Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 12, 1896)
WtoM * * 12 THE O FAITA PATJjT BEIS : SATURDAY , SEPT33.M-BER 15 , 1800. . . . The Closing of the Circuit. | A Talc of the Main Royal Yard. ty Hy Morgan Kobcrtson. $ ' ( CVipyrlKhl , ISM , by the 8. S. McClure To. ) "While mx child lives and I am here to tench him , ho will not know the meaning of the words light , color or darkness. Ho will grow up Ignorant of his condition nnd will be educated from expurgated booka for the blind. I shall bo his teacher and us far na Is In my power shall lighten his curse. " So said l/lcutcnant Dralstcd , retired naval officer , to the physicians who had examined the expressionless blue eyes of his Infant ion. "No hope , " they had said. The trouble was with the optic nerve or the Inner connection with the brain. He would novcr know light from darkness , though the tyc , being well nourished , would grow with the body nnd retain Its color. The wlfo and mother had died In giving birth to thr llttlo one , and , as there wore no loltcttous relatives on cither side to Inter fere , the doubly aUHcted man was free to Educate his child as ho wished. He erected a. high wall around his property , gave em phatic notice to the villagers to keep out and retired Into the darkened world of his ton. While none of the villagers approved of his plan , few cared to question or openly criticise the stern , Iron-faced man who oc casionally appeared on the streets , and In time , ns they died off or moved nway , the strange existence unfolding within these walls was forgotten , The child grew , healthy and strong. With 4tls father for teacher nnd a few trusted servants , his only companions , ho passed his childhood and early youth , and was educated as are the blind with this differ ence : Nothing was taught him that In his father's Judgment would lead him Into In quiry as to his true condition. His four remaining sonacs became abnormally keen ; he heard distant Bounds that the others could not detect , could taste an odor In the air , and could feel , besides colors , the faintest of shadows on the wall which latter changing phenomena nas given him as an uncertain attribute of heat. In him , too , developed to a roinarkablu degree what linn lie en called the magnetic ucnsc , which enables the blind to distinguish the proximity of a solid object or nu open space. So strong was this perception that ho needed no cane , to traverse at a run the rooms and passages of the house or the winding paths of the garden. And , to rc- rtuca the Hit of embargoed words , and because - cause In a measure It did the noik of his missing sense , to this faculty was given the name , night. Hence he would say that hu "saw" something , when he merely meant that he felt Its presence. To the extent that ho was Influenced by external Impressions , he was happy , but In- Btlncts within him , aided by maturing reasoning power , became , as ho neared man hood , fruitful causes of suspicion. Thu Bounds beyond the garden wall the making of his clothes by some one unknown to him the occasional presence of silent men , who worked quickly with tools and nmdo changes In doors and passages the continuous sup ply of food from without , and the great front door locked from his earliest remem brance , wcro problems to his now logical mind that he would solve. They Indicated the existence of a sphere of action far be yond his prebunt environment. Ho tor tured lib father with speculations one day , and his education stopped. "I have taught him too much , " groaned the unhappy man. "I started wrong. I Ghould have niailo him deaf and dumb be fore. I began. " Tlio father took rcfugo In direct deceit ascribing Bomo of the phenomena which troubled the boy to the Great Unknown , others , to the wisdom and experience- other men which would all como to him In tliho. Ho thus , temporarily , eliminated all factors but one that of the locked front dOor and could only meet the boy's de- maud to be allowed passage through by a downright refusal. The result was a stormy scene. The father retired to his study , sorrowing over the first , harsh words ho had given hU BOH , and the boy sought the extreme corner of the garden , where , sitting on a rustic bcncht and brooding rcbelllously over the BUddca appearance of boundaries to Investi gations , he heard , among the multitude of etrangc , jet familiar sounds from beyond the wall , a new one , and felt the presence of Bomo one near nnd above him. Not need ing to raise his head to assist his conscious ness , ho asked : "Who U It ? " "Me , " came a musical voice. "Who ? " he asked again , with a puzzled face. "Oh , auntie says I'm a tomboy. Do you live hero ? Jly , "what a pretty garden. May I rome down ? " "Yes , coroe , " ho answered , understanding the request. "Look out. No , I'll get the ladder. I couldn't climb back If I jumped , " A black-eyed , dark-haired sprite of 15 on TEARS CAMK TO HBU RYK8. 