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l|...buri .114 Wllr. Ilutband loquitur : It'a tbe strangest thing that ever I know, A iM tbe ni.iht provoking, 'twu me and you. For a wouiau who'* tot a luitu like uie, A KIII..I provider, audsleady and Ira*. With all bur folk* wilb fuutlu wiito.l dowo, Aud a fin* a buuaa any lu towu, To be UuieottUK 'caune om- child lu ten Ain't quiM no good u ho uiigbt have been. " It'* a |irtty KOCH! ibowlng, it IMIUI to UK. That oulv a teuth of tbc lot abould be A little utfcjlor, and that'* whl 1 aay To their mother tmuly time* iu a day. Bui 1 can't make her ee U 111 that light. And Hhe Imluu* and wait* nixbt alter uixht Kur tUo 8 .uuit of bllitep till I gruw u wild That 1 almost curae both mother aud child. - She ougbt to live (or tbe other*, you know, Aud let 1'je tormeDtiDR vnnb.>u.l go A i, I tollnw hi* waynaud take tbe pain But 1 turu him out aud she calla nmi aftam, Thi* uike a uardaeu between her aud me, And the worst of it It, tbe children a^rve That I LU iu tbe rigbt. Vuu'd pity her then, Such tiuitt 1 think I'm thu uieaueat of man. " IT* argued and scolded and coaxed without Mi Her auioer it alwayi : ' My boy has oue friend Aa loag u 1 lira, and your i-barge i> uutrue Tbat uiy bnart bold* uot equal love for you And all tbe ret. Hut thu oue iioue aatrav Neetla uje tue in at aud you'll flud 'tit the way Of all mother* to bold clone to the one Who buiu her tbe uioat. So love't work u done.' " Now what can I aay to tucb word! aa those '.' I m uot cuuvluced. at tbe blatory show*, But 1 uftttu wouder wbich oue iw riuhl. An I he.r brr I mln >kp oitibt after utght, Hwre au>i there, to ibe window aud door, A* be wait* with abvart that is heavy anil sore.' 1 wi-h lue boy dead. uilo aue tivet her life To aave him from nn. Tbere't buabaud aud wife.' Youth i Companion. Presently a sudden, fierce longing to be oat of door* came over me. It was nigh. very few peop'.e would be about. There waa a broad pavement in frout of tbe row of bouses iu oue of which 1 lodged. I p and down this I might walk in perfect safety. Even it I only ast on tbe door- step it would be better than lying iu this oloae. bel room, tosaiug from aide to aide Unable to sleep. Tbe desire took full possession of me that I was on tbe point of calling old Pru- oilla and making ber aware of it; but knowing the wa* sleeping soundly. I hesi- tated. I bad been unusually reslleas, cross and exacting during the day, aud my old nurse Heaven reward her! waa serv- ing me for love, not for money. Wby abould I disturb her? Let me begin to learn to help myaelf like others in my wret.-bed p'igbt. I had already acquired tn i , much, to dress without assistance. If I oould now do this and leave ths room unbeard, I could, I fell sure, grope my way to tae frout door, let myself out, and, whenever I chose, return by tbe aid of tbe latch-key. Tbe thought of even a tempo- rary independence waa attractive, and my pint* rose as I resolved to make tbe attempt. 1 ortu; softly from my bed and slowly, bat easily dressed myself, bearing all the while the sleeper's regular bieatbing. Tbeu, cautious as a thief, 1 stole to the door which led from my bed-room to tbe laud ing. I < p mod it without noise aud stood on the thick carpet outsids, smiling aa I thoughtot tbe sleeper's dismay if nbe awoke a\nd discovert d uy absence. 1 closed the door, tben, guiding myself by tbe balustrade, paused lightly down the stairs and reached tbe street door without accident. Tbere were other lodgers in tbe bouse, among them young men wbo came in at all Lourn, so, tae door being always left on tbe latch, I had no bolts to contend with. In a momeut I waa on tbe doorstep, with the door behind me closed. I stood for a short time irresolute, almost trembling at my temerity. This was the flrt time I had ventured beyond the bouxe without a guiding baud to (rust to. Yet I knew there was nothing to fear. Tbe treet-a quiet on* was deserted. Tbe pavement was broad, I oould walk up aud dowo Without let or hindrance, guiding myatlf, after the uiinnei of other blind pernoun, by tapping my slick against tbe curbstone or the railings, bun 1 must take a few precautions to enable me to ascertain my latitude and longitude at will. I oame down the four steps which led from the frout do>r, turned myself to the right, and, by aid of the line of railings, set my face toward tbe end of the street Tbere I began to walk and to count my steps, sixty-two