Called Back

Front matter

Trtf sHE MANTLELESS LIGHT. NO MORE WORRY OVER MANTLES. APPLY FOR PRICE LISTS TO— THE MANTLELESS 158 QUEEN VICTORIA STREET, LONDON, E.C., INCANDESCENT 81 STATION STREET, BIRMINGHAM GAS CORPORATION LTD., GARAWAY & CO. ■Illl IM IIIIHIII II MI I ■ IIW II limn — — — SEEDS "ONLY THE BEST." One Year's Supply for Kitchen Garden, 10/6 to 63/- 15 Pkts. Annual Flower Seeds, 1/2 post free. FRUIT TREES Larger Collections 51- to 63/- All Carriage Paid. 0F AU KiNDS- 12 Dwarf Roses post free for 7/- CATALOGUES ON APPLICATION. GARAWAY & Co., Nursery & Seedsmen, CLIFTON, BRISTOL. ™"™^ ' "^ ■•^^^■"■"■■■"■■■■•■^■"""^^ <_>_»_^__^»_ A. S. SCULL, uu" R'c'p" Sanitary Specialist HEATING & LIGHTING ENGINEER. 17 Redcliffe Street, BRISTOL. "Sirs,— Please forward to Balmoral Castle one do™ vk ti. «7oS2S-JS>- t5th 1896.

EMPRBSS OF RUSSIA, addressed to r* r~ m.t ++ w- **.* *+. __ _^f^. "Yours truly, F. COSTiCR." BENGERS FOOD ,s SOLD |N t,ns by *i,fc,m** Vi-?M^^% CHEMISTS. 4c, EVERYWHERE. All Rights Reserved CALLED BACK cv HUGH CONWAY A NEW EDITION BRISTOL J. W. Arrowsmith, ii Quay Street LONDON Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent &• Company Limited TO THE READER. It may not perhaps be without interest to the general reader to give a short history of " Called Back," which on its publication as Arrowsmith's Christmas Annual for 1883 did not seem to indicate the phenomenal success which it afterwards attained. The Publisher had made two ventures in previous years to establish a Bristol Christmas Annual, but without success ; still, however, believing there was an opening for such a work, he approached " Hugh Conway " — whose first experience in story telling had appeared in the Bristol Christmas Annual, Thirteen at Dinner, and what Came of It, under the title of " The Daughter of the Stars " — with the view of a third venture.

At first it seemed as though negotiations could not be carried through, but in the end " Hugh Conway," when writing upon another matter, added to his letter, dated January 26th, 1S83, a postscript of which the following is a facsimile : This offer was promptly accepted ; it will thus be seen that for the sum of £80 the Author sold the entire copyright, and in six weeks from that date the MS. (although not a line was then written) was in the printer's hands. It is perhaps needless to say, for it is a matter of history, that on the success of " Called Back " the Publisher entered into fresh arrangements with " Hugh Conway," and for a period of six years paid a royalty on every copy sold. As previous attempts to establish a 1/- Annual had not succeeded, it was resolved to try the experiment of issuing one at 6d., and this accordingly was done : the result wa#not altogether satisfactory, inasmuch as at the end of three months out of an edition of 6,ooo there remained about 3,000 unsold ; but believing in the merits of the book, the Publisher still looked for a fairly good sale.

Chapter I. In Darkness And In Danger

I have a reason for writing this tale, or it would not become public property. Once, in a moment of confidence, I made a friend acquainted with some curious circumstances connected with one period of my life. I believe I asked him to hold his tongue about them — he says not. Anyway, he told another friend, with embellish ments I suspect ; this friend told another, and so on and on. What the tale grew to at last I shall probably never learn ; but since I was weak enough to trust my private affairs to another I have been looked upon by my neighbours as a man with a history — one who has a romance hidden away beneath an outwardly prosaic life. For myself I should not trouble about this. I should laugh at the garbled versions of my story set floating about by my own indiscretion. It would matter little to me that one good friend has an idea that I was once a Communist and a member of the inner circle of a secret society — that another has heard that I have been tried on a capital charge — that another knows I was at one time a Roman Catholic, on whose behalf a special miracle was performed.