1op of the wall pulled up a ladder , lowered It and clambered dmsa , "You're not polite ; you might have helped mo , " bho said , with a coquettish flirt of her curls , as 8hc faced the Immovable boy. "What's 5 our Oh , I didn't know. I'm BO eorry. " Tears came to her eyes nnd a look of womanly pity swept over her childish face , She had scon his expressionless , half-closed t > ye . "Sorry ? AVhat for ! " 1m asked , "Sorry you came ? I'm glad , Who are you. ? " He passed hU hand lightly over her ahouldcrs and fare. "I'm sorry for you. I didn't know you wc-ro blind. Indeed , I didn't. " "Ullnd ? What la that. Why , you are a boy like me , aicu't you ? Uut your hair Is dark , while mine Is llgut. How old arc you ? I um 18 , " "No , I'm not a boy , " shu answered Indig nantly. "I thought you were blind , but you can bi > o my hair. You mustn't handle mo like tliU , you mustn't. I'll go back. " Ho felt that he had offended her , and Instinctively for entertaining visitors an well us A iitTllous knowledge of another tex , had not been Included lu his curricu lum bo became deferential and Invited her to sit down. Eho did so , at a bafc distance which ho respected , "Nice evening , Isn't It ? " she said , break ing the embarrassing silence , but before he could a = u'er this puzzling rcmaik went on : "What alls your eym ? What inatts you keep them half closed ? " "I don't know. Do I ? " He felt of them , opened them wide end turned bis face to ward'her , " bo was struck agalu by their indefinable lack of expression. "Tell me uboii yourself , " lie returned. "Where did you come from ? " "Oh , 1 don't live here , " tald the maiden. ' 'I'm ' juat vultlng Aunt Mary and thought I'd climb the fence , I don't live anywhere , I've , been aboard papa's ulilp all my life. He's ' cojalUH for uie tonight , because we tall tomorrow. We're going to Shanghai this voyage. " This was unintelligible , but from the list of strange words ho selected one and asked what a ship was , "Why , don't you know ? A vessel , square rigged on all three masts. The 'Kranklyn' carries double to gallant sails and sky sail yards. Papa says he'll try her with stun sails next voyage. " " 1 never learned of these things , " said the boy. "You say you live In a ship. Is It a house with a garden like this ? " "Oh , the Idea. No , " she laughed merrily ; but the laugh changed to a little scream , "There's ' she "Take It a caterpillarshe said. away , Quick. Knock It off. Ugh. " She sprang toward him. "On my dress , " she ex claimed. "What. Where , What Is It ? " he an swered , reaching out both hands In the vacant air. HU knowledge of caterpillars was nearly as limited as his knowledge of dresses. She brushed the creeping thing away with her handkerchief , nnd slttlni down , composed herself much na a bin smooths Us ruffled feathers then looked In tcntly at the sightless eyes of the boy staring straight over her head , "What wasdt ? " ho asked. "What hur you ? " tf , . < "Nothing1 ! It's all right now. You arc "blind , aren't you ? " she said gently. "I don't know , " he answered , a little Im natlcntly. "You said that before. Wha docs 'blind' mean ? " "Why , you can't see. " "Yea , I can. " "Hut your eyes were wide open nnd yoi didn't see the caterpillar. U was right undo your nose , too. " , "I don't see 'with my nose. And wha difference does It make If my eyes were open ? What arc they good for , anyway ? " "To see wltK"t'of ) course. Didn't you know ? " , . "To sec with' ' ? * Uyes are good to see with ? Do you see with your eyes ? " "Yes. Didn't you really know what eyes wcro for ? Didn't you know that they wcrt , to sec with ? Couldn't you sec when you wcro little ? " "Not wllh my eyes. I see with something Inside of me ; a sort of consciousness o things. How do you see with your eyes What Is It like ? I thought I was the same ns other people. " "Why , " answered the girl with n llttlo quaver In her voice ; "we sco the sky , am the sun and stars , and flowers , and people anil bouses and and Oh , we see everything that Is daytime. In the night we can' see because' it's ' dark. " She was crylut softly. "How far.-a\\'ay can you sco with your eyes ? " nshcdVUiCxboy. cagtrly. "I can sco six feet. " O * % "Oh , we can see -miles and miles. We can bee everything In front of us. " "And Is every one that way but me ? " "Most every one. There are a few blind people. But , tell mo" said the girl , wiping her eyes , "how do you know the color of my hair ? " "With my fingers. Do you tell colors with your eyes ? " "Mary ! " roared a breezy voice from over the wall. "Mary ! Bear a hand , now , my girl. Where me you ? " "Oh , there's papa , " she exclaimed. "I must go. " She moved toward the ladder. "Goodby. " "Don't go,1' ho cried , following her. "Don't go. Come back. " She turned , threw her arms around his rieclc and klscd him. "Oh. you poor poor boy , " shn crloil In a burst of Infinite pity nnd grief. "Stone blind , and jou never knew It. " She kissed him again and with her great , sympathblng hcatt near to break ing Its narrow confines , bounded up the ladder and over the wall. N'ot oncj within-his memory had the boy felt the pressure , of lips to , his OVVIK nnd this pure kiss of'nn Innocent , childish girl his Initial experience became a turning point In his life , for It outweighed every other Influence and