Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1888-05-10
..You NAV got mn and dress to-mor.

'yrell me how it happened?" l ex-
claimed, the impulse to know the
cause of my illness growing strong up
on me.
you were found upon the road and
were picked up for dead. Thew
brought you here and attended YOU"
Again L started up in bed. and this
time the doctor restrained me only par
tally. He regarded mo W tn deep inter-
est, but betrayed not the slightest sign
of anxiety, although he must have been
intensely anxious all the while. The
flood of queries which. half incoher-
emily. had already shaped themselves
in my mind, now rushed to my lips.
''How came l in the roadp" l de-
manded, and before Doctor Barlow
could have uttered a reply had he tried
to do so, rapidly continued:
"And when was / found there? and
whose house is this? And my pleas
ant-voiced nurse-whO is shep My,
God. doctor! tell me-who am IP'
Ny brain was in whirl us | uttered
these queries. and / shivered MS with
the ague. But Doctor Barlow listened
as impassively as though it were all the
llOSb hlNAASi il Ahb WI we
His persistent calmness i'm measure
communicated itself TO me, and his
answers were given with such re-
assuring voice and air that the shock
to me was greatly lessened. There are
few men who could have conveyed the
truth to one in my excited state with
such tact and gentleness.
"You met with vOur misfortune some
three weeks ago" he said. n his even
tones. This is my house and the
young nurse is my daughter. 1t is
nothing so very unusual for n person,
under some violent shock. either physi-
cal or mental. to lose for n time all
recolectons of past events, and even
of ones own identity. You will re-
cover in time. There was nothing up
on your person to give us a clue to
your name, but for the sake of conven-
ience since we must call You some
thing, my daughter has called you
Paul Conway. If you do not fancy
the name you may adopt any other I'M
til your memory recalls the one to
which you are entitled"
Somehow, his candid statement of the
situation. instead of exciting. Gained
me. ! lay back upon my pillow. and
overcome by the eXertion. | soon fell
asleep.
NV physical recovery from that day
was rapid. Within week l was dress
ed and able to walk about my room; in
another week l was strolling about the
doctor graceful grounds, listening to
the songs of birds, enjoying the luxury
of the fresh verdure and sunshine.
Miss Barlow was with me frequently,
and l was presently puzzled by con-
vction that she watched my move
ments. studied my countenancc. and
even appeared to wish to keep me un-
der constant surveillance. And yet
she was otherwise so courteous. and in
all ways so gentle and unseltsh in her
intentions. that rs the weeks passed
the sweet episode of love crcpt into the
new life l was living. For rs yet the
past remained as sealed book to me.
One day as we We're strolling down
the garden path abruptly said to her:
Il think l am quite well and strong
now, and it is time for me to go To
work-at something" For it had more
than once occurred to me that, with
other things. l had forgotten the means
of gaining n livelihood which l must
have once possessed.
Perhaps you do not need to work. if
you could only remember who you are.
Perhaps you are man of wealth. !"
said Miss Barlow. with one of her
smiles which always made her plain
face so beautiful.
1T will do me little good if | am,
since do not know it. l replied
You must remain here until you
recover your memory "she said SO de-
cisively that l looked at her in sur
pr Sc.
You wish me to stay as charity
patientp'.
Mono. You will pay my father
sometime. You are under his care,
you know, and he is ambitious to effect
cure"
As she said this she laid one hand
in an eager. earnest way upon my arm.
l felt that, looking into my eyes rs she
did then, she could not fail to read my
heart, and in impassioned words l es-
sayed to tell her of the deep pure love
which felt for her. But she checked
me in a hurried anxious manner.
mo, no!' she cried. 1 could see
that her face had grown deathly pale.
and she glanced involuntarily as it
seemed. at n ring which had more
than once seen upon her finger. And
| was convinced then. OF what had
painfully suspected before-it was an
engagement ring.
you have an attachment alreadyP
1 exclaimed. unable to keep the pain of
disappointment from showing itself in
my face and voice.
do not ask me now," was her re-
ply, with glance that l could not I'M
derstand, while it thrilled me strange
ly. Wait until you are well, she fall
teringly continued land will tell you
all. How do l know that You are
free to love meP You may have a
wife already. Even you do not know.
She smiled again and hurried into
the house, leaving mo alone to ponder
upon the strangencss of my situation.
AS / stood under the shadow of a
high growing hedge.I heard the sound
of voices upon the other side.
"All / want is II good. square look
at him." said one, in a velvety voice.
II can spot him easily enough. You
saw this invalid guest of the Barlows