The herald-advance. (Milbank, S.D.) 1890-1922, 1894-08-03
CHAPTER VIII.
lie journal AmuNa

II Wis SipNIHe duSk as we passed
down the village street. we recogniz-
ed the bnrly figure Of Stcinhardt
emerge from the private entrance to
the chemical works: he did not turn
round, but walked steadily on before
| us till he took the lane leading TO Tim
perley Hall
When we entered the cottage ! oh
served that The position Of Jaqucs's
chair had been altered: il was much
nearer the fire than had before seen
1t. for the month Of September was
now yell advanced. The only light
in the room was that shed by light
fire
''Th old chap" whispered BirIey TO
me, used TO begin to be at his best
at this time o night
lie drew up q chair and sat down
familiarly by the paralytic and began
to talk to him. But te old man seem
ed to pay no attention or not to hear;
he never even turned his eyees, but
slowly and absently winked as the
flames fickered l stood in the shad-
ow beyond John: | asked him whether
he thought his master was as well as
he had seemed some weeks ago.
Nay said he. Il do not think he
is: he seems 10 fall off again like. wi
tn fall o tn year
What if he should speedily so far
fall of from consciousness Of things
and persons around him as to slide
into that comatosc condition in which.
l understood, he had passed last win
ter! Where, then. would be our chance
OF learning anything from him. either
by word or sign. concerning his
nephew?-if, indeed. he had anything
to communicate. The more | thought
Of Birley'S suggestion the more likely
It seemed TO me that LacroiX should
not have passed his uncle's door that
night (preSuming. always he had come
homcl, and if he had not passed by
the door but entered. he was certain
to have seen his uncle: for the old man
was always either huddled in the great
chair or stretched on the little bed in
the corner. But then came the battling
question. If he had seen his uncle
had he seen him awake: ] had never
seen the old man asleep, but still it
was to be supposed he slept sometimes.
But whatever had happened could
only be discovered from the silent.
sphinx like invalid: his humble retain
er. STOPPING between us. was toe
heavy and regular a sleeper. Judged
and when awake was TOO much occu-
pied with his shell-tish and his master
10 have attention or memory 10 give
to anything else much Thus dismiss
ing him in my mind from the scope
of our inquiry | happened 10 step
round between him and old Jauues
4 Ii
where l stood in the light Of the fire
as upon a sudden apparition. His eye
brows and his mouth twitched. and
some sutteral sounds rose from his
throat
En- said Birley. intcrruptinr the
meandering flow of his talk and look
ing at the old man.
He seems" said |. TO recognize me
in some sort-and doesn't he seem To
wish to say something: Is there no
way we can hit upon OF commune
eating with him of making sure
whether he hears and understands
what is Said:.'
Yea said John. "he understands
When ! say. 'Dost want hrcakfast
master! or 'Wouldst like a drink
he wakes up spry enough.
Not deeming this evidence sufficient
" good. ! still looked at Birley.
.IS Ii any use writing something
down.: said he.
I'VE may at least try its effect on
him." ! answered.
John lit the gas and found me
clean sheet of paper, on which ! wrote
in pencil there was no ink III the
place: John could neither write nor
read) in large, clear letters: DO you
remember your nephew Paul. This |
held to old Jaques SO that the light
fell upon II. 1t evoked no kind OF re-
Spouse either Of eye or mouth. Per
haps / had not placed il at tho proper
focus for him to read. l tried to tind
the true distance. first by my own sight
and by Rirley's. and lastly presented
it to that of Jaques again. This time
his eyes seemed to seize it, and the fiD-
gers Of his right hand twitchcd and
trembled. as il he wished to hold the
pancr. | placed my right hand on his,
and was alarmed to find his fingers
conyulsiyely close on It, | Snudder
ed at their cold clasp; | even fancled--
perhaps in my excitement was mis-
taken-that yigor passed out OF my
arm and trcmbled into his: but IL IL
did IT'S force soon died. With some
difficulty undid the clasp Of his long.
thin fingers Meantime his eyes had
wandered from the paper and could
not be induced to return TO II. Biflev
agreed with me that it would be wen
to strive no more with him that night
Walking back through the village TO-
rethcr we decided upon our next step
in this attempt to get some1hlhs from
old Jaques. The following day we met
in the town and went TO consult wen
known physician. Brley iald on me
the task of stating our case. l. m'iue
II as clear as I could without Deins 700
o,nl;c;t I said we wished to get some