Newspaper Page Text
THK PREEN PATCH.
r i.thur SI'Eiren in Stockton Mail.]
seven or eight years ago this sign in
we plain black lerters on a white
„*„nd, was nailed up over a store door
Send street, San Francisco:
® JOHN AMBLER, BBY GOODS.
The establishment was a small one,
bat i, was neatly kept, and had the un-
mUti kealle look imparted by prosperity,
t nassi’d the store every day in going to I said,
•nd from my work It was just like
many other stores in the neighborhood,
shin'll with the rest of tho sidewalk
throng I went by daily as unconscious
if their individuality as that of the
■eoarnte cobbles in the street’s pavement.
The eye secs a thousand things where the
brain takes cognizance of one. I have no
doubt that I did glance often into the
■how windows and store doors as I hur
ried along day after day, but there was
nothing in them that the eye thought
worth whilo to telegraph. What caused
me lo note the placo of John Ambler
more than the others was that Mr.
i m liler wore a green patch over his loft
eve I did not think consciously about
this Mr. Ambler might have been mar
ried died or lolied in business, and 1
should have felt no more interest in
either of the disasters than if a boil
had gathered on bis shoulder-blade, un
known to anybody but himself. Possi
bly it was a fellow-feeling which caused
mv eye lo otserve the affliction which
hil Lcfullen one of its kind and to de
mand my attention. If Mr. Ambler
had had but one leg, no doubt my eye
would have been ns indifferent to bis
misfortune as the rest of me was to tho
ireen patch. But tho solicitude of my
me for Mr. Ambler's eye gradually in
terested me in him. I caught myself
wondering in a hazy way, whenever I
passed his store, how ho had como by
the injury which bad disfigured his
countenance.
There was nothing striking in the ap
peal ante of Mr. Ambler except tho
grt cn patch. He was middle-aged, mid
dle-sized, and neither dark nor fair.
His full beard was of lightish brown, as
was his hair, which had begun to fall
out. His face was not sparkling with
intelligence, neither was it stupid—
simply an ordinary case; and his re
maining eye had a somewhat concili
atory expression, imparted probably by
his trade, which was almost exclusively
widi women, to whom he was under the
necessity, of course, of being deferential
by reason of their sex and patronage.
’ 1 was absorbed one evening in a news-
pajier, which I had stuck up against
a Miuce bottle as I consumed my cheap
and lonely dinner in a Second street
restaurant. I chanced to look up, and
ray eye saluted Mr. Ambler’s green
patch.’ Ho had seated himself on the
other side of the narrow little table at
which 1 was eating. Wo presently ex
changed a few woras, and then fell into
conversation. What wo spoke about I
can t remember, but I know it made my
three 12-eent dishes for 25 cents a
pleasanter meal to have some one to
talk to, even if the discourse wns neither
profound nor amusing.
Mi. Ambler and I becamo friends—
that is, each would seek tho table of the
other rather than feed alone. From
this we rose to the intimacy of little
After-dinner walks around the blocks,
defiling tho air with tho cigar presented
to each customer by tho restaurant-
keeper—the motive for tho generosity
being to enuh a rival opposite. I
found Mr. Ambler to bo moderately
talkative, quite intelligent, but not at
all inquisitive. Indeed, he never asko 1
me about myself; I hod even to volun
teer my name. In one of our common
place chats as wo strolled to nid diges
tion. it chanced to como out that he had
a hobby—the collection of autographs.
I was a reporter on a newspaper, and
happened to be able to present hint with
half a dozen brief notes from as many
bo interviews!
“Had you no friepd to tell you the
cause of all this?” I asked.
“How could any friend do. that?” an
swered tho unfortunate Ambler. “Who
th ?« P at °h and g* 3 ** fixedly at me.
ul’ ave 110 special purpose.” I
said hastily, “in wishing to know why
you wear it.”