If I were alone in the world and young, I daresay I should take no steps to still these idle rumours. Indeed, very young men feel flattered by being made objects of curiosity and speculation. But I am not very young, nor am I alone. There is one who is dearer to me than life itself. One from whose heart, I am glad to say, every shadow left by the past is rapidly fading — one who only wishes to live her true sweet life without mystery or conceal ment — wishes to be thought neither better nor worse than sh_ really is. It is she who shrinks from the strange and absurd reports which are flying about as to our antecedents — she who is vexed by those leading questions sometimes asked by inquisitive friends ; and it is for her sake that I look up old journals, call back old memories of joy and grief, and tell every one, who cares to read, all he can possibly wish to know, and, it may be, more than he has a right to know, of our lives.

This done, my lips are sealed for ever on the subject. My tale is here — let the inquisitive take his answer from it, not from me. Perhaps, after all, I write this for my own sake as well. I also hate mysteries. One mystery which I have never been able to determine may have given me a dislike to everything which will not admit of an easy explanation. To begin, I must go back more years than I care to enumer ate; although I could, if necessary, fix the day and the year. I was young, just past twenty-five. I was rich, having when I came of age succeeded to an income of about two thousand a year; an income which, being drawn from the funds, I was able to enjoy without responsibilities or anxiety as to its stability and endurance. Although since my twenty-first birthday I had been my own master I had no extravagant follies to weigh me down, no debts to hamper me.

I was without bodily ache or pain ; yet I turned again and again on my pillow and said that my life for the suture would be little more than a curse to me. Had death just robbed me of one that was dear to me ? No ; the only ones I had ever loved, my father and mother, had died years ago. Were my ravings those peculiar to an unhappy lover ? No ; my eyes had not yet looked with passion into a woman's eyes — and now would never do so. Neither Death nor Love made my lot seem the most" miserable in the world. I was young, rich, free as the wind to follow my own devices. I could leave England to-morrow and visit the most beautiful places on the earth : those places I had longed and determined to see. Now, I knew I should never see them, and I groaned in anguish at the thought. My limbs were strong.

I could bear fatigue and exposure. I could hold my own with the best walkers and the swiftest runners. The chase, the sport, the trial of endurance had never been too long or too arduous for me — I passed my left hand over my right arm and felt the muscles firm as of old. Yet I was as helpless as Samson in his captivity. For, even as Samson, I was blind ! Blind ! Who but the victim can even faintly comprehend the significance of that word ? Who can read this and gauge the depth of my anguish as I turned and turned on my pillow and thought of the fifty years of darkness which might be mine — a thought which made me wish that when I fell asleep it might be to wake no more ? Blind ! After hovering around me for years the demon of darkness had at last laid his hand upon me. After letting me, for a while, almost cheat myself into security, he had swept dosvn upon me, folded me in his sable wings and blighted my life.

Fair forms, sweet sights, bright colours, gay scenes mine no more 1 He claimed them all, leaving me darkness, darkness, ever darkness ! Far better to die, and, it may be, wake in a new world of light — " Better," I cried in my despair, " better even the dull red glare of Hades than the darkness of the world! " This last gloomy thought of mine shows the state of mind to which I was reduced. The truth is that, in spite of hope held out to me, I had re solved to be hopeless. For years I had felt that my foe was lying in wait for me. Often when gazing on some beautiful object, some fair scene, the right to enjoy which made one fully appreciate the gift of sight, a whisper seemed to reach my ear — " Some day I will strike again, then it will be all over." I tried to laugh at my fears, but could never quite get rid of the presentiment of evil.

My enemy had struck once — why not again ? Well I can remember his first appearance — his first attack. I remember a light-hearted schoolboy so engrossed in sport and study that he scarcely noticed how strangely dim the sight of one eye was getting, or the curious change which was taking place in its appearance. I remember the boy's father taking him to London, to a large dull-looking house in a quiet dull street. I remember our waiting in a room in which were several other people ; most of whom had shades or bandages over their eyes. Such a doleful gathering it was that I felt much relieved when we were conducted to another room in which sat a kind pleasant-spoken man, called by my father Mr. Jay. This eminent man, after applying something which I know now was belladonna to my eyes, and which had the effect for a short time of wonder fully improving my sight, peered into my eyes with the aid of strong lenses and mirrors — I remember at the time wishing some of those lenses were mine — what splendid burning glasses they would make !

