The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-05-02

very near deaths door, but rapidly to-
 ward the last, when his youth and his
 splendid constitution had something to
 work upon. On the 2nd of July, Mrs.
 Baxter received telegram from Agnes.
 saying that she was on the eve of her de.
 parture for Europe, and that probably
 the next news we had of her would an-
 nounce her presence in New York. "I
 shalis at all events, notify Dr. Arndt of my location at the end of six months"
 were the last words of the message. On
 the ro:h of July George was very much
 improved, and had tolerably connected memory of the events at the sea side.
 The whole of the first week affer the de- parfure of Agnes was blank to him. ln-
 deed his memory of the dates of the months of June and July, was always very
 imperfect. Up to this time, the 10th, Mrs. Johnson had almost entire care of George, and it is no exaggeration to say that he slept nearly the whole time; and
 Mrs. Johnson herself was in a very cu-
 rious state of absorbedness or concen- tration of intention. She did not really seem to sleep much of the time; never, unless George was in one of his profound slumbers; but her eye-lids were heavy and were partly closed and when fully alive to every need of George, it was dik icult for anyone else to attract her atten- ton. The diet of both was under my care, of course. Up to the Io:h, neither George nor his nurse ate much. Mrs.
 Johnson rather lost flesh, though her color remained brilliant. George gained very perceptibly in flesh and strength. From the Io:h to the 25th, his progress was wonderful. We represented Agnes as having gone to the north. George seemed to notice her absence very little. He was, during his weakness, chiio.shly attached to Mrs Johnson; and at frst feared his intellect permanently weak ened
 As George recovered his strength, Mrs.
 ohnson lost her interest in him, and his independence came back. The poodle and the pigeon were objects of solicitude once more, and Mrs. Johnson also dis played new interest; she became atten- tive to the British steamship news, and carefully noted the lists of passengers ar rived. received two identical telegrams from strange address, J. Telegraph, City," one on the I2.h and one on the 24th. Is George Aylie out of danger2 Answer" was the text of these telegrams. ca the 26:h telegram came for Mrs. Johnson. It was evidently good news, for she became childishly gay; she had never seemed so simple or so afectionate before; she kissed George, and called him Cher darling boy," and said she must go to town for one day. She left on the 29sh and did not come back at all, or send word of any sort. feared this might affect George, who had, fancied, formed very strong attachment for her but he seemed to miss her very little. His convalescing appetite had come to him, and he ate and slept, and increased in size visibly from day to day. His mind seemed tranquil, and forebore any questions or illusions, fearing to retard his recovery. He passed nuch of his time in reverie, seemingly not of an un- pleasant nature, read hardly at all, and was disinclined to converse. Agnes was never mentioned. He sometimes in- quired for word from Mrs. Johnson, but made no comment upon her silence.
 ca the 18th of August for the first time his mind seemed fairly active, and his manner was that which had been familiar to me before his illness. The 1st of September Mrs. Baxter went to town, and on the 18th, accompanied George to his residence. He insisted that 1 should make his house my home and was very willing to do so. I felt deep affec- ton and friendship for him which has been incre ased to the present day.
 The 10th and I7sh were occupied in business affairs by both George and my self. On the 18th we dined together. gave that portion of my notes containing the after-dinner conversation, which took place in the library at Georges house. After we had lighted eur cigars George sat in his usual reverie for some time; at length he said, Doctor, what was the matter with me this spring2"
 Indeed l do not know, George" said I. have not the least idea of the na- ture of your disease or your recovery. might give you long list of possibilities, but could verify none of them; you simply seemed to fail as man might be to fail who was reduced by daily blood-letting, or something of that sort"
 "Do you regard my illness as very stranger"
 It was strange, but l regret to say that your own was by no means the first case have treated without certainty of the nature or name of the disease in which 1 was forced to simply avoid in- turing my patient, and discontinue every fine of treatment l adopted after few experiments"
 You are very frank" said George, laughing. "I recovered, at all events. suppose most physicians would have killed me trvinC tO ft,yA me P,,f tkoA has all passed. hardly remember it. I do not care for it. want to talk to you about Agnes. Do you know why she went away2"
 Do you wish me to be perfectly frank, George? Is it wise to discuss this matter, relating as it does to woman whom you love, and who loved you, and who loves you, if she lives at this moment, as deeply and truly as ever woman loved ?"
 "l feel vesy strangely about Agnes.