“Mere idle curiosity, that I am now | over hoard of such another case as mine,
ashamed of,” I said. and hew could any ono suspect that my
“Yes,” I said, “I do feel that I have | questioning look was merely a physical
no right to pry into your secret.” peculiarity? Most of my friends I lost
“I assure you,” I said, “that I sliall rapidly. 1 came to bo spoken of every
u '* ” wue
hold it in the strictest confidence.
“I can’t imagine. I’m sure, what the
consequences would be if I divulged it,’’
1 said.
“Oh, you may rely upon me.” I said.
I give you my worn of honor.’’
.Mr. Ambler replaced the green patch,
and. leaning back in his chair, gave a
short laugh 'that had more pain than
mirth in it. Thon I awoke to tho fact
that while I had been answering ques
tions with eager rapidity, Mr. Ambler
had never askod ono!
“It affects every ono tho same way.’
he said, draining his glass, and sotting
it down with a sigh. “Look at it once
more, and don’t spoak until 1 replace
the pat chi”
i a looked again. It glared question
fiere ns a prying, meddlesome, suspi
cious person whom it would be well to
avoid, and 1 was avoided accordingly!”
“How did you come to know what
ailed you?” I asked.
“By haviug my photograph taken. I
was thunderstruck when I looked at
them. My fnco had beeomo one inter
rogation point. I saw it all then, and
felt ns if the devil had taken possession
of me. 1 wns afraid of myself as some
thing uncanny, and dreaded to be alone.
1 haunt'd the offices of the doctors, but
none could help me. 1 thought l should
go mad.”
Filled with wonder at this strange
story, 1 asked the miserable man how ho
came to adopt the green patch. He re-,
plied that ono Tobias Trotter, a cigar
ingly at me. 1 could on I v by as‘ron" Joiiler on Market street, had been his
effort restrain myself from answering Thoy were boys to-
aloud, as 1 had dono before Never did’! aether, and had always been intimate.
I ft* such a blaze of interrogation j„ I Mr. Trotter’s eves having jjo questioning
any human eye. . Infirmity, and being overturned to the
main chance, he had no difficulty in
finding a wife. A year after his mar-
politicians, asking to
This endeared me to Mr. Ambler. Ho
invited me to his rooms. They were
ov»r his store, and were com
fortably furnished. There were lounges,
msv chairs and pipes. Two
German chromos and a dozen framed
letters, written by moro or less eminent
men adorned the walls. It became quite
a regular thing for us to spend our oven-
in/jp together here, ana smoke, and
drink a glass or two of punch. While
ready enough to talk of his business and
its rivalries, and frequently talking
about himself and tho most interesting
occurrences in his uneventf.il life, Mr.
Ambler nover, by the faintest allusion,
touched upon tho loss of his left eye. He
showed a jvcrfect absenco of curiosity
about me, listening politely if I dropp ?ci
into personal reminiscences, or spoke of
wj seamy side of newspaper work—a
subject which commonly oxcitos lively
interest in most people, it being like a
P^P behind the scenes of a theatre—but
he never asked questions.
The green patch began to torment me.
U challenged me continually to kiqitirv.
• many delicate stratagems I sought
to entrap him into a revelation, it is
misfortune to have a club-foot, and
1 dwelt upon the distress it gave ono to
do deprived of the full use of the body,
Narrating instance* in which my de
formity had cause., mu to suffer great
Nmrtiflcation. He expressed hearty
sympathy, but, to my chagrin, did ho
meet confidence with confidence. Tho
green patch covered un apparently im
penetrable mystery.
But the most earning and alert are
wiaetimcs off theit guard. I knocked
Mr. Ambler’s door one evening. My
yxning footstep and knock bad grown
fjniiliap to him, and it was in an ab
stracted f° ne I bat he colled to
me to come in. He had been absorbed
® J he *tudy of a new autographic prize,
, ** * entered he raised his eyes and
muled absently.
1 my eyes, for tho green patch was
'•Drown up again it his foreheaa, and for
n instant—and an instant only—both
.^••yesmot mire. In a flash he flipped
y n Jbe grpep patch over the left one.
