The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1880-07-31
fail to greet him with the question: ''Well


sure, that is as usual, too"
'She is out of her mind" exclaimed Mrs.
Bankes, irritably.
Every one but yourself knows that; and
If you do not know it, it is only because you
are mad as she is-or any one might think
so from the way you go on"
'Nay, nay" said Drew, gently, as the
butter dish was set on the table with We
hemence that made the teacups rattle.
'There is no madness about Mattie-unless
you call her trust in her husband BY so hard
name"
Husband! pretty husband, indeed I've
no patience with him, nor with you either.
AS if it was not common tale enough! 1t
would be better TO pers uade the girl to come
home and get to work again than to encour-
age her in her fancies, while you pay an
other servant here-and times so hard as
they are.''
Il was thinking to-day" the farmer went
on, softly passing his broad palm over the
blonde head of the child upon his knee, 81
was thinking as came along of how it
stands written: He that loveth not his
brother whom he hath seen, how can he
love God whom he hath not seen?''
At that instant the shado~y form of some
one going round to the front door passed the
window, against which the fog pressed close
ly. Drew sat little Harry on his feet, and
rose slowly, listening with intentness and a
surprised look that made his sister ask what
allied him.
"Rover!-the dog does not bark; wholly
the mercy of heaven, it is the man himselfH'
cried Drew, as the door opened with a sud
denness that caused Mrs. Bankes to drop
the plates upon the brick floor. For Adam
Armitage stood upon the threshold. Adam,
pale and worn, shadow of his former self,
but himself Enthusiastically.
Adam looked around the room as though
seeking some one, smiled in his old fashion
at Harry, gave half-curious, half-indiffer-
ent glance to Eliza Bankes, and then turned
to the farmer.
'Drew," he said simply, "where is my
wife?'
''Mrs. Armitage is waiting for you at
Stonedene, sir: There was some talk Of
your coming back that way"
''Waitingw Adam threw up his hands
with passionate gesture. "What can she
have thought"
''She has thought you were gone after all
upon that voyage, and that your letters had
miscarried. Sometimes she has thought
that you were dead, Mr.. Armitage, but
never" Drew broke off and held out his
hand. "We knew you could explain what
has happened, sir" he concluded.
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 tocollect his thoughts.
"Tkat has happened" he said, (which, if
it had not befallen me myself and become
part of my own experience, should find it
difficult to believe possible. A strange
thing has happened, and yet"-here the old
smile they remembered so well broke slowly
like light over his face-"and yet thing
not more strange, as the world goes, than
that you'll say nothing of Mattie-but that
you should have trusted me throughout. 1
detected no mistrust in your voice, no doubt
in your ewes, not even when they first met
mine just now. They call mine rare case,
friend; they might say the same of your be-
lief in me. But-Stonedene, did you say?
Walk with me there, and hear my tale as
we go?''
'This evening, and in this mist, and you,
sir, looking far from WE'LL" began Eliza
Bankes. "Mattie has waited so long al
ready that one night more will make but
little!difference."
"One night? one hour more than can
help will make all the difference between
willful wrong and a 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
NAAAoo3 NA0esAAA e%iAiAiS 90 oAASJ WSho'
After parting from Matte he had taken a
train to London, where, arriving in due
course, he drove in a cab toward his moth
er's house in Grosvenor street, within few
yards of which his cab overturned, and
Adam was thrown out. falling heavily upon
his head. After a long interval, however,
he opened his eyes and recovered conscious
ness, and, as he did so-slowly at first, but
after time more fully-the astounding dis
covery was made that his memory was en-
tirely gone.
However, this state was one from which,
so said his friends, science could at will re-
store Adam to himself was deferred only
until his health permitted of it's being at
tended by minimum of risk.
1t was while Adam was in the state above
described that Drew had seen Mrs. Armi-
tage. proud woman, she was ill-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 Inflated marriage, 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 second time
Adam and his mother were gone. 1t was in
Paris, months after that, that the operation
was finally and successfully performed, and
then the first word of Adam was Mattie's
name. The first effort of his newly recov-
cred powers was to relate to his mother the
history OF his marriage, and to write to his
wife.
God grant the suspense has neither
kiilQd riv har he
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 brazier filled with charcoal and
burning in the ante-room of their apartment
in the Champ 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. If the girl were dead,
why no harm had been done, and this ter
rlble mistake Of her sons was rectifed 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 re-
suit. Mrs. Armitage tore the letter into
pieces, and waited by the brazier until the
fragments were charred. Adam asked no
awkward questions, and was not even sur
prlsed at,recelving no answer to his epistle,
since in it he had announced his coming.
The first day his health admitted of it he set
out alone for England.
Such was the story. When Drew had
told OF his efforts to seek Adam, and had
mentioned that no letter had reached Ma: tie,
Adam was at a 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 aiar:
evening had closed in now, and the chilly
log was still abroad, but the figure at the |
gate was dimly discernible.
Adam fastened his steps.
For heavens sake, sir, be careful! the |
'uddenness of it might turn her brain,''
cried Drew, laying OBTAINING hand upon |
he arm of his companion.
Adam gently shook him off,
''Suddennessv' he repeated. "Aye, it is
sudden to you, and to Mrs Bankes-but for |
ne and for Matte, whose thoughts are day |
md night, night and day, full of each other
low can it be sudden?''
Drew stood still, and Adam went on |
alone until his footsteps became audible,
md Matte turned her head to see him |
standing at her side.
Adam was right; no fear was there for
Mattie's brain. All excitement, all surprise
md wonder came afterwards; at that first