consideration known to him. him.With With the kiss still warm on his lips he felt for the ladder , climbed to the top nnd cnlled repeatedly the name ho had heard : "Mary. " Ho was not answered. But his sensitive ear distinguished the sound of retreating footsteps long nnd heavy , light nnd pattering with the lessening murmur of a sweet voice , which dwindled ns he listened until It became as the tinkle of a distant bell , and when this was hushed In the silence of the summer night ho descended to the bench , feeling as might a lost soul , called to Paradise , only to receive sentence of doom. y "Stono blluJand ; you never knew It. " He repeated her last words again and again , for they rang In his ears. Others could see with their eyes and ho could not. Why ? They could sec things miles away and he could see but six feet. Why was It ? Why had his fathqr.f.rom whom he had received everything , MeblcfV him this ? And why. having denied him , did be prevent him from going out through the door , where , perhaps , others would give him this wondrous fac ulty. It was.wrong , unjust , shameful. Mary was kinder than his father. As ho thought of the generous sympathy of the girl , which he had felt without wholly appreciating , his bitter resentment toward his father Increased to passionate rebellion "Mary lives in a ship , " he muttered. "It has no garden. It can't be far. " He climbed the ladder , raised It , lowered it , the other side and descended to the street. He was running away looking for Mary and the wonderful unknown faculty of eyesight. The patient labor of eighteen years was undone In one short ten minutes by a warm-hearted , Irresponsible iconoclast In short dresses. A inlnuto bcfore .tho father had como softly Into the garden , and without beelng the ladder , had looked a moment on the broodIng - Ing boy ; then , fiom motives of delicacy , had retired , leaving him to come In when he pleased. At the foot of the ladder he hesitated , than followed the wall to the corner , where an other or fi.'iic&J'lut'gan. IIo followed this and reached another which ho know was parallel to the 'ono ho had climbed , and hero ho found n niovnble part which swung llko a door. T.hl.8.)0 ' ) opened , and the creakIng - Ing of tliii hinges was answered by a deep- toned growl fiom. behind. Hu had often heard this sound. and dogs had been described t scribed to him'but' , never having been struck or Injured In his life , ho knew not the fear of physical pain , and so though feeling an Impulse to flee waited until he felt the Im pact of a hairy body and the closing of pow erful jaws on his arm , Then Instinct an tedating his reason by several thousand jears dominated lila mind and he acted rightly. Ho was strong and active. Reach ing for the throat of I ho beast , ho choked wllh all tbo power of his flngcm , until the jaws relaxed Uien , filing the gasping , snarl ing brute from him'passed through and shut the gate fccllng.jvvlthln him a dim conscious ness of victory and examined hU arm. The skin was unbroken ; the dog's teeth had but pinched severely. Ho had conquered in his first friction with the unknown , but very humanly became frightened when the daiiger was past , and not daring to return , went on , feeling the fences. He was walking on boards , which BOOH gave way to gravel then grass ; but fences of different design still guided him After an hour or so these ended and ho felt open upaco. Turning sharply to ( ho loft , bo'found hard giound underfoot , then more grass. As the ground , made easiest walk ing , ho held to It , turning to the right or loft as ho felt the grass under his feet. All night the boy followed this country road , pausing at Intervals to call for Mary , wondering at the Immensity of the now world ho was exploring , but feeling no fear of the darkness and solitude for this had been his llfo's portion and with all fears that she might not bo in front of him dominated by an .Indefinable impulse to go on. He wps In the hands of his Instincts- belter guides than bin eyes could have been , with his complete lack of worldly knowl edge. In tun morning , faint with hunger and fatigue , with feet blistered and bleeding , bo sat on a stanfedoorsiep , and with the strange roar of tboMvabing etty In his cars , called to tbo passers-by , Tasklng for Mary and the ship. None answered until \\lthered old woman , hobbling along on crutches , stopped and said > , "Poor b'y , what alii yet Ob , Mltker o' God , , he's blind , What ye doln' here , b'y ? " "I want to find "ilnry. I'm hungry. " "Como back , me b'y. Come back Jlst 'roun' the earner. Me husban * w * blind rlst his sow ) . I'll glvo yo a bile. " She fed him , questioned him without satisfactory results , watched his head sink en the table In the lethargy of exhaustion and put him to bed , with Injunctions to her grandson , Tim , to " 1'ave him be. " Then she went to her apple stand. She hftd returned at nightfall and prepared her supppr before ho awakened ; then the mutual questionings wcro resumed , A stub born pride prevented him speaking of his father or of himself , beyond asking how he could learn to sco with his eyes