? *t. Ambler w*sconfusedajjdagitated,
ii.,* J *. mA2 ®d» and no doubt my face j
it, for he soon lost his embar- !
lament and laughed a little as he said:
tr*® 11 ’ * inae Fou’vp found mo out, I
Dura'll®* A Weii i teU k**’* bnve a
P L‘ , a P 1 ! 18 wliue I ora it."
<“>wn upon mo that ho bad
ranmted a crime, and wore tho green
'•^UBdiiguUe.
Souk tic * ,4CC > P'P* in
any human eye.
“It is purely physical,” said Mr. Am
bler, as ho let fall tho green patch.
“You have noticed, perhaps, that 1 an
rather deficient in curiosity than othei
wise. You know it is not my habit t
ask questions; yet, if I were to keep Mil
shade up, you would sit here and fancy
that I was devoured by inquisitivene-*
and go on answering questions which,
though 1 might nov»r speak a word, y dc
would imagine I Was asking you—j
as you did a moment ago.”
“It is very strange,” I remarked, be
wildered.
“It is, indeed. I have found no ocu
list who can give any explanation jf it.
None of them over heard of a case lik'
mine. As I look back I can see that i
began to como on about ten years agi.
but it, took two years of very painfi.
experience to make make mo aware <u
of the naturo of my misfortune. Tlu
green patch was a happy device discov
ered by accident, as I shall show you.
The sight of tho eye is perfectly gool,
but I dare not use it, except when I am
alone here. For the first two years,’
Mr. Ambler went on, “I was wholly un
conscious that there was anything pe
culiar in my appearance, and I came to
believe that either tho world was g fin;:
mad or that I was out of my senses
When going along the street, thinking
of my own affairs or nothing at all, men
would stop before me and say, ‘Well,
sir? as if I had asked them some ques
tion; and when I assured them flint 1
had not spoken, they would look sharply
at me to see if I was drunk or hoaxing
them. I made everybody uncomfortable;
without the slightest wish to do so. I
stopped a trial in a district court by
simply going in and taking a front seat,
and watching the proceedings with the
interest of an ordinary spectator. First
tho lawyers began easting side glance*
at mo, and hurriedly covered up their
papers—it was a will case, I remember;
then, with vicious looks at me, they
charged each other with hiring spies.
Even the judge could not keep his eyes
off me, and finally, after fidgeting about
in tho most uneasy way,' adjourned
court for the day. 1 am sure I was fol
lowed homo by agents of the lawyers.
“I used to go to church occasionally,”
pursued Mr. Ambler, “but was com
pelled to give it up. I went late on
Sunday, and was shown into a front
pew. The minister caught my eye as 1
came up tho aisle. I seemed to fascin
ate him, for I had uot been seated a
minute when, after stumbling in his
sermon, he stopped and beckoned a
deacon to him, and leaned down and
whispered in his car. The deacon came
to me and asked if what I had to say to
the preacher was of very great import*
nnce, or could I wait until after ser
vice. I thought both the parson and
deacon were lunatics, and got up and
left the ehurch.
“I vis’ted the theatre ono evening,”
Mr. Ambler went on. “and between the
acts looked around, like everybody else,
but at nobody in particular. My eye
rested carelessly for a moment on a
young lady near me—a richly dressed
and very handsome girl. To my surprise
she colored and looked modedly down.
This naturally excited my interest, and
whenever she looked up our eyes met.
SI.? beenmo agitated, and hurriedly
whispered to a large man with a big
mustache who sat beside her. Ho
turned fiercely, hut, encountering ray
eye, said, in some bewilderment: ‘Did
you speak to me, sir?’ ‘No, sir,’ I an
swered, in astonisment. He glared a*
me for u moment then, and leaning
towurd mo until his face was closo to
mine, asked in a low and ferocious
voice: ‘What the devil is it you want to
know, sir? Can this young lady or my
self give you the information you are
clamoring for?’ I was speechless. An
other riadman, I thought, and to avoid
a seer t I left tho theatre.
