The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-03-07
"Hush. You must not talk any more.

HAuSns LOu muSS uOt LdAk any more. You must wait"
 l remembered that injunction, and obeyed her. read the meaning in her clear, bright face, ard said no more. The doctors came and looked at me, and would have spoken to one of them, but he shook his head, and lightly touched my lips with his fingers before he turned to those about him.
 "He's conscious" one said.
 Marvelousl' calculated little man with dark spectacles.
 Will he pull through2 Is it possible p asked another.
 Hardly"
 Then they passed on down the ward, and lay and thought they were talking of somebody else, and faintly wondered where they had come from, and why they had all looked at me, till floated away once more into forgetfulness.
 By-and-by-a day afterward, was told it was-I became more conscious of sur rounding objects, animate and mani. mate; knew that was an inmate of one of the wards of large London hos pital, and that bandages were on my head, that my limbs were in splints, and l was powerless.
 "Wkat has happened p asked.
 The nurse told me in soft whispers and with her cautious eyes upon me all tlfe while. My horse had taken fright and l had been thrown. had been brought to the hospital, and it was thought I could not recover; it was beyond human skill to save me, it was thought, but was still alive, and it was hoped that now 1 was likely to live, with little extra care and special nursing.
 "Thank heaven!" answered.
 Life had not appeared to be of much value to me before my accident; had contemplated the easiest means of quit. ting it once or twice but, strangely, it was of great value to me now.
 "You have Sir Edward Trafford to thank for your life," said the nurse.
 Sir Edward Traford? ?"
 "No one else could have succeeded with the operation"
 It was complicated case of trepan. ming, it was intimated to me by degrees, a case that had never been successful be- fore, one that Sir Edward had carried out on new principle which was to still further enhance his fame in the world. was amazed, discom6ied, cast down. The nurse saw the change in me, and called out for further assistance. remembered nothing more that day.
 My return to consciousness, to the state of reflective being, was marked by what they thought was a stern re- serve, an odd manner altogether. might be going mad-it was one of the results which they feared-and they were very observant. There seemed some one always fitting near me, watching me had hardly the time to think for myself, to wonder what was to be done and said after all this.
 was getting stronger of speech could think, and was growing beset by two terrible fears: What had become ot Eva? When would Sir Edward Traf- ford come and look down upon me lying there as the other doctors looked
 Has he been here2" asked.
 "Sir Edward2'
 "Yes."
 He came every day for the first week. You were his case-you are his case" said the nurse.
 "Will he come again2"
 "Yes, to be sure. He is away just now, but you are in good hands. You must not worry about that. You are get ting better. Sir Edward will be back in a few days"
 She talked very rapidly, and could not interrupt her. When she had dsne, said aloud-and it seemed impossible to help saying:
 do not wish to see him."
 The nurse looked surprised.
 Am compelled ?" l asked.
 CT don't see how you can help it." she said, regarding me with new inter- est; "you are Sir Edwards case, have told yeu."
 "Yes."
 After pause she said:
 "Why don't you wish to see him ?"
 l was silent. l saw that l had acted wrongly if l wished to keep my secret. 1 replied to her at last:
 don't know-I can't tell"
 "I should think not" she said brusquely as she walked away.
 Late in the day one of the surgeons came to me, talked to me, congratulated me on my better state.
 Am out oI danger r. l asked anx- iously.
 Well-not absolutely out of danger. You must be careful, of course"
 "Could l not leave here-be carried home-at any cost2 Money is no object to me, and l would be so glad to get away l" urged.
 It is quite impossible"
 Tomorrow, or the next day p
 Mot for many days. You must be re- signed to this, my good fellow. There is no jumping back to your old self at a bound."
 Helaid his hand kindly on my shoulder and said:
 "You must be thankful for coming back to the world at all. You must be | patient-it is your one chance"
 cannot be patient here.n
 "You must try, Mir. Elwin."
 fiinched at the mention of my name. l felt cold shivering pass through me, ike man betrayed. I had hoped they did not know me at this hospital that l vas one of many, and unrecognized; that h o1 hAn,. .< >t..> A