Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1894-05-31
i7ONTINUED.l
&HAPTER III.
TIE TOTAL ECLIPSE.

!
Ballavoine place is very quiet street
at all times On still day footsteps
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 picketcd
fence prevents it from leading over a
solid pile Of masonry, rising only to its
level and known as n 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 haIbor flowed twice a day
over the salt marshes 20 feet below the
present paved and solid surface. There
fore it is that the buildings are all new
and stately, and that only well to do
people live here. No. 20 is the last house
on the street next the river. 1t is so near
it indeed that only a 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, 1854, the name on the
books of the lessee of this house against
suit No. ), which comprised the rooms
in the upper story, was Julian MaXey.
In that month of that year and 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 ac-
customed to call his sitting ROOM Tho
great easy chairs and the comfortable
sofa in this apartment seemed to var
rant the appellation. The piano. the nu-
merous rows If we'll filled bookshelves
and "A sideboard with a dccanter on it
somewhat Wldcned the range of posi-
bllltles. 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
luxuries or necessities, bodily or mental
ly. Indian clubs and dumbbells on a shelf
i'll corner afforded an opportunity for
indoor exercise; the sideooard was a
treasury of refreshment; there was read
ing enough for a year S study. The walls
Were covered with pictures, and a half
painted canvas on an easel near q Win
dow showed another in the process of
manufacture. There was cheerful fire
on IN, no +,J L.
was a sowing basket, some fancy work,
several uncut magazines and papers, a
cigar case and a reading lamp. From
any point in 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 wear the
fields and hills We're white, and the river
was full of ice.
The doctor had just come out of
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 young woman-
pale face with large, dark eyes, which
roved about inccssantly, as if in quest
Of horror that never came.
How does she seem today" Julian
MaXey questioned in a tone Of deep anX-
iety.
Just as she has been since we found
her, just as she seems likely to be for
the rest of her days-in a state of total
eclipse. There was no air of POPULARITY
about DIR. Lamar's manner. He was
very much dissatisfied with the situa-
ton, although his concern was of DE
ferent nature from MaXcy's. A medical
problem that bafflcd him always aroused
in him a grim antagoniSm that was far
from humorous.
You don't mean to tell me you are
beginning to look upon this as "A hope
less case?" MaXey exclaimed in conster-
nation Whenever Maxey got excited,
his hair promptly exhibited tendency
&c 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 l have tola
you, that even partial recovery is very
improbable. "
But you will not say impossible?"
They are Synonymous terms with
most of us. For my part, am cautious
There is the one chance in a million
that always exists "
Miss Maxey had come into the room
IN time to hear this disheartening reply.
She spoke up, with almost hysterical en-
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 lps. I
don't, l 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 roadp'
"You believe in poetic justice, Miss
Maxey Unfortunatelyfor me, am
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 rnufi1aupn i'm INV skill and ahi litu