
without the necessity of going out very
frequently for anything pertaining to
luXurics or necessities, bodily or mental
" Indian clubs and dumbbells on a shelf
in corner afforded an opportunity for
indoor exercise; the sideboard was
ing enough for years study The walls
were covered with pictures, and half
painted canvas on an easel near win
dow showed another in the process of
manufacture. There was cheerful fire
in an open CRATE. On the center table
was sewing basket, some fancy work,
several uncut magazines and papers,
cigar case and a reading lamp. From
any point i'll the room the occupant
could command view of the broad riv-
er and of the fields and spires ON the
farther shore. At this time of year the
fields and hills were white, and the river
was full of ice.
The doctor had just come out of a
windowless alcoveChamber, which might
be separated from the main apartment
by curtains, now prettily Topped back.
In the obscurity beyond could be seen
bed and the face of a young woman
Il pale face, with large, dark eyes, which
roycd about necessarily, as if in quest
of n horror that never came.
How does she seem today" Julian
MaXcv questioned i'll tone of deep anX-
iety.
Just a. she has been since we found
her just as she seems likely to be for
the rest of her days-in state of total
eclipse. There was no air of popularity
about DR.. Lamar's manner. He was
very much dissatisfied with the situa-
ton, although his concern was of diff
ferent nature from Maxey's A medical
problem that oaf1ed him always aroused
in him Il grim antagonism that was far
from humorous.
You don't mean to tell me you are
beginning to look upon this as hope
less casc?" Maxey exclaimed in conster-
nation. Whenever NIaxey got excited,
his hair promptly exhibited a tendency
TO assume an erect attitude, and his neck
tie inevitably became awry. Lamar not
ed that he was now somewhat excited.
Il mean to tell you, as have told
you, that even partial recovery is very
improbable ~
But you will not say irrpossible?"
They arc synonymous terms with
most of US. For my part, 1 am cautious.
There is the ono chance in a million
that always exists.
Miss Maxey had como into the room
in time to hear this disheartening reply.
phasis:
"And that one chance will save her.
[ believe too much in the justice of
heaven to think for moment that she
will lie here and die with closed lips. I
don't, 1 can't believe it. AS sure as
there is God or any Providence in
human events, the time will come when
that poor girl will speak and denounce
the inhuman monster who pushed her
from the roadr'
You believe in poetic justice, Miss
Maxey. Unfortunately for me, I am a
practical physician and obtain my idea
of human events from life and not from
novels. The time may come, it is true,
but to say that it will is to show depth
of confidence in my skill and ability
which hardly possess myself. This girl
certainly cannot recover without med
ical aid, and it is utterly beyond my COM
prehension, for you may as well know
the truth at once, how medical aid can
reach her. That is how the matter stands
at present.
But the present is not the future"
cried Miss Maxey, with a warm glow in
her cheeks. Perhaps, in spite of all her
enthusiasm, she felt it was Lamar she
spoke to. Nothing can make me believe
that she will die like this God would
not permit such a crime to go unpunish-
ed"
Without discussing that, my dear
Miss Maxey," replied the physician,
smiling, 'Ineed hardly remind you that
there are other and much more obvious
ways of accomplishing that end than by
working a miracle in this poor girls
brain. And, by the way, Maxey, how
does your part of the case stand?''
sit down., said Maxey. do. You
can spare a minute, 1 know, and of
course you must be interested. We all