but he demanded persistently to be taken to tbo ship and Mary , and became so urgent that the old woman finally called her grandson. "Tim , " she said , "take him down to the docks n bit. an' try an' find his friends. Ho's lost , poor b'y , an' a bit daft. Mebbe ho come down from some ship close by. Bring him back If yo don't find them , Tim. " The only description nf Tim that this story requires Is that he was n typical gamin , fond of dog fights one of which , In a nearby vacant lot he was now mlcslng. "Dcrc's a ship bound out tomorrer , two docks down , " he said , ns they started. "Is dat do one ycr Icokln' fur ? " "Does Mary live thcic ? " asked the boy eagerly , "Dunno ; her name's Mary , I think Mary somethin' , Lo's hurry. " They Lurried from different motives and soon reached Ihe dock , where , standing close up to the black , flaring bow of n full- rigged , deep-laden shop , Tim spelled out , In the light of a neighboring street lamp , the name , "Mary Croft , " In gilt letters on the topgallant rail. "Mary , sure 'uoiigh , " ho said ; "Is dat do ono ? " "Is It Mary ? " asked the boy ( In a frenzy of excitement. "Mary , " ho called. "Mary , Mary. Oh , take me In , Tim ; show me the way. " "C'm on , " said Tim , laconically. Ho piloted him to the long gang-plank , placed his hands on the man-rope and said , "G'wan up ; dat's do ship ycr lookin' fur , I guess" then sped to the dog light. Slowly yet eagerly the blind boy as cended the gang-plank , felt the grating and steps Insldo the rail , and descended to the deck calling the name of the girl whose magnetic sympathy had enchanted him from home ; but , as the only soul on board was the watchman , very properly sound asleep In a forecastle bunk on the last night of his job , the boy's call was not answered. Just abreast of the gang way was the booby-hatch house , which led to a " "tween-decks" below , formed by the extended poop or half-deck on which he stood. He felt the proximity of this hatch house and reached It , finding In the after part a door unlocked , which ho opened and | called again for Mary. Hrorlng no answer , he stepped In with his hands on the sliding hood above the door. But his foot encountered emptiness , the hooJ slid back from the pressure of his weight , and be fell heavily to the deck below , striking his bead against a cask , and lay quiet. Toward morning he aroused tea a half consciousness , crawled aimlessly about twenty feet and swooned again. Hero ho lay screened from observation until the officers and crew had come aboard In the morning , the ship had towed out to sea nnd the pilot was preparing to step Into the waiting dingy which would take him to the station boat near the Sandy Hook light ulilp. Then ho was seen , groping under the hatch. Ha was hauled to the deck and into the presence of the captain , and officers , a pltla- blo spectacle , with his clothing soiled from the fllth of the 'tween-dcck , his sightless eyes staring from deep hollows In his livid face and his temples streaked with congealed blood from a cut In his head. "Stowaway , " grunted the captain , glaring on the trembling boy , weak from shock and seasickness. "All right , You'll get enough of it. " "That's no stowaway , captain , " said the pilot , with one leg over the rail. "He's blind as a bat. I'll take him ashore if you say so , " "What do you say , young brat ? " bawled the captain. "We're shprUharidcd , and you can stay If you want tb Do you want to go , or do you want to stay In the ship ? " "I would rather stay In the ship. I wnnt to see Mnry. " The pilot was In a hurry , and hearing the first part of the sentence , slid down the side out of hearing of tbo last part which might have delayed his departure , had he heard it. And in this ship the boy went to the southward , while tho. < pilot went ashore. But In ono of tbo numerous police dragnets of three cities and their suburbs this pilot was gathered In as were the old woman and Tim and their testimony ap prised a nearly crazed father of the where abouts of his son. A week later a racing yacht , provisioned for six months , left port with Lieutenant Bralsted In command. The Mary Croft was or had been n com posite ship that Is , wooden , planked over Iron frames. But this , among the other characteristics of her class , was all that wau left her. During a long career , marked by numerous dlsmastlngs and reflttlnga she had lost her Iron spars and wire rigging , and had reverted to the old-fashioned wood and liomp. She was laden with her kerosene oil in tin cases , was bound to tbo antipodes and was manned with the usual shorthanded - handed crow , representative of all nations , BO dear to the heart of the American captain. Without being asked his name , or an ex planation of his presence on board , the child of nature who had not yet heard an oath or a foul word , whoso lowest Ideal was the boon of eyesight was driven , wllh kicks and curses , forward among the crow where his inquiries for Mary wcro silenced with laughter to work the best ho could , and learn to be a sailor. Profane abuse , muffs or fist blows , and a stinging rope's- end were the