Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-04-24
Walk with me there, and hear my tale as we

Walk with me there, and hear my tale as we
CO."
looking far from Well" began Eliza Bankes, the
color In her cheeks, of course attributable only
to her having stopped over the broken plates.
nas Md MAKE So Su Gng that
one night one hour more than can help
VIII make all the difference between wilful
wrong and misfortune that has fallen on both
allke,' said Adam. He would not be dissuaded
rom setting out at once, and in another minute
the two men were pushing their way through
the driving mist, Adam talking as they went.
That which had befallen him had caused huge
re]oicings among certain of his friends; men
whose names stood high in the medical world of
science, and who were grateful to him beyond
measure for affording them so fine an oppor-
parting from Matte. he had taken train
TO London. where arriving in due
course, he drove in a cab toward his
few yards OF which his cab overturned and
Adam was thrown out, falling heavily upon his
head. They said his skull was fractured
Alter long interval, however, he opened his
eyes and recovered consciousness and, as he
did SO, slowly at first, after time more fully,
the astounding discovery was made that men,
weeks to make sure of this. The symptom was
attributed TO brain fever, TO the effects OF
shock; TO one thing, then to another, but as
time went On, and the mind struggled In vain
to remember, just as the body might vainly
have tried to use crushed or paralyzed limb,
the doctors all arrived at the line conclusion.
Some portion of The injured SKULL, pressing
upon the brain, had paralyzei the nerve OF
memory. The one or two other authentic cases
OF like condition were eagerly cite1, III a
babble OF learned talk arose over poor Adm,
he had been going when the accident hap
pened. To be sure. he relearned by degrees
from Others. his mOthar, IS; ecially the past
which was mysteriously Dlotted out from his
W t,,lfI !,
self had known no one could now recall to him.
His Sussex walking tour, the lonely farm upon
the Downs, Matte. his marriage and brief
honeymoon were to his paralySed mind as
though they had never been, but.fOr a sense OF
trrepai ale .. loss that seemed to weigh upon
him and made the misery OF his life.
However, this state was one from which, so
said his friends. science could at will recall
him. and the operation necessary to restore
Adam to himself was deferred only until his
health admitted of its being attended by mini
mum of risk.
1t was while Adam was ia the state above
described that Drew had seen Mrs. Armtage
A proud woman, often as she had wished that
her son would settle in life, she was ill-pleaSed
to hear that he had married farm servant for
that was the one fact that, stripped of Drew's
panegyrlcS upon Mattte'S superior education
and refined manners, alone stared her in the
face.
Hastily resolving that there was no need to
embitter her own life by any attempt to recall
to her son this, Inflated marriage, and that,
see the farmer Or to hear Mattie'S name should
not be made, she did not hesitate to deceive
her unwelcome visitor. Change OF scene had
been ordered for the patient, and before Drew
called at the house in Grosvenor.Street for the
second time Adam and his mother were gone.
1t was in Paris, months after. that the opera
ton was f1naily and successfully performed.
and then, the first word of Adam, was Matties
name. The first effort OF his neWly-recovered
powers was to relate to his mother the history
OF his marriage and to write to his wife.
ur1 he hos, fIa.. l.
her nor driven her mad." he exclaimed.
1t was to his mothers hand the letter was
contlded, and with that exclamation OF his
ringing in her ears Mrs. Armttage stood beside
the brazier, filled with charcoal and burning in
the ante-room OF their apartment In the
Champs ElyseeS She was not bad woman,
but the temptation was too strong to allow
this affair to unravel ITSELF and see what
would turn up. II the girl were dead, why no
harm had been done. and this terrible mistake
OF her son was rectltled at once. II the other
alternative were to prove true and Matte had
lost her senses, Adam would be equally free
from her, or measures could be taken to insure
so desirable a result Mrs. Armitage tore the
letter into pieces, and waited by the brazier
until the fragments were charred. Adam asked
no aW kWard questions, and was not even sur
prised at receiving no answer to his epiStle,
since In 1t he had announced his coming. The
first day his health admitted of it, he set out
alone for England.
Such was the story; one that Adam himself
knew only in part, being ignorant of his mo-
efforts to seek Adam. and had mentioned that
no letter had reached Matte Adam was at no
loss to understand at once the part his mother
had played. But he never spoke Of it, then OF
at any future time.
The hOuse-door at StOnedene stood ajar: even
Ing had closed In now and the chilly fog was
still abroad, but the figure at the gate was
dimly diScernible
Adam fastened his steps.
For heavens sake, Sls be careful! the sud-
denneSS OF 1t might turn her brain "cried Drew
laying OBTAINING hand upon the ann Of his
companion.
Adam gently shook him off.
"SuddennesS," he repeated. "Aye, it Is sud
den to yOu-aDd to Mrs. Bankes. was sorry
but for me and for Matte whose thoughts are
day and light, night and day full OF each
other, how can 1t be Sudden?"
Drew stood still, and Adam went on alone.
until his footsteps become audible and Matte
turned her head to see him standing at her
side.
Adam had been right; no fear was there for
Mat'ie's brain. All excitement, all surprise
and wonder came afterward, at that first SUI
preme moment, and with satisfied sigh, as of
a child who has got all 1t wants. Matte held
out her arms to him, with one word
"Husband!"
AS Adam drew her to him, 1t was not only
the mist or the darkening evening that blinded
Drew so that for moment or two he saw nei-
Their of them.
People say Drew's luck has turned from the
day Stonedene found tenant. 1t is newly
done up and prettily furnished now. Mr.. and
Mrs Armttage came down there once or twice
year, with their children, for breath of sea
air ard to visit old friendS.-The A,gOSy.
REDUCING THE 4TERIGE.