Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1879-05-22

llmS 4 lSCaIleu my lueutlly lhcl
suddenly the recollection of my
whole life flooded back upon me,
and all the weight Of it's great bur-
den of remorse again descended.
An old man whose kindly counte-
nance had become familiar to me, rs
in vision, appreared and sought to
rally my despondency with words of
hope and encouragement.
"You have had long, bad spell,
Harden" he remarked, "but you
are coming around all right now,
and will soon be out in the world
again."
Then 1 was not in prison, but an
insane asyluml Thank heaven, my
wretched guilt has not been discov-
cred.
And then I learned from the man
the circumstances of my arrest rs n
lunatic, aud the nature of my all c.
ton. In the operation Of trepan-
nlng at the hands Of unSkilled sur
geons, q small splinter of the frac-
tured skull had been left adhering
in Il POSITION to irritate the men,
branc of the brain, and this trifling
oversight had caused the insanity
attended with such sad results, to
blast the happiness of my life forev-
er, and Stamp my memory with the
iguominy of murder.
The arrangement had been effect
lively repaired by the skilled surgeon
of the asylum, and my mind rapid
ly recovered its original power. But
what availed it, l reflect bitterly
and why had been restored from
peaceful lunacy to Il consciousness
to which death would he a relief :?
One morning the old attendant of
whom | have spoken interrupted
my gloomy meditationS with coun'
tenance more than usually cheerful,
that seemed to radiate the heart Of
some hidden hope.
"IIarden," he remarked, ''you are
growing vigorous again in both
body and mind. l have Il message
for you that may excite you little.
Do you think you can stand an a.
greeable sarprise?
"Anything, agreeable to hear
would needs be a SURPRISE" I re-
piled. "But, my dear friend, I fear
the world could now hardly afford a
message to me sufficiently pleasur-
able to inspire any apprenensible ex-
citement.
"Well, if yol are confident to that
extent, will permit the bearer of
the message to impart it directly to
you.
The old man withdrew, and pre-
sently returned with a companion.
A thrill, premonitory of some great
surprise, startled me as heard the
approaching footsteps.
l raised my eyes. Great hea7ensl
they met the old love-look Of my
wife, ready to advance into my
arms.
The ardor with which I returned
her embrace was assuring that my
power of nerve was restored.
The last great hallucination was
dispelled and a ray of gladness burst
in upon my heart, streaming
through the dark cloud of despair
shat had hung over me those long
and wrotched years. l laughed and
wept by turns. And then 1 drew the
recovered treasure Of my life more
firmly to my breast, fearful 1 was
still in dream that might Danish
and leave me again in misery and
despair.
"And did you follow me here?" !
demanded, when sufficiently collect
cd to make the inqiry.
"There is your address," my
wife replied, handing me au Eastern
paper containing the following para
graph, copied from Il San Francisco
paper
For Stockton-an unknown man
was taken from boarding house on
SAMSON street yesterday, and
brought before the commissioners of
lunacy, and by them committed to
tbs asylum at Stockton. From
what could be gathered from his in
coherent talk, his name is Charles
Harden, from New York City, and
he imagines himself to have com.
mitted some serious crime. His in
sanity is caused by fracture of the
skull which has been improperly
trepanned."
"Apd who was it that l struck
down and killed."
"Your own reflection in your pier
glass mirror, which was shattered
to atoms the night you disappeared.
And so it was my own second self
and none other.
We remain in California, my wife
and l, for its air is genial and its
skies blue and bright; and if at times
recall the recollection Of those long