The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1888-04-28

Do you think the fellow drowned HIM
self, or was he the victim of robbers ?"
His audacity amazed me so much
that could hardly utter word.
wIow long have you lived here?" l
asked abruptly.
''Ten years
"And where did you live before ?"
"San Francisco. ! came from there
to this place..
"And yoil can refer me to reputable
| men in San Francisco who have known
you from boyhood up as John Smith ?"
at would serve you right to say
that it is none Of your business was
the reply, "but l will say that l can
give you the names of men who have
known me since 1S-.
"But that is only twenty years ago."
l said, "Now you are passed. fifty.
If You can not make showing back
of twenty years ago l am more than
ever convinced that you are Edward
Strong.".
The merchant rose from his chair,
and with the same panied look that I
had observed before, said:
SIT is useless to prolong the CONVEX
satioh. You are controlled by delu-
sion, and it will not profit us to discuss
it,"
started to go, but when / reached
the door the alleged Smith called me
back.
''It is showing again. He remarked,
"and We are not likely to be disturbed.
I have a great mind to ell You my
history" /
''rhat is right, Strong said l, i'm
pulsively, "make clean breast of it.
As one of your oldest friends certain
~ shall not judge you harshly."
"My name is not Strongr he answer
ed quickly. 81 know nothing of him
and his affairs, but, nevertheless, l
have rather peculiar history.
II know nothing of my childhood
and early manhood" he continued.
"When first came to myself l was
working as deck hand OH Missis-
sippi river steamboat
"When you first came to yourself y
interrupted.
"Yes, that is the best way to put it.
They told me that l had asked fol
leave to work my passage up the river
They had picked me up in swamp,
and my appearance showed that had
been wandering about for weeks, per-
haps months. By slow degrees mind
grow stronger. and I was able to take
caro- of myself when we got to St.
Louis. found work and saved my
money, and after awhile went to San
Francisco. Gradually began to re-
member scraps of forgotten knowledge
but so far as places or persons were
concerned my memory has never been
able to go back farther than the time
whom was . deck hand"
"And that was-f"
"About twenty years ago. he re-
piled in sad and thoughtful tone.
"Have you been injured in any way
wounded in the head, for example =
suggested.
81 do not know. Ihave never beAn
able to unveil the past. Once in Sau
Franc isco visited the lunatic asylum
and was impressed with the idea that
everything was similar, that some.
time in my life had been accustomed
to such scenes"
"Have you ever married7"
"No, have never felt the desire tc
marry. But feel that if in my ole
life, if in the forgotten past, hat
known what it was to love wife anC
child, your story of Strong and his fate
would have revived my dead memory.
"And knowing what you know o
the past, do You still maintain tina
you are not Edward Strong ,"
The man looked at me thougftfully
81 can not think so," said he
whether my name is Smith or not, i
more than can say, but do not be
liove that ever lived in the East o
, ever had wife or child. No am not