Then he placed me with my back to the window and held a lighted candle before my face. All these proceedings seemed so funny that I was half inclined to laugh. My father's grave anxious face alone restrained me from so doing. As soon as Mr. Jay had finished his researches he returned to my father — " Hold the candle as I held it. Let it shine into the right eye first. Now Mr. Vaughan, what do you see ? How many candles, I mean ? " " Three — the one in the centre small and bright, but upside down." " Yes ; now try the other eye. How many there ? " My father looked long and carefully. " I can only see one," he said, " the large one." " This is called the catoptric test, an old-fashioned but in fallible test, now almost superseded. The boy is suffering from lenticular cataract." This terribly sounding name took away all my wish to laugh.

I glanced at my father, and was surprised to notice his face wearing an expression of relief. " That may be cured by an operation ? " he said. " Certainly ; but in my judgment it is not well to meddle, so long as the other eye remains unaffected." " Is there danger?" " There is always danger of the disease appearing in the sound eye : but of course it may not happen. Come to me at the first sign of such a thing. Good morning." The great specialist bowed us out, and I returned to my school life, troubling little about the matter, as it caused me no pain, and, although in less than a twelvemonth the sight of one eye was completely obscured, I could see well enough for every purpose with the remaining one. But I remembered every word of that diagnosis, although it was years before I recognised the importance of it.

It was only when compelled by an accident to wear for some days a bandage over my sound eye that I realised the danger in which I stood, and from that moment felt that a merciless foe was ever waiting his time. And now the time had come. In the first flush of my manhood, with all that one could wish for at my command, the foe had struck again. He came upon me swiftly — far more swiftly than is his custom in such cases ; yet it was long before I would believe the worst — long before I would confess to myself that my failing sight and the increasing fogginess of everything I looked at were due to more than a temporary weakness. I was hundreds of miles from home, in a country where travelling is slow. A friend being with me, I had no wish to make myself a nuisance by cutting our expedition short.

So I said nothing for weeks, although at the end of each week my heart sank at the fresh and fearful advances made by the foe. At last, being unable to bear it, or in fact conceal it longer, I made known my condition to my comrade. We turned our faces homewards, and by the time London was reached and the long journey at an end, everything to me was blurred, dim, and obscured. I could just see, that was all ! I flew to the eminent oculist's. He was out of town. Had been ill, even at the point of death. He would not be back for two months, nor would he see any patient until his health was quite restored. I had pinned my faith upon this man. No doubt there were as skilful oculists in London, Paris or other capitals; but it was my fancy that, if I was to be saved, I could only be saved by Mr. Jay.

Dying men are allowed their whims : even the felon about to be hanged can choose his own breakfast, so I had an undoubted right to choose my own surgeon. I resolved to wait in darkness until Mr. Jay returned to his duties. I was foolish. I had better have trusted myself in other clever hands. Before a month was over I had lost all hope, and at the end of six weeks I was almost distracted. Blind, blind, blind ! I should be blind for over! So entirely had I lost heart that I began to think I would not have the operation performed at all. Why fly against fate ? For the rest of my life I was doomed to darkness. The subtlest skill, the most delicate hand, the most modern appliances would never restore the sight I have lost. For me the world was at an end. l Now that you know the cause, can you not imagine me, after weeks of darkness, broken in spirit, and, as I lay sleepless that night, almost wishing that the alternative refused by Job — to curse God and die — were mine?

If you are unable to realise my condition, read the above to anyone who has lost his sight. He will tellj'you what his feelings were when the calamity first came upon him. He will understand the depth of my woe ! I was not left entirely alone in my trouble. Like Job, I had comforters; but, unlike Elipbaz and Company, they were goodhearted fellows who spoke with cheerful conviction as to the certainty of my recovery. I was not so grateful for these visits as I should have been. I hated the thought of anyone seeing me in my helpless condition. Day by day my frame of mind grew more and more desponding and morbid. My best friend of all was a humble one : Priscilla Drew, an old and trusted servant of my mother's. She had known me from earliest childhood. When I returned to England I could not bear the thought of trusting my helpless self entirely to a stranger's care, so I wrote to her and begged her to come to me.