of wbich brought my rigbt foot on to aroad, wbioh told me I bad reached my limit. I turued, counted back the sixt) -two paces, and then sixty- five more in tbe same direction before I found myaelf again off (be pavement. My calcu- lations were verified by my knowing tbat my bouse was very near the oeutre of tbe row. 1 waa now quite at my eaae : I had determined the length of my tether ; I oould walk up and down tbe deserted street, yet, at any time I wished to do so, could by counting from either end, arrest my steps in front of my abode. So, mightily proud of my success, for a while I went up and dowo p and down. I beard one or (wo cabs pas* uie, and also oue or two persons afoot. As these latter baemed to pay no attention to me, I fell Klad to think tbat my appearance and gait were not such as t> attract notice. Moat men like t > conceal their infirmities. The night excursion did me a great deal of good. Perhaps it was finding tbat I was sot altogether so helpless and dependent that changed in a few minutes my whole frame of miud. Tbe mental rebound took place. I wenl from despondency to hope extravagant hope even to certainly. Like a revelation it oame to me tbat my malady was curable ; that, in Bpite of my presenti- ment, wbat friends had been a**uriog me would prove to be the truth. So elated I grew tbat I threw my head back and walked with a firm, quick step, almost for- getting that I was Bightless. I began to think of many things, and my thoughts were happier ones than I bad known for uobtha. I gave up counting my paces, I walked on aud on, planning wbat I should do ; where I should go when my darkness was removed. 1 do uc,t know whether I may have at times guided myself by tbe wall or the pavement edge ; but if ao I did it mechanically and instinctively, without noticing tbe action or renumbering it I cannot flay whether it may be po*>ible for a blind man, who can dive- 1 himself of tbe fear of nocounteriog unseen obitaolee, 13 walk aa Htraightly and accurately as one who can aee. I ouly know that, In my preoccupied and elevated state of mind, I must have done so. Intoxicated aud car- ried away by the return of hope, I may have walked as a Hjuiuauibulml or as oue in a tranoe. Any way, forgetful of all aave uiy brighter thoughts, I went on and on, heedless of the minaiug aenae, until coming full against a person walking in tbe oppo site direction recalled me from my vinionn aud brought me back to .uy miiery. I fell the man I bad encountered shake himself free; I beard him mutter "Stupid food' aud go swiftly on his way, leaving me motionless on the spot where tbe collision bad occurred, wondering where I was and what I should do. It was no use attempting to find my way back unaided. Not having brought my repeater wilb me I oould uot even say bow long I had been walking. It might have been ten minutes, it might have been an houraiuoel gave up counting my step* Judging by tbe number of things I bad thought of since that rapturous exaltation of mind commenced it seemed more liktly to be the latter. Now that I bad oome bick to the earth I must be content to remain on this p articular spot of it until I beard tbe step uf a policeman or some one else wbo might happen to be abroad at this unusual hour uuunnal. at least in this quiet part of London. I leaned my back againut tae wall and waited patiently. I aoou heard an approaching step ; but such a staggering, uucettiiu, lurching kind of step, that from tbe sound of tbe feet alone 1 waa able to determine tbe condition of their owner, and I was obliged to decide that he waa net the man I watud. I must let him past and wail for another. But the feet staggered up to me and stopped near me, whilst a voice, jolly, but like tbe feet uuateady, cried " 'Not ber feller worsb than me t Can't gel on at all eh, old chap? Comf jrt t' think Home one's head'll ache worsb than mioe to-morrow !' " Cau yon tell me the way to Wattle street?' I asked, standing erect to snow aim I was sober. " Walpole street oourae I can cloth by third to left I think." " If you are going that way would you lead me to the corner of it. I'ubappily I i bliud and have lout my way." " Blind, poor bexgar uot screwed theu ueoe I'm in a nice state to lead any oue. tilmd leading blind both tumble into ditch. I thay, though," be added with drunkeu gravity, " make a bargaiu I lend you eyes, you lend uie legab. Good idea. jiue 'long." He took my arm and we went yawning up tbe