methods employed In this school of seamanship , and his aflllctlon only Increased the rigor of the tutelage , for none of them believed him actually blind. His habitual use of the word "see" and Its derivatives , the keenness of the faculty that he meant , and the readiness with which ho found any part of the deck where he had once been , was evidence to them that ho was sjiammtng an outrageous violation of nautical ethics. As the ohlp neared the tropics , his educa tion , from being confined to the work on deck , progressed on higher lines. Followed by objurgations from the officers , ho felt his way aloft ono day to the inlzzcn royal- yard , and , under thu Instruction of a sailor who accompanied him , learned to loose and furl the sail. This became bis especial task , to which , asleep or awake , night or day , he was called when sail was shortened or set. Thinly clad and bailees , ho suffered torture from storm and sun , and In the watch below , the servant of the forecastle , lie cleaned pots and pans , washed the shirts of the rest , and brought their food from the galley as ordered to. No word of sympathy no kindly Inquiry or expression of friendly Intel-it , lightened ils darkness , or relieved the hideous nlght- naro which enveloped his soul he was nerely a subject for forecastle wit and ridicule , Hut into the depths of his misery and helpless terror surrounded by phenom ena of sound and motion beyond the power of bis mind to grasp when the old Ife In the garden faded to a dream of another world , and even bis father's voice vould not come back he carried the memory of the soft , yielding feature * of the girl , And the kiss on his lips , nnd th grieving oympathy of her voice. And thl memory kept him sane ; for whilehe re mcmbcrcd , he hopnd and the reason tha hopes will not totter , In the dreadful , stifling tjnlm of the zen between the trade-winds , the hlp lay Ilk a log , with the deck hot to the feet , and th hemp rigging sticky with oozing tar thn had been hard as wood. A gale a hurrl cane would have been welcomed by th crew , who worked In the rigging or on th blistering deck , but not a cats-paw of win fop days had relieved the nlr of Its furnac heat , and no Cloud appeared In the metalll sky with Its prbmlse. Off to the westwar was n. large clipper ship , which at the be ginning , had been hull-down on the horlzo but now , at the end of the sixth day , I obedience to the law of attraction , was bil flvo miles away and drifting closer cac hour. To the northward was n speck , whlc the captain made out with his glass to b the gaff-topsails of .1 schooner below th horizon. "This Is a cyclone breeder , " he rcmarkei tn the first mate , as he put the glass In It place. "The barometer nets queer. " II went below and returned In n moment pal and earnest. The mercury's ' liclow 21) ) , " he sail ! "Shorten down toi topsails before supper I'm nfrald of this. " "Look there , captain , " answered the mate pointing to the southern horizon. Sea am sky were mergeJi tu n filmy , translucen wall of light blulslrgrny , that shaded hided nllely Into the colortof the larger elements As they looked , It Know larger. The ship t tbo westward was taking In royals. "In with the kilos. " said the captain tersely. "Call all hands , " roared the mate , ns h sprang forward. "Starboard watch aft , " h continued as the crew answered. "Let g royal an' gallant hnU'ards , fore an' aft , an clew up. Down * wI * the fiyln'-jlb. Bear hand , my lads , bear a hand. " The men needed no encouragement. The ; saw the portent In the southern sky am hauled , nnd worked , and multiplied them SOMETHING IIAIID STRUCK HIS LEGS , WHICH HE GUASPBD. solves ns only n short-handed crew can , Tin three loyals were soon hanging In the bunt lines and they manned the topgallant gear The blind boy quickly furled Ills mlzzen royal and came down , while the men wen. still tugging at topgallant clewline and bunt lines. The mate saw him. "Here , you cro-jack eyed cub. Lay alof an' stow that main-royal , " he shouted. Th boy obeyed , and as the captain directed the hauling up of courses and lowering of uppci topsails before sending the men aloft to furl , he was alone lu the rigging climbing a strange road , to find In his darkness , by Ihe similarity of structure with the mUzen mast , a royal yard , where ho was to do two men's work. The dim shading of gray soon assumcr form nnd size , and a. deeper hue. Covering half of the southern horizon and stretching up , a dingy curtain , nearly to the zenith it presented , in sharp contrast with the brilliant blue qf the ! sky above and around n -menacing aspect : ot solidity horrid to be hold In the velvety blackness of the center , which absorbed every ray of light from the western sun'reflecting none. It was the complete negation of light and color. Bonenth It was a narrow band of pale gray and beneath this the' glassy sea. which bore no trace of ruffling wind. The cloud If cloud It was scorned to move with volition of Its own , silently , ! with no mutterlngs of thunder or gleam of lightning. As the boy reached the royal yard , ani the men below weret manning toptall