Millheim Journal. [volume] (Millheim, Pa.) 1876-1984, 1882-04-13

and has some trouble TO collect hi
thoughts.
THAT has happened" he said
(which, if it had not befallen me my
self, and become part of my own ex.
perience, should find it difficult to be
lieve possible. A strange thing haI
happened" d"-here the old smile they re
membered 30 we'll broke the light ovel
his face-"and yet thing not NOR,
strange, as the world goes, than tina
you-l say nothing of Mattie-but tina
you should have trusted me through
out. l detected no distrust in YOU
voice, no doubt in your eyes, not ever
when they first met mine just now
They call mine rare case, friend ; they
might say the same of your belief IL
me. But-Stonedene. 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 wen," began
Eliza Bankes. ''Mattie has waited
so long already that one night more
will make but little difference"
One night, one hour more than / can
help will make all the difference be-
tween wilful wrong and q misfortune
that has fallen on all alike, said Adam.
He would not he dissuaded from set
ting 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, arriv-
ing in due course, he drove into a cab
to his mothers house in Grosvenor
street, within few yards of which his
cab overturned, and Adam was thrown
out, falling heavily upon his head.
After long interval, however, he ope =
ed his eyes and recovered conscious
ness, and, as he did so-slowly at first,
but after a time more fully-the as
founding discovery was made that his
memory was entirely gone.
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 per-
mitted of its being attended by mini
mum risk.
1t was while Adam was in the state
above described that Drew had seen
Mrs. Armitage. A proud woman, she
was ill pleased to hear that he had mar.
ried iarm servant for that was the
one fact that, stripped of Drew's pane
gyrics upon Mattie's superior education
and refined manners, alone stared her
Ill the face.
Hastily resolving that there was
no need to embitter her own life by IA
attempt to recall to her son this i'll
fated marriage, she did not hesitate to
deceive the unwelcome visitor. Change
of scene had been ordered for the pa
tient, and before Drew called at the
house in Grosvencr street for the Sec
ond time, Adam and his mother were
gone. 1t was in Paris, months after
that, that the operation was finally and
successfully performed, and the first
word of Adam was Mattie's name. The
first effort of his newly recovered pow
ers was to relate to his mother the his
tory OF his marriage and to write 10 his
wife.
"God grant the suspense has neither
killed nor driven her mad u he exclaim-
ed.
1t was to his mothers hand the letter
was Sonfded, and with that exclama-
ton ringing in his ears, Mrs. Armitage
stood beside the brazler filed with
charcoal and burning in the ante-room
of their apartment i'll the Champs Ely-
sees. She was not bad woman, but
the temptation was too strong to allow
this affair to unravel itself, and what
would turn up. If the girl were dead,
why no harm had been done, and this
terrible mistake of her sons was recti.
fed at once. If the other alternatives
were to prove true and Matte had lost
her senses, Adam would be equally free
from hex, or measures could be taken to
insure so desirable result. Mrs.
Armitage tore the letter into pieces,
and awaited by the brazier until the
fragments were charred. Adam asked
no awkward question, and was not
even surprised at receiving no answer
to his epistle, since in it he announced
his coming. The first day his health
admitted of it he set out alone for Eng
land.
Such was the story. When Drew
had told of his efforts to seek Adam,
and had mentioned that no letter had
reached Matte, Adam was at no loss to-
understand the part his mother played.
But he never spoke of it then or at any
future time.
The house door at Stonedene stood
aiar evening 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, sir, be careful /;
the suddenness of it might turn her
BRAIN" cried Drew, LAYING OBTAINING
hand upon the arm of his companion.
Adam gently shook him off.
"Suddenness," he repeated. "Aye,
it is sudden to you-and to Mrs
Bankes, but for me and for Matte,
whose thoughts are day and night,
night and day full of each other, how
can it be sudden ?"
Drew stood still and Adam went on
alone until his footsteps became audi
BILE and Matte turned her head to see
him standing at her side.
Adam had been right no fear was
there for Mattie's brain. All ex ,ite-
ment, all surprise and wonder came
afterwards; at the first supreme mo-
ment, and with satisfied sigh, as of a
child who has got all it wants, Matte
held out her arms to him with one
word
Husband -
AS Adam drew her to him it was not
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