street. Presently be stopped. " Walpole street," be hiccoughed. " Shall [ take you to your bouse ! ' " N ) thank yon. I'leaae put my band on tbe railing of tbe corner house. I shall be all right then." " \Vi*h I were right. Wish I oould bor- row your legs to take me borne," said my bibulietic conductor. " Good night Blesh you." I beard him tack away, then turned to complete my j mrney. I was not quite certain as to which end of Wa'jule street I waa starting from ; that mattered little. Either aizty-twoor ixi\ live paces would leave me iu front of uy d jor. I counted sixty-two, and then elt for tbe entrance between the railings ; nt nodiug it, 1 went on a step or two nntil '. oatue to it. I was glad to have reached icme without aooideut, and, to tsll tbe truth, was beginuiug to feel a little ashamed of my escapade. I hoped that Princilla lad not discovered my absence aud alarmed the buu-e, and I trUBted I should be able to regam my room aa quietly as I bad iuir..l it. With all my elaborate oaloula- 1 -as not quite sure that I bad bit | . IM rigbt house; but if they were uoiirr. ct I oould ouly be a door or two away from it, and tbe key in my band ould be a certain test. I went up tbe doont ;pn was it four or Ive I bad counted as I came cut ? I turn- tied for the keyhole sud inserted the latoh- :ey. It turued raMly aud the door opened, had not made a uiistaks. I felt an inward [low of satmf action at having hit upon tbe louse at the first attempt. " It must have a blind uian wbo first discovered It at ci-Hhity is tbe mother of invention," I iid, as I softly closed the door behind me aud prepared ta creep up to my own room. I wondered what the time was. All I mew was that it inuxt be olill night, for I as able to distinguish light from darkoeae. Aa I had found myself so olo*e to Walpole street I oould not have walked for any length of time in my ecstatic atate, so I fancied it must be somewhere about 4 2 o'clock. Even more anxious than when I started to make no noise which might awaken peo >le, I found the bottom of the staircase and begin my stealthy ascent. Somehow, blind an I, was, the plaee seemed unfamiliar to me. The balustrade . waa touching did not seem the aame. Tbe very texture of the carpet under my feet seemed different. Could it be possible that ' had entered the wrong house '/ Tbere are >lenty of instances on record of a key hav- ng opened a strange look. Could I, through such a circumstance, have itrayed into a neighbor'i bouae 1 I paused ; the pirspi- atiou rising on my brow aa I thought of be awkward situation in which I should le plaood if it were so. For a moment I esolved to tetraoe my steps and try the next house ; but I oould not be quite sure I aa wrong. Then I remembered that in my own house a bracket, with a plaster figure upon it, bung near tbe top of the stair*. I knew the exact p'.aoe, having >een cautioned many Union to keep my lead from knocking againit it. I oojld mule all my do jbt by going on and feeling for this landmark ; so on I went. I ran my fingtra softly along tbe wall, but no bracket oould I find, My baud touched the lintel of a door instead. Then I knew, for certain, I wa< in tbe wrong haute. Tbe only thing to be done wag to creep out aa quietly aa I bad entered and try my luck next door. Aa I turned to grcpa my way back I heard tbe murmur of voices late a* it was, there were people talking in the room, tbe door of which my fiugers bad BO lightly touched. I c mid not distinguish words, but I wan sure the voice" were those of men. I stood irresolute. Would it net be better to knock at tbe door and throw myself upon tbe mercy of the inmate* of the room .' I oould apologize and explain. My blind- neHH would account for tbe mlntake. Borne one would, no doubt, be kind enough to put me on tbe rigbt road home. Yes, tbii waa tbe beat to do. I oould notgoonorerpinginto strange houses like a midnight thief. Per- hapH each bouse in the row bad an equally common look aud my key might open all. If so, the end would be that some alarmed householder would put a bullet into me before I had time to assert my innocence. Just aa I raised my finger* to Isp at the door I beard another voice a woman'a voiae. It seemed to oome from tbe back room and was siugiog loan accompaniment played softly on tbe piano. I paused and listened I have been BO occupied with complaining of tbe hardships of my lot I have not told you I bad one solace tomymisery ; tbatmer- oiful gift, MO