Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-10-08
NO. 23S.
Gales ano Skettbes.
A RARE CASE.
Continued from yesterday.) }

Nay. nay" said Drew gently, as the
butter dish was set upon the table with
vehemence that made the teaeups rattle.
There are no signs of madness about
Mattie-unless you call her trust in her
husband by so harsh name"
Husband pretty husband indeed
I've no patience with him, nor with you
either As il it were not a common tale
enough II would be better TO persuade
the girl TO come home and get TO work
again than 10 encourage her in her fam
cies, while you pay another servant here
and times SO hard rs they arr"
Il was thinking to-day the farmer
went on. softly passing his broad palm
over the blonde head of the child upon
his knee, Il was thinking as came along
of how il stands written: lie that loveth
not his brother whom he hath seen, how
can he love God whom he hath not secne'" "
At that moment the shadowy form of
some one going round to the front door
passed the window, against which the fog
pressed closely. Drew sat little Harry
on his feet. and rose slowly, listening with
intentness and Il surprised look that made
| his sister ask what allied him.
Rover dog does not bark; who
| by the mercy of heaven. it is the man
| himselfr' cried Drew, rs the door opened
with n suddenness that caused Mrs.
Bankes to drop the plates upon the brick
| floor. For Adam Armitage stood upon
the threshold. Adam. pale and worn, q
shadow of his former self, bat himself
unmistakably
Adam looked around the room rs though
seeking some one, smiled in his old fash
ion at Harry. gave a half-curious. half-iirA
different glance TO Eliza Bankcs, and
then turned to the farmer
"Drew," he said simply "where is my
wife P'
"Mrs. Armtage is waiting for you at
| Stonedene. sir. There was some talk of
your coming back that way"
Waiting" Adam threw up his hands
with a passionate gesture. 'What can
she have thoughts"
''She has thought YOU were gone after
all upon that voyage. and that your let
ters miscarried. Sometimes she has
thought that you were dead. Mr.. Armi-
tage, but nevcr-''Drew broke off and
held out his hand 1--WE knew YOU could
explain what has happened. sir" he con-
cluded.
Adam drew his own hand across his
eyes in the way man might do who has
| lately been reused from bad dream and
has some trouble to collect his thoughts.
That has happened" he said. (which
| If 1t had not befallen me myself and be-
come part of my own experience. ]
should find it difficult to believe possible.
A strange thing has happened. and YETI
here the old smile they remembered so
well broke slowly like light over his face
land yet thing not more strange, rs
the world goes, than that you'll say moth
ing of Mattie-but that you should have
trusted me throughout. detected no
mistrust in your voice. no doubt in your
eyes, not even when they first met mine
just now. They call mine rare case,
friend; they might say the same of your
belief in me. But-Stonedcnc. did you
say? Walk with me there, and hear my
tale as we 60"
This evening, and in this mist, and
you, sir, looking far from WELL" began
Eliza Bankes, "Mattie tas waited so
! long already that one night more will
make but little difference
Zone night, one hour more than can
help will make all the difference between
wlful wrong and misfortune that has
| fallen on both alike said Adam. He
would not be dissuaded from setting out
at once, and in another minute the two
men were pursuing their way through the
driving mist, Adam talking as they went
| After parting from Matte he had taken
train to London. where, arriving in due
course, he drove in cab toward his moth
er's house in Grosvenor street, within
few yards of which his cab was over
turned, and Adam was thrown out. falling
heavily upon his head. After long in
/ he \ 4
recovered consciousness, and, as he did
so-slowly at first but after time more
fully-the astounding discovery was made
that his memory was entirely gone.
| However, this state was one from which.
so said his friends. science could Mt will
recall him. and the operation necessary TO
restore Adam to himself was deferred only
until his health permitted of its being at
tended by a minimum risk
1t was while Adam was in the state
above described that Drew had seen Mrs.
Armitage. A proud woman, she was i'll
pleased TO hear that he had married
farm servant: for that was the one fact
that, stripped Of Drew's panegyrics upon
Mattie'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 an attempt to
recall to her son this ill-fated marriage.
she did not hesitate to deceive her unwel-
come visitor.
Change o! 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 alter that, that the
operation was finally and successfully per-
formed. and then the first word of Adam
was Mattie's name. The first effort of
his newly-recovered powers was to relate
to bis mother the history of his marriage
and to write to his WIFE
"God grant the suspense has neither
killed nor driven her mad.' he ex.
claimed.
1t was to his mothers hand the letter
was confided. and with that exclamation
Of his ringing in her ears, Mrs. Armitage
stood beside the braziar filled with char.
coal and burning in the ante-rtom Of Their
apartment in the Champs Elysees. She
was not bad woman, but the temptation
was too strong to allow this affair to un
ravel itself, and what would turn up.
the girl were dead, why no harm had beer
done, and this terrible mistake of he