ilown- hauls , It gathered iln Its shadowy edges lifted up and earner on , a mighty , roughly symmetrical ballland hovered nearly over the ship. Tints of deep purple now ap peared In the volleys of Its surface , and on its western cdgo was n golden rim. "Mako fast all , " cried the , affrighted cap tain. "Lay aloft and furl , " he roared. While the last word was still on his lips a sheet of white flame enveloped the shli and areport beyond all Imagination or de scription shocked tbo air from horizon to horizon. The cloud above spread out to ai elongated spindle , like the black wings of a mighty angel of death , and went on over head , having done its work. The Mary Croft was a disintegrated wreck. Where wood separated Iron In that composite hull there was molten metal and flame. Eacl oaken rail was a line of flre. From the roaring furnace arose through each hatch and a dozen ragged holes In tbe deck , spurtIng - Ing , hissing columns of black smoke and burning oil and Incandescent gas. The hemp rigging slackened and with the fes tooned caiivas burst Into flame , which crept aloft threatening with new torture a moan ing boy on the main royal yard arm , who , alone of that ship's company. Insulated on a dry wooden spar , had heard the report nnd felt n small part of the terrific dis charge of heaven's artillery that had de stroyed the ship. Not a man standing within or nbovo that Iron ribbed hull had known what struck him. Each was dead before the bensory nerves could net. The boy on the yard , racked with excru ciating pain In every nerve , clung to the spar with ono hand and held the other to his head for In his head was the acme of his agony. Then he became conscious of heat from below , with smoke , which stifled him. Clinking and gasping , expecting mo mentarily to hear the roar of the mate , ho attempted to furl the Ball. Then he felt rain on his bare head largo drops , which multiplied to a shower , then to a deluge of water that compelled him to hold tight to the yard with both .hands. The pain In Ms head Increased as lie took away his hand , and strange , drcam-llko sensa tions crowded his mind sensations of mo tion , as though his brain was loosened and turning around. The heat nnd smoke from below ceased , then came wind cooling and welcome which Increased , at first a breath , then a gust , then a breeze a gale a screamIng - Ing hurricane. Ho heard loud creaking below - low him ; the yard -Incllnta and ho shifted his position ; it became upright. Then ho heard a grinding crash from somewhere and , clinging tightly to the spar , felt a sickening dizziness which lasted until. coinIng - Ing with a swishing crash of water , ho felt a concussion , which , tearing him from the yard , hurled him Into a salt , engulfing cle ment that filled his mouth and nose , and choked him. Something hard struck his legs , which ho grasped , and soon ho could breathe. It was the yard , which ho knew by the touch , As ho climbed on the floating tangle of spar and cordage , be felt again the scorch ing heat and breathed the stifling smoke. Then he heard a distant report. It was an encouraging signal from the clipper thlp , which , laying over to the lessening squall , was fleering a coerce that would bring her straight to the wreck. But It frightened the boy , reminding ihlm of the awful sound that had hurt hlm.i To him , this terrible experience was but'little ' stranger than bis dally contact and environment. Ho did not know what had ktfpencd or bow he came to bo in the water. 1 He called for help , but hearing no answer , waited for tome ono to come. The soreness In hla joints was leav ing him , though ( when he opened his eyes them invariably jcaao the pain , and the whirl , and the phantasms In his head. But this pain gradually ! bocaine endurable and the whirl nas left pronounced , to that the phantasmagoria wait defined and at times stationary. As lie changedhis ! position on the vpar , he noticed that tbe phantasms changed also. Then ho found that merely moving his head to the right or fief t , or up or down- seemed to cause this change and motion. He realized that when he faced one way , there was little differentiation nothing but ft slight sensation of motion that was pleas urable. In another position , there came sharply defined shocks which Irritated him. Facing another way. ho felt a return of the pain nnd a lively hatred of the phantasm which accompanied It. Ho turned nway Instinctively shutting his ejcs , and the movement and all sensation ended. Then h opened them nnd the phenomena re turned. He felt of hl.s eyes with his hand nnd a new phantasm blotted out all others. Ke- movlng his hand took It away. Ho brought both bands together and repeated the ex periment ; then separating them and bring ing them together again and again , the truth camp homo in him. "I see , " he cried , to the sky and ocean. "I can sco wllh my eyes. 1 con sec. I can see. " The optic nerve had been nt work since the lightning bolt had jarred It Into life , but he had just found It out. In his great Joy ho shouted with all the power of his lungs he wanted his ship mates to know , for e"rn they , with the whole world , must rejoice with him. His shout was answered by a distant hall , nnd he turned , nnd shouted again. Into Jls field of vision came a moving object , which slowly grew larger. Ho reached out his hand to touch It , but failed. He walled- shouting at Intervals until the moving thing filled his eyes with Its strange outline , then heard the voice again. "All right , my lad , " It slid , close to him ; "hold on. In bow. Way enough. Bark wnter , stnrbonrd. Got him ? " Strong hands grasped him nnd ho wns lifted Into a boat. "Who's left. Any one else ? " asked the voice. "I can ECO , " he answered ; "I can BOO with my eyes. " "Poor devil , he's crazy. Back water , men ; we'll look aboard , If we ran. " "Where wcro you when she wns klrutk ? " asked the man nearest him. The boy was staring nt the moving pic tures filling his brain which ho knew must be men , like himself. For answer , he I hut his eyes and felt the featuics of the ques- tlo'ncr. "Where were you when she was struck ? " the man. repented. . "Struck ? Yes , something struck me ; I wns on tha main royal yard , and then I was In the "wnter. 1 don't know. \ \ ha' was It ? Who are you ? " "Groat God , sir , " sant ; out the man. "ho was on the royal yard when the main ixast went over. " "No wonder he's dift. Way enough , boys. " " ' ' The flames above deck , temporarily quenched by the rain , were ngaln break ing forth , fed , by the raging gulf below. Holding his ! ' -breath , the officer cllmbo'l the weather mlzzcn-clmlns , nnd shading his eyes from the fierce heat , glanced once at th hecatomb of the chattered deck of the Mar ; Croft , and dropped back , pale and horror struck. "Sho'll sink In half an hour , " bo said "It's best. Glvo way. " They left the ship and returned to tliel own the clipper- where the boy , nstonlshci that no one shared his joyousness , wa lifted up tbo side and placed on the deck. Ho looked around and staggered , until shutting his eyes , ho recovered his balance. "Oh , papa , It's the blind boy , " cxclalmci a voice that ho know which sent his blood leaping. "Mary , " ho cried. "Mary , Mary , when are you ? I can see now. I can see with m ; eyes. " She was at his side In un Instant With his eyes still closed , he felt of her fuoi and hair , revelling in ecstatic delight o the senses which remembered her ; then opening them , stamped his foul with he Image , which he had not yet Imagined. Am ! It pleased his new-born seiiie more than any of the phantasms that had yet appcare to It ; for Mary was a very pretty girl. "I'm so glad , " she said , simply , and drcv away. The action was maidenly , am' natural , yet it pained htm immeasurably. But next morning , freshened by sleep , clean and dressed in clean clothes , ho wa more companionable and Interesting ; am as the great ship charged to the southwnid Iho girl was teaching him that the mast wcro up and down , that the horizon wai cross-ways , and that ho could not grasp a schooner-yacht , which was fast overhauling them , with his fingers. Then ho told th girl nnd her father all that he could of hi adventures , slnco ho left the garden. The account was not very clear , but enough seas as to bring tears streaming down the face of the girl and a hearty burst of profane words to the cantoln's lips , In which he averred that the proper place for the Mary Croft , her officers and her crow , was at the bottom of the sea. The schooner-yacht ranged up on tin ship's quarter and a clear , ringing volci sang out : "Ship , ahoy ! Have you seen the Mary Croft ? " "Struck by lightning yesterday nnd foun dered. " "When the voice came again It wa broken and hoarse. "Arc there any survivors ? " "Father , " cried the boy. "Father , I'm here , . " That yacht carried n double crew shi was manned to "carry on" and a shou wont up from forty throats on her deck sucl : as Is seldom heard at sea. UNIFORMS , &F.FOSTfft SON fife's ' RAIUA1 Leaves IUUHMNGTON ft MO. HIVJIJl.Arrives [ Omaha I Union Depot , IQlti & MuBonan. _ | Omaha 8:35 : n m Denver" Impress . . . . .TS'SSam :3pin.lllk Hills. Mont. Ac 1'uget Slid. ix , 40. ; > | im 4:3'im : | Denver nxprees 4 ; ' > ; imi IMitm..Xebrnslia Local ( except Sunday ) , . 7IDnn . . .Lincoln Local ( eve-cut Sunday..r/.gouu ; _ ZDSi : > in..l'ast Mall ( for Lincoln ) -lully. . . Leaves [ CHICAGO , DUnLINC'ION S. . OmulinUnlonUepot ] _ , IDtli & Mason titn.f Omaha " CMpm : ClilcaKO Vestibule..7.,7 8:00am : 9:4Sum : Chicago Uxpretu 4:15pm : 7:50r : > m..Chicago und Ht , Loula UxpreBS , . 8:00am : l:40aiu : I'nclnc junction Local C10i ; > m Fast Mall SiCOpm Leaves ( CHICAGO , MIL. & ST. PAUL.lArrlvca OnmliaLJnlon | Depot , lOlti & Mason 8ts. | Uinalm C:30pm : Chicago Limited 8:05am : ll:00am..Chicago : Impress lex. Sunday ) . , 3:25pin : Lcaxca CHICAGO & r.'OIlTHWKST'N.Arrlve | OnmhnUnlon | Depot , )01h ) S. Mason 8t8. ( Omaha 0:6nm : . Eastern ix [ > ie 3. . . . . | 3:10pni : 4:45pm : . Vcetllmleil Limited . CiUSpm G:16i : > m . , . . , .8t. Paul Impress . t:30am : C : l.im. . . . Ht. I'auS Limited . , , , i > ; 05pin 730am.Cniroll ; & Sioux City Local , , , .lllOiini ; CSOi : > m . Omaha ClileaKO Special , , , , , , S:00am : . Missouri Valley Local . 