often bestowed on tbe blind, music. Had it not been for this I believe those weeks of darkness and uncertainty would have driven me mad. Had it not been that I oould pass many weary hours away playing to myself, that I could be taken to concert* and bear others play and sing, my day* would be unbearable, and 1 bhudder to tbink of what aid I might have called in to render them less burden- some I waited and listened to tbe song. It was taken from au opera recently produced on the continent, au opera not yet popu larly known in England, aud tbe song was one that few amateurs would dtre to atteuj[t The singer, whoever she might be, sang it softly and under ber voice, as though fearing to throw it out wilb full force. Tbe latenea* of tbe hour might well account tor this restraint. Nevertbelens, any one capable 01 judgment must have known he was liateumg to no ordiuary singer. 1 1 was easy to recognize tbe trained nkill aud dormant power, and imagine what, under favorable circumstance*, th*l voice might accomplish. I was enchanted. My idea was that I had stumbled into a uest of professionals people whose duties euded so Ut j, t'jat to enjoy any evening at all, uight must be greatly encroached upon. All tbe better for me ! Bohemians tin m Bclvt-h, my unexpected nocturnal intruaiou uiigbt uot f rigbun them out of their wits. Tbe aiuger bad now commenced tbe aeooud verse. 1 placed my ear clone to tbe door to out jh every note. I wai curious t) know what she would make of tbe effective but try lug tijale, when- oh horrible con- traat to tbe soft aiweet liquid notes and HUbdued words of passionate love! I heard a gatip, a *pimodio, fearful gasp, that oould convey but one meaning. I beard it succeeded by a long deep groan, wbicb terminated in a gurgling Bound which froze my blood. I heard the music top suddenly, and the cry, the piercing cry of a woman ring out like a frightful ohauge from melody to discord, and then I beard a dull, bevy thud on tbe floor! 1 waited to hear no more. I kuew that some dreadful deed bad been perpetrated within a few feet of where I stood. My heart beat wildly and neroely. In the excitement of tbe moment I forgjt thai I waa not like ethers forgi t that utreugtb aud courage oould avail in a noth- ing forgot everything save a desire to prevent tbe accomplishment of crime the wish to do a man'* duty in saving life and succoring tbe onea in peril. I threw open tbe door and rushed headlong into tbe room. Then, as I became aware of tbe presence of strong light, but light which revealed nothing to me, tbe folly aud rain uess of my proceeding*! came fully bom* to me, and like a flaab it oroaaexl my mind that unarmed, blind and helpless, I had ruahed into that room t} meet my death. I beard an oath aa exclamation of anr- prine. In tbe dmtauce I beard tbe cry of the woman, but it sounded muti! d and faiut ; it seemed to me that a struggle was goiug on in that part of the room. 1'jwer lens though I waa to aid, I turued impul- ively and took a couple of steps in tbe direction whence tbe cry came ; my foot caught in something and I fell prostrate on tbe bjdy of a man. Kven iu the midst of tbe horror that await :d me I shuddered aa I fell my band, lying on the fallen man, grow wet with some warm fluid which alowly trickled over it. Before I could rise strong muscular liv ing hands were upon my throat, boldiug me down, while a short dietanoe off I beard ttie sharp click of a pistol lock. Ob, for a light for a aeoond ! If ouly to nee those who were about to take my life, if only strange fancy to know iu what part cf me to expect tbe fatal bullet. Aud I, wbo sime hour or two ago lay and dared to with for death, felt at thia moment that life, even my darkened life, waa as dear to me as to auy creature under tbe sun. Ho I cried aloud, and my voice sounded to me like tbe voice of a strauger : " Spare me ! I am blind ! blind ! blind !" CHAPTER II. 11RUNK OB MUUMINU! The bands pinning me down did not for an instant relax their grasp ; yet they might safely have done so. Situated aa I wa* I fell that my only chance of life was to lie still aud convince, if I oould, tbe per- sons iu the room of tbe truth of my asser- tion. Nothing oould be gained, but every- thing would be loat by remittance. I was strong, but, even if all tbe Benaea bad been mine, I doubt if I oould compete with tbe man who held me down. I oould feel tbe nervous power of bis bauds aud arms. Cer- tainly, now that I