The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1884-12-25

4 Always ioohou uEtoH iHoIIiagc dS really
adding to the chance of her recovery.
If her mind to certain extent is want
ing believe that, little by little, it may
be built up again. Or it may return as
suddenly as it left her."
NY heart leaped at his words of hope.
Cruelty as felt l had been treated, tool
that had been made for this mans self
| ish ends, l was willing to accept tho
situation eheerfully if l had any hope
held out to me.
''Will you give me all the particulars
of my poor wife's state? conclude she
has not been always like this
Certainly not. Her case is most pc
culiar. Some years ago she received q
The effect was to entirely blot out the
past from her mind. She rose from her
bed after some weeks illness with her
memory complete blank. Places were
forgotten-friends We're strangers to
her. Her mind might, as you say, have
been the mind of child. But child s
mind grows, and. if treated properly. SO
/ will hers"
''What was the cause of her illness
what shock?''
THAT is one of the questions l can
not answer"
| ''But have right to know"
"You have a right TO ask, and 1 have
/ a right to refuse to speak"
Tell me of her family-her rela-
| tives"
"She has none, 1 believe, save my
SELF
/ asked other questions. but could get
no answers worth recording. / should
return to England not much wiser than
left it. But there was one question to
which l insisted on having a clear
reply.
"What has that friend of yours-that
English-speaking Italian. to do with
Pauline?'
Ceneri shrugged his shoulders and
smiled.
.'Macari! am glad to be able to an
swer something fully. Mr.. Vaughan.
For year or two before Pauline was
taken i'll. Macari supposed himself to be
in love Nth her. He is now furious with
me for allowing her to get married. He
declares he was only awaiting her re-
covcry to try his own luck"
why should he not have served your
purpose as well as l seem to havep"
Ceneri looked at me sharply. ''Do
you regret, Mr.. Vaughan"
"No-not if there is a chance, even a
slight chance. But | tell you, DR..
Ceneri, you have deceived and cajoled
me shamfully."
rose to take my leave. Then Ceneri
spoke with more feeling than he had as
yet displayed.
"Mr. Vaughan, do not judge me too
harshly. have wronged you, admit.
There ere things YOU know nothing of.
| must tell you more than l intended.
The temptation to place Pauline in a
position of wealth and comfort was ir-
resistible. l am her debtor for a vast
amount. At one time her fortune was
about fifty thousand pounds. The
whole of that l spent"
'And dare to boast of itr' said, Bit
terly. He waved his hand with dignity.
''Yes. l dare to speak of it. spent
it all for freedom-for Italy. 1t was in
my keeping as trustee. l, who would
haze robbed my own father, my OWN
s1n, should hesitate to take her money
sor such an end? Every farthing went
to the great cause, and was well spent"
ut was the act of criminal to rob an
orphan"
Call it what you like. Money had to
be found. Why should / not sacrifice
my a1nor for my country as freely rs l
wouE have sacrificed my Efe?"
ut il no use d sc'issing 1.-THE mat
ter is e.!ded."
Eyes, but tell you to show you why
wished to gain Pauline home. More
o.sr, Mr.. Naughan"-here his voice
dropped to a whiSper-.I was anxious
to provide that home ut once. l am
bound on journey-a journey of which
l can not see the end. much less the re-
turning. Idoubt whether l should have
decided to see you had it not been for
this. But the chances are we shall
never meet again"
You mean you are engaged in some
plot or conspiracy"
II mean what have said-no more,
no less. will now bid you adieu."
Angry rs | was with the man, could
me.
Farewell" he said, " it may be that
in some year or two / shall write to you
and ask You if my predictions as to
Paulines recovery have been fulfilled;
but do not trouble to seek me or to in
quire for me if am silent"
So we parted. The carriage was
waiting to take me back to the hotel.
On my way thither l passed the man
whom Ceneri had called Macari. He
signaled to the driver to stop, and then
entering the carriage, sat beside me-
''You have seen the doctor, Mr.. |
Vaughan" he asked.
Eyes. have Just come from him."
'.And have learned all you wish to
know, l hope?','
"a great mauy of my questions have
been answered.
''But not all. Ceperi would not an
swer ALL"
He laughed. and his laugh was cynic-
al and mocking. kept silence.
Had you questioned me-" he con-
tinued. Il might have told you more
than Ceneri
Il came to ask DR.. Ceneri for all the
he could give me respecting
my wife's mental state, of which l be-
lieve you are aware. If you can any
thing that may be of use to me, l beg
you to speak,
You asked him what caused it?"
II did He told me shock"
''You asked him what shock. That
he did not tell you?'
He had his reasons for declining, /