I could at least groan and lament before her without feeling shame. She came, wept over me for a while, and then, like a sensible woman, bestirred herself to do all she could to mitigate the hardships of my lot. She found comfortable lodgings, installed her troublesome charge therein, and day and night was ever at his beck and call. Even now, as I lay awake and tossing in mental anguish, she was sleeping on an extemporised bed just outside the folding doors which opened from my bedroom to the sitting room. It was a stifling night in August. The sluggish air which crept in through the open window made little perceptible difference in the temperature of my room. Everything seemed still, hot, and dark. The only sound I could hear was the regular breathing of the sleeper behind the door, which she had left an inch or two ajar in order that she might catch my faintest call.

I had gone early to bed. What had I to wait up for now ? It was sleep and sleep alone which brought forgetfulness, but to-night sleep refused to come to me. I struck my repeater. I had bought one in order that I might, at least, know the time. The little bell told me it was just past one o'clock. Craving for sleep I sighed and sank back upon my pillow. Presently a sudden fierce longing to be out of doors came over me. It was night — very few people would be about. There was a broad pavement in front of the row of houses in one of which I lodged. Up and down this I might walk in perfect safety. Even if I only sat on the doorstep it would be better than lying in this close hot room, tossing from side to side unable to sleep. The desire took such full possession of me that I was on the point of calling old Priscilla and making her aware of it ; but knowing she was sleeping soundly, I hesitated.

I had been unusually restless, cross and exacting during the day, and my old nurse — heaven reward her ! — was serving me for love, not for money. Why should I disturb her? Let me begin to learn to help myself like others in my wretched plight. I had already acquired this much, to dress without assistance. If I could now do this and leave the room unheard, I could, I felt sure, grope my way to the front door, let myself out, and, whenever I chose, return by aid of the latchkey. The thought of even a temporary independence was attractive, and my spirits rose as I resolved to make the attempt. I crept softly from my bed, and slowly but easily dressed myself, nearing all the while the sleeper's regular breathing. Then, cautious as a thief, I stole to the door which led from my bedroom to the landing.

I opened it without noise and stood on the thick carpet outside, smiling as I thought of the sleeper's dismay if she awoke and discovered my absence. I closed the door, then, guiding myself by the balustrade, passed lightly down the stairs and reached the street door without accident. There were other lodgers in the house, among them young men who came in at all hours, so, the door being always left on the latch, I had no bolts to contend with. In a moment I was on the doorstep, with the door behind me closed. I stood for a short time irresolute, almost trembling at my temerity. This was the first time I had ventured beyond the house without a guiding hand to trust to. Yet I knew there was nothing to fear. The street — a quiet one — was deserted. The pavement was broad. I could walk up and down without let or hindrance, guiding myself, after the manner of other blind persons, by tapping my stick against the curbstone or the railings.

Still I must takea few precautions to enable me to ascertain my latitude and longitude at will. I came down the four steps which led from the front doo^ turned myself to the right, and, by aid of the line of railings, set my face towards the end of the street. Then I began to walk and to count my steps, sixty-two of which brought my right fool on to a road, which told me I had reached my limit. I turned, counted back the sixty-two paces, and then sixty-five more in the same direction before I found myself again off the pavement. My calculations were verified by my knowing that my house was very nearly in the centre of the row. I was now quite at my ease ; I had determined the length of my tether ; I could walk up and down the 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 down — up and down. I heard one or two cabs pass me, and also one or two persons afoot. As these latter seemed to pay no attention to me, I felt glad to think that my appearance and gait were not such as to attract notice. Most men like to conceal their infirmities. This night excursion did me a great deal of good. Perhaps it was finding that I was not altogether so helpless and dependent that changed in a few minutes my whole frame of mind. The mental rebound took place. I went from despondency to hope — extravagant hope — even to certainty. Like a revelation it came to me that my malady ;was curable; that, in spite of my presentiment, what friends had been assuring me would prove to be the truth. So elated I grew that I threw my head back and walked with a firm quick step, almost forgetting that I was sightless.

I began to think of many things, and my thoughts were happier ones than I had known for months. I gave up counting my paces, I walked on and on, planning what I should do; where I should go when my darkness was removed. I do not know whether I may have at times guided myself by the wall or pavement edge ; but if so I did it mechanically and instinctively, without noticing the action or remembering it afterwards. I cannot say whether it may be possible for a blind man, who can divest himself of the fear of encountering unseen obstacles, to walk as straightly and accurately as one who can see. I only know that, in my preoccupied and elevated state of mind, I must have done so. Intoxicated and carried away by the return of hope, I may have walked as a somnambulist or as one in a trance. Anyway, forgetful of all save my brighter thoughts, I went on and on, heedless of the missing sense, until coming full against a person walking in the opposite direction recalled me from my visions and brought me back to my misery.