was blind and helpless, tbe itruggle would be a short one. Benides be had companion*, haw many I knew not, ready to help him. The flrat movement I made would be tbe end of everything so far as I wan oouMrned. I made no further attempt to rise, but lay as Htill and unreniHtiug as tbe pro- trate form aoroBs which I had fallen. Every moment seemed au hour ! Tbmk of my situation. A blind man in a strange room in a strange noune held down on tbe body of a man whose last groan he had just beard held down and at the meroy of those wbo it was certain bad just taken part in a black and cow- ardly crime ! Uuable D look into tbe faces of tbe murdereiH around him and learn whether their looka meant life or death to him ! Kxpeotiug every moment to feel tbe sharp ntab of a knife or tbe fiery sting of a bullet ! Seeing nothing aud fueliug notbiug gave the hands upon hu throat and tba dead body beneath him I Even hearing nothing save that milled moaning iu the dihtanoej Can the wildest flights cf notion dhow a parallel to my case ? Since that night I have quite disbelieved in the p mmbiiity of people's hair turning suddenly gray, If suoh a thing oau be 1 must have left that roum with tbe locki of an old man. 1 can ouly aay that even now aa, after tbe lapse of yearn, I write this ; even as I see everything around me safe, still and at pjaoe; even though I know the ones I love are oloae at hand, my pen trembles, my blood feels chilled and a faiuta**a atealu over me as the recollection of the most terrible momenta in my life oomes to me with a vividness I oauuot describe. It wa* well for me that I ojuld keep still and cry again and again, " I am blind look and see !" My quiescence, tbe tone of my voice, may have turned the balance on which my life hung may have carried conviction to my bearers. Presently tbe strong light of a lamp was perceptible to my obi-cured vimou ; a lamp placed so oloae to me that 1 oould feel its hot glow upon my face ; and I wa* aware that some oue waa bt raping or kneeling down and peering into uiy eyes. His breath struck agsiuat my cheek ; a short, quick, excited breath bow oould it be otherwise after tbe deed in wbich be bad ju-t taken part ? At last be rose ; a momeut afterwards the restraining haoda moved from me, aud then, for the firat time, I began to hope toat my life might be spared. A yet none of those around me had spoken. Now I beard voicea ; bul whis- pering so softly that even my sharpened ears c juld uot cttoh the purport of a single word, although I oould gather that three persons at least were engaged in that hushed consultation. All tbe while, like a dreary and fitting acoompauimeut, I aauld bear that stiflea moaning a woman'e moauiug. I would have given all I posaeflaed all *ave life in excbauge for a minute'* aigbt, that I might have been able to comprehend whal bad paaaed and what was passing aronud me. Still tbe whiHpera continued. They oauie thick aud fast, running into aud interrupting each other, a* from men iu hot but guarded diauisaion. It needed little intelligeuoe to k ueHI1 tbe subject of that debate ! Presently they died, away altogether, and. for a time, tbe only sound I beard was tbat terrible, muffled moan continued with a dreary monotony. A foot touched me. " You may vtaud up," I beard some oue nay. Wheu I burst o recklessly into tbe room I fauoied the exclamation with whieh I was greeted came from foreign lips, but tbe man who now addressed me spoke in pare Uuglirh. By this time I was begmniug to recover Belf-possestiou and wa* able to make a mental note of tuese facts. Thankful for being allowed to quit my ghastly ooucb, I rote. As I oould ibiuk of uothiug better te? do I xtood motionless. "Walk this way atraigbt ou f >ur paces, ' said tbe voice. 1 obeyed. Tbe third step brought me in eollixion with tbe wall. No doubt this was an extra test aa to the truth of my statement. A baud was placed upon my shoulder and I wa* guided to a cbair. " Now, sir," said tbe Hpeaker wbo bad before addreraed uie, " tell us, in as few words a* possible, who you are bow aud why you came bere. tie <| lick, we have no time to spare." I well knew they bad no time to spare. They had much t ) do much to bide. Ob, for the gift of sight for oue moment I I would purchase it tveu if the price were years of daikuesn ' bbortly and simply as I oould, I told them wbat bad brought me into such strait*. Tbe only thing I oonoealed was my true name. Why abould these aasa*- ilus