“M/ life bccamo a sort of panic. Peo
ple were continually demanding to know
If I had spoken to them 1 saw men
sometimes start and turn pale under my
«yf) as I passed, as if I had gazed into
their souls and plucked out the knowl
edge of their blaokest secrets. I saw
women blush, or laso color, as if my
glance showed that I knew their bidden
faults. I found, too, that ray business
was suffering. Ladies, to whom I lifld
not addressed a word, would lose their
temper and tell mo not to keep asking
them what they were going to buy; that
if it was too much troublo to show goods
they would go elsewhere. Others when
paving for their purchases would de
mand indignantly how I dared to sus
pect them of trying to pass counterfeit
money. Still others grew coquettish,
and giggled And called mo a horrid man
in the sight and presence of my best and
most respectable customers. I was en
gage'! to a lovely girl!”—here poor Mr.
Apt bier’s voice became unsteady and
ho pulled hard at his pipo—“aqd she
thiow mo over. She told me she would
ne er marry a man who was Insanely
suspicious, and never an instant in her
presence but he showed that he doubted
riage ho dashed ono foreman into Mr.
Ambler’s store, with his bat on, tho back
of his head and his coat flying open,
shouting as ho extended his hand: “It’s
a boy, John! Congratulate mo!”
Mr. Ambler gave Mr. Trotter a warm
gmsp, and being t<K> deeply moved by
joyful sympathy for the moment to find
words, tried to look his gratification.
Mr. Trotter met the fatal eye and
started. His joy evaporated and ho
matched his hand out of that of his
friend and started at him with a red
dening in his face.
“How dare you—how dare you insult
me and my wife?” demanded Mr. Trot
ter, husky with rage.
Poor Mr. Ambler made an effort to
speak, but. ere ho could do so, Mr. Trot
ter, goaded beyond self-control by tho
steady bla/.o of mockiug inquiry in the
eye, hit it with his fist, and then fled
from the place.
It was to hide his blackened eye that
Mr. Ambler first wore tho green patch.
To his great joy he discovered that its
presence relieved him of the great an
uoyances—and indeed, dangers—whic)
embittered his life; and for eight year*
he had never appeared among his fellow-
men without it.
“But a terrible fear haunts me,” said
he, as he mixed another glass of punch.
“You know that there is a closo sympa
thy between tho eyes—that when ono is
attectcd by any disease the other is al
most sure to bo attacked in tho same
manner. If my right eve should get to
Lo like my left I would have to quit
business, and God only knows what
would become of me. I should ba cut
off from my kind. I)o you s?o any
sign of it coming on in tho right eye?”
asked Mr. Ambler, pulling down the
lower lid a littlo with his forefinger,
bending toward me, and looking into
ray face with tho most intense anxiety.
“N-no,” 1 said doubtfully.
“Ah!” oxclaimcd tho wretched man,
springing up and pacing to and fro,
wringing his hands, “I knew it, I know
it! Your voice tells mo what I havo
scon in the glass for months past, yet re
fused to believe.”
“Oh,” I cried, “it wns natural that
your fear should give you the look of
eager inquiry which I saw.”
“No, no!” said Ambler mournfully,
uml calming himscIT with an effort.
“It is my fate.”
Whenever wo met during the next
few months Mr. Ambler would turn his
right eye upon ran, and with deep con
cern ask if 1 perceived any change in its
expression. I certainly did, but sought
out of pity, todcccivo him by protesting
that I did not. His constant questioning
of hi i eye in the mirror,and tho absorption
of his mind by ono thought, at last, ns 1
firmly believe, brought on the very ca
lamity which ho would have given all
he possessed to escape. Within a year
from the time when ho made aconfluant
of me his right eye wus as bad ns his
left. No human face ever before bore
such an expression of consuming curi
osity—of such insatiable questioning—
as his now did. He could not wear two
green patches, and was forced to retire
from business.