9:30a : LenW ICHICAG07 R ' ! . " & re Onuilialnlon [ Depot , 10th & Maeon Sin. I Omaha n \tsrt , WHST. "b:45pmOklahoma : & Tera Ex. ( ex , 8un,10:3am ) l:40pm : Colorado LlmlH-q 4:00pm : Leaves I C , , BT P. , M. & O. | Arrlve Omnlml Depot. 15th nnj Webster Rta. | Omaha 8lBnm.,7..Sloux : City Accommodation 8:00m : [ t:0 : | > m.Sioux City L'xprem ( ux. riun..indium ClIiliin..Ht. _ Paul Limlteo. 910am " Leaves" ) " T. ; n. Aflio"VALLKY. . JArrUeiT Oninlml Depot , JStn und \VtbBter an. I Omaha S:00pm : I'liut Mull and Kxprcta 6:00pm 9.00pm.ex. Bat. ) Wyo. Ex. ( ei. Mon. ) , . t:00pm 7KOam..rremont : Local ( Sundays Only ) . , 7:50am..Noriulk : Kxpreex ( ex. Sun.0:25ain ) : 6jUpm , . . . .Ht. Paul Kxprege. . , t10air. ; .eaves I K. C. . St. " J7 * Tc. It. lArrlveT OninhaUnion [ Depot , 10th Mason Bin ( Omaha 90am.7Kanen ; City Day KxiTCB . . . . .7":10pm : 0 OODm.K. O. NlBlit Hx. via U. ' . Trans. t30am -eaves I MISSOIJIU PACIFIC. ( Arrives Omnlm | _ Depot , IMh and Wcbater fits. I Omaha 3:30prn.r.Ni'brrt : ku & Kansas Limited , , ,12:2'pm : ) : SO.m. | . Kansas City Kxpr- . , C00am | ; Miin . Nc-brathn Local ( ex. Bun. ) . 8:00am , eu\ci"r HIOlJX CITy & PAfiriC. lAfFlvcs" 3malm | Depot , 15th and Wttottr Su. I Omaha ! ! . / . _ : . . . . ; . _ J.lmltcJ . ; _ 8:10am : Svcsl 6KUX CITT & "p 'f'n > ia jArrlvci' 3nmliaUnlon | Depot , 10th & Mason gtu. | Omaha C:40am..fit. Paul Passenger . , T.ll:10pm ! : SOani..BIoux City Passenger . 9:0pm : iUpm . Bl. Paul l.llnlli-il . 9JOain 7e 7esT 7esTl l Union Depot , 10th & Ma on8tpOmaha _ | _ S:50ami : . r.Kcitrney iipre . . . , . " . .T. . 4:10prr. : I'TOam. . . . , , , , .O\crland Limited . 445pm ; Mpm , Itrat'ou & Hlruttisb'i ; Hx. ( ex , bun ) 12Mp MDpin. Grand Inland llxprtss ( ex Run ) . lZOijnt : isMpm . . , , Past Mall. . . . . . Ji 40ajn "fines ! M'AHAHM RAILWAY lArrlvi'S jmahaU'nlun npot.101li _ & _ MJ CJII _ St " . [ Omaha & , . St , I.ouli Cannoii UaU. . . .7.11W : tU ) BACIfACHE , -WHY ? Because your Liver and Kldre t3 arc J | out of ordcf Dr. J. H. fticLEA&'S LBVER AND KflDftEY BABJtt is the "PEERLESS REMEDY' or curing ailments of the Liver , Kidneys and Bladder/ Diabetes , Rheu matism and Bright's Disease. ron SALE tvcnvwHtnc AT $1.00 pin DOTILC THE Dn. J. H. McLEAN MEDICINE CO. , ST. l.ci'is. Mo. [ Full stenographic report of the discussion of the silver question , which took place at Urbana , August [ JiSth , J896 , was printed in The Bee after correction of [ j * typographical errors by each of the principals in the de- [ jT bate. Four newspaper pages of large clear type. | f COPIES MAY STILL BE HAD. 5t Two copies . for . 5 rents : 12 copies for 25 cents . . ; JOO * * > < * * * t m f 4 copies , for $2. Special ratesjor larger quantities. TiT Write or apply to The Ezz Business Office. ' 4 > * * 4sr * * * civ * * A * * | t * o % % * A % . , - .1 * flf * it * il * 4 is no soap in the world tbat etaucls so high lit the opinion of thoughtful women ns For washing clothes or doing housework , it can't be equalled. Try it. Sold everywhere. Undo only by The N. K. Fairbank Company , - Chicago. o 0,0 OETWtCN AND n y tLSQa Full stenographic report of the discussion ofths silver question , which took place at Creighton Theater , Omaha , May J5 , J896 , was printed in The Bee after correction of typographical errors by each of the principals in the debate. Copies May Still Be Had. r. & & & Price 5 Cents. t Write or apply to the Bze Business Office. The Keeley Institute i'oP WHISKEY , MORPHINE , OPllDI , TOBACCO AND CIGARM HABITS. Write for terms and testimonials. Corrospontlunuo uonlldontial. - Neb. EDlfGA TION.U. . l&fENTWORTH l l.nrfi-i.t ( rM luml In tlm Out nil W - t. " KflOl ITARV K > iuliinciitu | mpltu. Siirpllcd hjtlio Govern Bond " Mint wltli Anus and Army OIHcor. Addrew , for C tul.i uo smtRS , 11 HALL Boarding School for Young Ladies OMAHA , - NESB. riieRcv. Robert Dolierly.S. . T , D.Rector "ALL TKIW liKfilNS SJJPT. 10. Bond for OaLaloouo. FHE UNIVERSITY OF NOTRE DAMti , Nairn Damn , Irullttiui. Classics , Letleis , Science , taw , Civil , Median * col and Electrical Knneciingf \ 'Iliorougli I'rtpurutory and Commercial ; oureef. CcclrvlasUfiU HuJuUs at special ialc-s Kounu I'rce. Junior ur S nk > r Year , Collegiate imrscs. St. ndwurd's Hall , ( or to > s undents. The I ostli Term will open September 8tli , 1896 , : Ulogu i sent Free un application to Very lluv , A. Morrl y , C.b.C. , i'r lUent , AMERICAN CONSERVATORY : KIMQALL HALL. CHICAGO. All Lnuirlusof J mill riutrtinieiiiul Untie , Dramatic Art , iH'l.nrtr. Training clfpt. fur It arla . I'muriiaimrd a irr , Tenni mudtiratti. FallU'rmU'trluiibuht.Ttli. lllurtratoa catalogue nulled Irce. I , I , JUilblit.ur , Writur. Modern progressive school. Cour > rs ol ifudy tin IJronii plan. Music , Art , Elocution , Physical Cul- _ lure. Address I'asldcnl , ARCHIBALD A. JONES. COLLEGE OF MUSIC AND ART. JACKSONVILLE , ILL. Competent Inrtructor * m u\i'i > druarlmfiit. W l | f > | UliiRl | | iiiodeni bullillnic , A ClirUllan home fvr tloit rultmrU Miirt inillnyi. Writ * tot llr. JO * . U. IIA1IKEIL I'rt.U IEHCES ELLETS FOR THE 1RVEH