know it? If I revealed it they might set a watch upon me and at any momeut their safety demanded U I might share the fate of biu who lay within a few feet of uiy chair. So I gave a floliiious name, but everything else I told them waa true. All tbe while I waa speaking 1 beard tbat diatreasing sound at tbe other end of tbe room. It drove me nearly mad. I believe oould I have made sure of reachiug through my darkness aud catching oue of those men by the throat, with tbe certainty of crushing life out of him, I should bave done so, even bad such au act sealed my own fate. When my explanation was over another whispered oou.nult.tiuu took place. Then the spokesman demanded tbe key which had ao nearly cost me i.iy life. I suppose they tried it and fouud it acted a* 1 naid. It waa not returned to me, but I beard tbe voice once more. Fortuuately for you we bave decided to believe your tale. Stand up." I did so aud waa led to another part of tbe room and again placed iu a chair. An, after tbe manner of tbe blind, I stretched out my bauds, 1 fouud I waa in a corner of tbe room, my face turned to tbe angle of the walla. If you move or look arou-d," said the voice, " our belief in your blindness will vanish." It was impossible to misunderstand tbe grim threat conveyed by tbe laat words. I oould only ait ijuiet and listen with all my ears. Ye*, they bad much to do. They moved about busily and rapidly. 1 beard cup- boards and drawers opaned. I detected tbe Bound of papers being torn and the smell of papers burning. I beard them raise some dead weight from tbe floor ueard a sound as of rent cloth and linen beard tbe jingle of money, even tbe tick of a watib a* it wa* drawn from some where aud laid on the table near uie. Then I felt a breath of air and knew that tbe door bad been opened. I heard heavy foot- steps on tbe stairs tbe steps of men bear- ing a weighty burden, and I shuddered as I thought what tbat burden must be. Before the last tat-k waa completed the woman's moan had ceased. For some time it had been growing f>tiM >r aud ouly Houuding at recurring iLtervaJs. Now I beard it no longer. This cessation wa* a great relief to my overwrought nerves, but my heart grew sick UH I thought it may be there* were two victim* instead of one. Although at least two men must have borue that weight away, 1 knew I was not left alone. I heard Borne one throw him- self into a chair with a half weary righ aud guessed b* had been left to guard me. I WM longing to make my escape longing M wake and liud I bad been dreaming. Tbe suspense or the uigbtmare was grow- g unbearable. I said, without turning my Head : " How long am I to be kept amid these horrors?' I heard the man move in his chair, but tie msde no answer. " May I net go?" I pleaded, " I bave seen nothing put me out nto tbe street aoy where. I shall go mad if I ntay bere longer," Btill no auswer. I said no more. By-and-by tbe absent men returned to thiir cjmpatiion. 1 beard tbe door close tfter them. Then came more whispers, and I heard tbe drawing of a cork and a jingle. of glasses. They were refreshing them- ' selees after the night's dark work. Present! T a curious edor tbat of 1001* drug waa perceptible. A band was laid ou my shoulder and a glass full of some liquid waa placed between my b'ugera. " Dtiuk," said tbe voice the only vote* 1 had beard. " I will not," I cried, " it may be poi- son." I heard a abort harsh laugh and felt a cold metallic ring laid agaiuat my forehead. " It ia uot poiaou . it is an opiate and will do you no barm. But this," aud as be spoke I fell the pressure of a little iron circlet, "this is auotber affair. Choose I" I drained the glaaa and was glad to feel tbe pistol moved from my bead. " Now," said tbe opokesman, taking the empty glass from my baud, " if you are a wine man, when you awake to-morrow you will Bay, I bave beeu drunk or dreaming.' You bave heard ua but not seen us, but remember we know you." He left me, and iu a short time, do wbat I would to struggle agaiust it, heavy drow- loess oame over me. Thought* grew incoherent and reason seemed leaving me. My head fell liot on on* side, then on th* other. Tbe la>t thiug 1 can remember is a strong arm encircling me audketpmgme from tumbling out of uiy chair. What- ever the drug wan, its action was strong and swift. For hours aud hours it held me seuBelesa, and when at la*t ita power faded and my mind, strug- gling baok to a clouded sort of ooneoioaa- neon, made, after