But thcro is no ill, save death, which
can befall a man that has not its com
pensations. Mr. Ambler became an in
terviewer on one of tho morning papers,
and, as might be supposed, his success
was so phenomenal that tho leading
journals of the country were soon bid
ding for his services. At present ho is
the chief ornament of the Chicago press.
Tlie Good Old Day*.
lUiudcly’s ‘‘Thirty Years* War.”J
Such were tho atrocities committed
upon fheir victims by these robbers that
tho old chroniclers have produced noth
ing moro frightful even in regard to tho
Huns. Avars and Mongols. They would
unscrew tho Mint of a pistol »nd screw
up the thumb of the unfortunate in
the place; they would skin tho bot
tom of the foot, spriukle salt in
tho fresh wound, and then mako a goat
lick the salt off; they would
pass a horse-hair through tho
tongue and draw it slowly up
and down; tluy would Lind about
the forehead a knotted rope, and draw it
constantly lighter with a lever, lfun
oven was at hand they would forco their
victim into it, kindle a fire in the front
of it, and compel him to creep out
through this fir*.*. They often bored
holes in the kn<'u-pans of those whom
they would torment, or poured disgust
ing fluids down their throats. When the
robbers had by torture compelled tho
surrender of hidden treasures, when
their lust cf plumb r was satisfied and
their inhuman cesires quieted, they
completed tho prt of of their vandalism
by destroying t* at which they could not
carry off.
IF^r ««**« • •
CALVIN CARTER & SON
For SOOTS AJTP SStOSS,
Public Square, . . America*, Ga,
BEST GOODS
FOK
LEAST MOSEY!
New Store
AND
New Goode.
R. T. EYED,
INSURANCE AGENT,
OFFICE IN COMMERCIAL HOTEL BLOCK,
Forsyth. Street Americas, Ga
AGENT FOR THE LEADING
GULLET and LUMMES COTTON GIN?,
Tiro J3ost: Crlxzn Madoil
CALL AND SEE ME, WHEN IN WANT OF INSURANCE OR GINS.
septl8m3 1=1. *1*. BYRD.
NEW ADVERTISEMENT.
Jas.Fricker&Bro.
fMl.d Ptauiit.,
I Kxchange.]
Boilci pcnnutH are a favorite dixh
with tho Chinese. Lon? cooking ho-
neath water extracts all tho oil and
I aware frantically that doubt Of flavoring print iple, and leaves a dough
Iter had never entered my mind. She | that can be used in the same manner ns
was weeping, and at my impassioned i that msde from Hour.
words relented! but as ahe raised bar —r-r— ——r—,
„„ ... __ hoad to eome forward «he sprang bock I Entstton: Sober thought about une - .
MyA face^ own uber aouj and Hi deatlny is by no
AMEKICUS. GA.
About September first we shall move into
our new store, at the old stand, Barlow Block,
Public Square, where we shall open the most
elegant assortment of goods in our line ever
brought to Southwest Georgia. At our pres
ent store on Cotton Avenue, we have a large
stock of Watches, Clocks and Jewelry, Solid
Silver and Plated Ware, Pianos, Organs and
Sewing Machines, and everything else usually
iept in a Jewelry and Music Store, that must
be reduced to save moving and make room
for new goods. Therefore, for tho next
Twenty Days, or until we move, will sell any
thing we have in stock at prices lower than
have ever been reached before
EVCAPITAZ. PBISB *78,000,.d
Tlek.t.oul,85. flh.rei I* pr.porti.a
Louisiana State Lottery Go.
“ We do hereby certify that tec supervise
the arrangements far. all the Monthly and
Semi-Annual D ratting a of The Louisiana
State Lottery Company, and in person man-
age and control the Drawings themselves,
and that the same are conducted with hon
esty, fairness, and in good faith toteard all
parties, and tee authorise the Company to
use this certificate, with facsimile* of our
signatures attached, in its advertisement*.**
**** Commissioners.
Incorporated m ISM tor fft yean hr the Legisla*
lure for Educational and Charitable purpose*—
with a capital of 11,000,000-to which a reserve
fund of over 1550,000 has alnce been added.
