Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1886-04-08
Au Original storg.
Written for the Yorkville Enquirer.
AMOS BARTON
BY ID. OZMOND.
CHAPTER vi.


tack of brain fever.
The good people at the farm sent lmme-
diately for the nearest physician. This Es-
culapius looked very solemn over the case,
which he pronounced an extremely critical
one, implying that no trifiing medical skill
would be required to bring the patient safe
ly through it, Fortunately he had efficient
help at hand, to second his ministratlons.
Mrs. Baker and her eldest daughter devot-
ed themselves to the task of nursing their
guest with the utmost earnestness, and nev-
er left him night or day alone until the
turning point of his illness was reached and
past. and his recovery ensured. Reduced
though he was, his naturally strong con-
stitution battled successfully against the
disease. And once out of danger, his con-
valescence became rapid.
Soon after his restoration to the conscious
ness of his own identity and of things in
general, the little girl Mamie one day
brought some nourishment into his room,
with the remark, "Mr. DAILY, mother told
me to fetch this to YOU"
He took no notice of her, and thinking,
as he was looking in another direction, that
he had not heard her, she repeated what
she had said, slightly varying the form OF
her sentence.
ssMr. Daily, mother told me to fetch your
broth, and here it is."
He turned a little towards her, with
rather puzzled look.
"What was it you said, my dear?"
"I said here was your broth, SIR"
eyes, but what was it you called me-"
"Why, 1 called you by your name," re-
piled the child, surprised. 81 said 'Mr.
DAY."
"Daly-Daly," he murmured, as II trying
to recall the name, the perplexed LOOK stlli
remaining on his face. "Well, Mamie, put
the broth there, please. Thank you."
Mamie went off and reported to her moth
er that Mr.. DAILY had forgotten his own
name. "But he hasn't forgotten mine.
Isn't that funny?" she added. II should
think he would remember his own the
easiest"
Mrs. Baker did not pay much attention to
her remarks; but afterwards, going into the
patients room, her own experience Verlhed
Nannie's opinion, when on addressing MN
in the usual manner, she found that ne ala
not seem to recognize the appellation She
consulted her husband, and it was agreed
between them that for the present they
would not, in speaking to the patient, use
his name at all. Mrs. Baker said "she reck-
oned this last sickness had lnadea new twist
in his head"
But, strangely enough, the former twists
seemed to have got Strengthened out. ne
was far more collected in his ideas than be-
fore, and had lost the nervous apprehenslVe
manner which had characterized him. For
getting their caution, his name happened
again to be used, once or twice, by the fam
ily; and the mystery which seemingly at
tended it was cleared up in a most uneX-
pected manner.
"My dear madam" he said to Mrs. Ba-
ker, "please let me say to you that you are
laboring under q mistake. am not named
Daily, as you all appear to suppose"
"Why, you told us that was your name,
Pm sure" replied the good housewife,
thrown out of her usual placid equanimity
by this surprising statement.
"Did II" Well, my mind must have
been confused. Tell me, did I say or do
any remarkable things when l first came
here?"
ooh, we'll, not so remarkable" said Mrs.
Baker, not quite prepared for denial, yet
reluctant to hurt her questioner's feelings
by admitting that every one had thought
him decidedly ''queer."
81 am afraid l did. l know I was not
we'll. had had painful shock"
He stopped, contracting his brows, while
a slight shiver passed through him.
"Betternot think any more about itnow,
said Mrs. Baker hastily, fearing the effect
of such reminiscence. "It might upset
you-make you sick again, you know"
"No, 1 think not. am pretty strong
again. YOU see." He held out his thin hand.
"Do you notice how steady it has become?
No, it won't hurt me to talk. In TACT 1t
will ease my mind. I want to tell you
what happened to me in San Francisco. 1t
is strange story, assure you. 1t was at
the hospital there, where they took me
when fellill. You see, it was sudden at
tack I had on the street a fit of some sort
T don't know what they called it. had
never had anything like it before. Well,
thew took me to this hospital, and there L
was unconscious for a couple OF days; and
at the end of that time they thought was
dead: 1 suppose they thought so, at least; ;
for they brought coffin and laid me out
in it,"
"Oh, lawsw cried his listener, Mortified.
"They did. And while was lying in this
cofin-the lid not yet being put on-I came
partly to myself. / knew where | was,
and what was going on around me; but |
hadn't the power to open my eyes nor to
speak. It wasn't pleasant situation, l
can tell you. You have heard of people,
while in trance, being able to comprehend
their situation, yet not able to move, any
more than if they were dead?"
eyes, rve heard of such things; but l'm
thankful to say I've never seen case like
that"
"Well, that was the thing that had now
happened to me, and l had the pleasant
prospect of being buried alive. l think 1
lived through ages of torture, in those few
hours during which l lay spell-bound-at
least, suppose it was hours, but it may
have been only half hour or so; can't
tell now. Anyhow, l was thankful they
hadn't screwed me down right away, as
they might easily have done under the cir
cumstances."
"Oh! you make my flesh Creep" said
Mrs. Baker.
"Listen! While I lay there, two men
came in. One of them said, This IS the
subject told you off, Said the other, Are