Audubon County journal. (Exira, Iowa) 1884-1993, 1908-02-13
THE HAUNTING
EYE
BY DAVID HILL
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Coz


of the insane. their Authorizations, sar-
donic laughter, queer and erratic
ways always fascinated and held me
entranced. Being physician, and
well-known at the institution, my pres
ence was always welcome, and ample
time was given me to cater to my pc
culiar whims.
One day in room As l encountered
new subject. He stood at the grated
door while l was talking with one of
the attendants in the corridor, and
when l had finished motioned me to
approach. l did so, at the same time
noticing his shapely form, well-chis-
eled face, it's deathly pallor, and the
uneasy shifting of his coal-black eyes.
Il like your looks he said, re-
garding me critically. 1T is my de-
sire to trust you with a secret. May
l be allowed?"
Certainly" replied.
81 am glad of that" he answered.
THAT / am not insane, and entered
this institution of my own volition,
does not matter. My confession re-
lates to the cause-my willingness to
be incarcerated without the protest
usually advanced by subjects who are
insane"
Il understand" l replied, wishing
to humor him. Then, as he paused
and glanced uneasily into the open
space behind me, / added: Il am pre-
pared to listen"
81 fancied l heard a STEP he re-
| Joined, again turning his attention to
me as if relieved. MY nerves are at
so high tension of late that psyche
logical illusionments are quite fire.
quent. | imagine sights and sounds
that do not exist only in the environ
ment of the brain; but-never mind"
he added, brushing the black curls
away from his forehead as if to brush
away the incident.
After another prolonged pause, dur
ing which he glanced up and down
the corridor with all the alertness
of cat watching for mouse, he
continued: You will notice l am
not old in years, and possibly not ILL
favored in contour of face. If lines
of dissipation are at all apparent it is
not the result of intoxicants, remenl.
Der that; and yet, l have been dis
sipated to some extent. A fortune
which has furnished me life of lux
ury and ease is partially responsible
for this. 1t has led me to dissipate-
not in liquors, which ! naturally alb.
hor, but in love of woman, which is
not holy love such as you might
expect. Woman has been my folly
my disgrace-my ruin. To the fruits
of this unholy love attribute my pres
ent position"
Many have followed in your foot
steps, | said, by way of continuing
the subject.
TOO true he muttered, sadly and
reminiscently, only by different
routes Some lead downward more
weirdly and anonymously than others
and mine is one. But-listen. AIDE
lade Lamphere was beautiful in form
L and feature-and well-modeled form
: and feature / always admired. / die
, not love her, for pure love is out o
;. the question with a roue which, how
. ever humiliating, / professed to be
. but was fascinated, and this fascina
;, ton placed her at the head of the lis
of those ] admired. If innocence i
fault, and trust a folly, then she wa
+ guilty of both, and took advantage o
II each. She became my abject slave
e trusted me implicitly. A trust whic
r was depicted in her large blue eye
4 eyes that were calm and soft an
trustful, and that could look stead
tasty into mine without suspicio
of doubt In her sight j was almos
perfect-divine. became her Adoni
and she worshiped at my feet. Tai
ing advantage of this soulful trust,
reveled in her charms and robbed tn
: tender flower of all that was innocer
! and pure.
N But this rainbow-tinted happines
could not last. There were othe
! syiph-like maidens | adored-othel
, whose charms purloined portion
j my time. And so the awakening cam
1t was in the form of rival wit
ternperamental moods, voluptuor
form and dashing ways. This infide
DIN ity on my part thrilled ADELAIDE lih
n an electric shock. She was stunned
fist and gazed at me with eyes
which We're depicted wonderment al
} doubt Then, as the truth dawne
\ upon her, she chided-wept-imp
u and begged me to desist. ] on
laughed at her tears and Knocked
her despair. Perceiving this doub
d duplcity on my part, my falsity
3 heart, the inward rottenness of II
M soul, the magic spell was broken al
< her whole nature revolted and undo
81 went change. She drew back wi
sealed lips, gave me one despairil
look, and then left me to pursue II
Y own course.
XII But she did not forget-O heave
Y she did not forget. Sealed lips set
l a determination for revenge are mo
n dangerous than paroxysms of rae
I'll or over-abundance of speech. ] cou
al have withstood both better than t
WI ,nnracedented method she took