Bjr an overwhelming popular vote its franchise
wm made a part of thepiesent State Conatitutioa
adopted December Id, A. D., 1179.
Tkt only USUry evrr toted on and endorud tw
the people of any State.
It never scales or postpones.
Its Grand atnarle Humber Drawings
take place monthly.
A BPIfKHDlD OPPORTUNITY TO
XL l JLA* OIL * v * m * eleventh grand
DRAWING, CLASS L, IN THK ACADEMY
«K MUSIC, NKW ORLEANS. *1IJKSDAY,
November II, lSS*-lT«th Monthly Draw
iDf.
CAPITAL PRIZE; $10,000.
100,000 Tickets at Fire Dollars Each*
Fractions, lu Filths, In Proportion,
LIST OP PRIZES:.
1 CAPITAL PRIZE $75,000
\ <lo do 20,000
a PHIZES OP $0,000 12,000
i do 2,000, 10,000
10 do 1,000,... 10,000
do M0, 10,000
M0 do 900, 90,000
8QP do
POO do
1000
1,907 Prizes, amounting to
Application for rates to elnbs should be made
ily to ilie o'Hce of the Company In New Orleaaa.
For further Information write Hearty, giving
fUll address. POSTAL NOTES, Express
Money Orders, or New York Exchange in ordl-
nary letter. Currency by Express (ail sums of
85 anil upward by Express at our expense) ad
dressed
M. A. DAUPHIN,
New Orleans. La,
• M. A. DAUPHIN, * *
OOT Seventh Ht., Washington, D. C.
Make P. O. Money Orders payaole and address
Eealatercd Letter* to
MBW ORLEANS NATIONAL BANK
Hew Orlaaaa, La.
ill Scbool Snuplies,
((BUM * <»VStit« MWgttjM wUIt BIB,
Come and examine our stock, get our
prices, and we will guarantee that you will
be convinced that we mean what we say
Remember we have great bargains to offer for
CASH and the time in which to secure them
is limited. Come one, come all, and don’t
fail to come early.
JAS. FRICKER & BRO.
Americus, Ga., Aug. 13,1884.
MRS. FRED LEWIS’.
Am.rioua, a a., Aug. 24, 1884. |f
Tim Lost is Fold.
AND CAN BE FOUNM'AT
BUG CHAPMAN’S
Bar and Restaurant.
EAT, DRINK AND BE IIRRY,
and sleep
renovafid _
wine odlar
a’free bed. Kverytblnf’ has ‘been
renovated sad is sweet and clean. I had In Bag's
Liquors from $ to is lean Old I
and set your share of the heat Bacchus the
Second In drink*, a rival of Delmonico In food
ratine. Cali early aad secure jour beds and
something toast and drink. Words cannot ox-
prraa my thank* to my Meads. Come odd see mo
end yea shall be ratlaiUd.
sept 12ml HENRY C. JOHNSON.
W. J. PRIM IPS.
JOHN •. MUM.
★
BAKERY,
Cotton Arenne.
We call the attention of the publle to the bet
that wo are prepared to fill all orders for Fresh
Oread, Cakes, Candy, Etc., of our own make—
good end pure. We keep *’*> Confection* and
Groceries, which we sjU at the ruling prices
Bay and sell Country Produce. Olve os a ealL
IF. J. PHILLIPS <c co.
Jalymr
Copartnership Notice.
1 have this day as»<wiate<l with ta» in my Hide
and Commls-lon business Mr. V. A. BEf4.se bet*
ter carry on tho same, at my old stand on Cotton
Avenvr, under the Arm same and riylo of 0. M.
COHEN 8 CO. s u cou||x
Thanking the public for tho liberal patronage
K. confidence p«t in me while conducting thin
KffL'srttrfia.**-*
’"nTufitWl*