many attempt*., the fact appareut to me that I wab lyiLg on a bed, and, moreover, aa I fouud, by atretohiug jui my arms and feeling around, my own bed, is it t j be wondered at that I aald to myself, "I have dreamed tbe most fright- ful dream that ever came to a tormented mind." After tbi* effort of miud I sank back ouoe more luto a semi oonbciuua state, bul fully persuaded I had never q anted my bed. My relief at thia discovery waa immense. Yet if my mind grew easy, I cannot Bay the same/ fur tlie body. My head seemed preparing to split m two, my tongue was dry aud parched. Those unpleasaiit fact* beaame tuore aud more noticeable a* con- ciousueas gradually returned. I sat op iu bed aud pressed my bauds to my tbrobuing brows. " On, dear heart I" I beard my old nurse say, "lie i* coming round at last." Then auotber voice a man's voice, soft aud bland. "Yes, your master will soon be well ugaiu. Ki_idh tot me feel your pulae, Mr. Vaugbau." A soft nnger wa* laid upon my wrist. " Who ia it?" I asked. " I am Djcior Deane, at your service, said tbe stranger. "Have I been ill? How long? How many day*'.' ' " A tew hours only. There is nothing to be alarmed at Lie dowu again end keep quiet for a while. Are you thirsty ? ' " Yea, I am dying with thirst give m* water." They did so. I drank greedily, and fell somewhat relieved. "Now, nurae," I heard the doctor lay, " make uim some weak tea, and when he want* any thing to eat, let him have it. I will look in arfain later on." I)ocl >r Deaue wa* shown out, and old Priccilla returning to my bedside pa. led and punched the pillows to make me more oomioi table. Uy this time I wa* wide awake, aud tbe experiences of tbe night were coming back to me with a distinct- ness and detail tar above those of a recalled dream. " What U tbe time ?" I asked. " Nigb upon noon, M**.er Gilbert Pnaoilia Bpoke in a sorrowful, injured manner. " Noon ! wbat baa beeu tbe matter with me?" The old servant was weeping. I could bear bar. Bbe made no answer, BO I repeated my question. "Oh, Mssivr Gilbert!' she sobbed, " bow oouid you do it ? When I oame iuto the room aud saw tbe empty bed 1 thought 1 abould bave dropped." When she saw tbe em^ty bed! I trem- bled. The horrora of the night were real ! " How oould you do it, Master Gilbert . continued Priscilla. " To go oat without a word, aud wauder half over London, all alone and notable to see a thing I" " Sit dowu aud tell me wbat you mean wbat ha* happened ?" She bad not quits aired ber grievance. " If you wanted to get tipey or i ) take any of tbem stuffs to send you asleep and make yon insensible, you might bave done it at home, Master Gilbert. I shouldn't bave minded it ouoe in a way." " You're a kind old fool, 1'cisoiUa. Tell me all about laat night." It waa not until she saw I was getting quite angry tbat her tougue would oousentto run pretty straight, and when I heard ber account of wbat bad occurred my head was whirling. This is what ah* told me : It omit have beea about an hour after my ttealiby exit that she awoke. Bbe pot her ear to tbe door to make certain thai I was attleep and wanting notbiug. Hearing no sound of life in my room she entered it, and found tbe bed uu tenanted and ma goue. Probably she was even more fright- ened than she owned U being. Bhe knew all about my despondency aud complain- ings of tbe last few days, aud I bave no doubt but her first fear wa* that I had destroyed myself. She started in search of me, aud at once recognizing the impos- sibility of finding me without assistance, turued to that lirat and laal renouroe of an Engliabwoman iu such a difficulty the police. lUuuJ told her tale at the nearest station, and by eutreaties, aud by enlarging ou my intirujuy, made kuown tbe urgency of the oase, aud secured sympathy, tele- graphic messages were sent to other pjlioe statiouH asking if any one auswering to my description had been fouud. Prisoilla waited upon thorns until about 5 o'clock in tbe morning, when a reply oame from the other end of tbe town. IE stated that a young man wbo appeared to be bliud, aud wbo waa certainly drunk aud inoap- ble, bad just beeu brought in. (To be continued.) t \ I Mr. Oladitone returned to Ilawarden on Saturday from bia Bootob tour, which was a oontiuous Aerie* of triumphs. He Wat fatigued yesterday, but txprensed himself as delighted with bia \ m t and as coulident tbat tbe House of Lords would recede from its hostility to tbe Franchise Bill. r v.