I felt the man I had encountered shake himself free; I heard him mutter "Stupid fool ! " and go swiftly on his way, leaving me motionless on the spot where the collision had 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 with me, I could not even say how long I had been walking. It might have been ten minutes, it might have been an hour since I gave up counting my steps. Judging by the number of things I had thought of since that rapturous exaltation of mind commenced it seemed more likely to be the latter. Now that I had come back to the earth I must be content to remain on this particular spot of it until I heard the step of a policeman or -someone else who might happen to be abroad at this unusual hour — unusual, at least in this quiet part of London.

I leant my back against the wall and waited patiently. I soon heard an approaching step ; but such a staggering, uncertain, lurching kind of step, that from the sound of the feet alone I was able to determine the condition of their owner, and wasobliged to decide that he was not the man I wanted. I must let him pass and wait for another. But the feet staggered up to me and stopped near me, whilst a voice, jolly, but like the feet unsteady, cried — " 'Nother feller worsh than me ! Can't get on at all — eh, old chap ? Comfort t' think someone's head '11 ache worsh than mine to-morrow!" "Can you tell me the way to Walpole street?" I asked, standing erect to show him I was sober. " Walpole street — course I can — closhe by — third to left, I think." " If you are going that way would you lead me to the corner of it ?

Unhappily I am blind and have lost my way." " Blind, poor beggar — not screwed then. Guess I 'm in nice state to lead anyone. Blind leading blind — both tumble into ditch. I shay, though," he added with drunken gravity, " make a bargain — I lend you eyes, you lend me legsh. Good idea. Come 'long." He took my arm and we went yawing up the street. Pre sently he stopped. "Walpole street," he hiccupped. "Shall I take you to your house ? " " No, thank you. Please put my hand on the railing of the corner house. I shall be all right then." " Wish I were all right. Wish I could borrow your legs to take me home," said my bibulous conductor. " Good night — Blesh you." I heard him tack away, then turned to complete my journey. I was not quite certain as to which end of Walpole street I was starting from ; that mattered little.

Either sixty-two or sixty-five paces would leave me in front of my door. I counted sixty-two, and then felt for the entrance between the railings: not finding it, I went on a step or two until I came to it. I was glad to have reached home without accident, and, to tell the truth, was beginning to feel a little ashamed of my escapade. I hoped that Priscilla had not discovered my absence and alarmed the house, and I trusted I should be able to regain my room as quietly as I had quitted it. With all my elaborate calculations, I was not quite sure that I had hit upon the right house ; but if they were incorrect I could only be a door or two away from it, and the key in my hand would be a certain test. I went up the doorsteps — was it four or five I had counted as I came out ? I fumbled for the keyhole and inserted the latch key.

It turned easily, and the door opened. I had not made a mistake. I felt an inward glow of satisfaction at having hit upon the house at the first attempt. " It must have been a blind man who first discovered that Necessity is the mother of Invention," I said, as I softly closed the door behind me and prepared to creep up to my own room. I wondered what the time was. All I knew was that it must be still night, for I was able to distinguish light from darkness. As I had found myself so close to Walpole street I could not have walked for any length of time in my ecstatic state, so I fancied it must be somewhere about two o'clock. Even more anxious than when I started to make no noise which might awaken people, I found the bottom of the staircase and began my stealthy ascent. Somehow, blind as I was, the place seemed unfamiliar to me.

The balustrade I was touching did not seem the same. The very texture of the carpet under my feet seemed different. Could it be possible that I had entered the wrong house ! There are plenty of instances on record of a key having opened a strange lock. Could I, through such a circumstance, have strayed into a neighbour's house ? I paused ; the perspiration rising on my brow as I thought of the awkward situation in which I should be placed if it were so. For a moment I resolved to retrace my steps and try the next house ; but I could not be quite sure I was wrong. Then I remembered that in my own house a bracket, with a plaster figure upon it, hung near the top of the stairs. I knew the exact place, having been cautioned many times to keep my head from knocking against it. I could settle all my doubts by going on and feeling for this landmark : so on I went.