Democratic messenger., 1888-03-31
ling in. Nv sister Mary, why, nv sister

ming In nv sister Mnryi Why, nv sister
was a little dancing girl OF II, with hair in
shining ringlcts. only Yesterday. And with
u wild cry l sunk under tho weight of my
ma,ldening thoughts.
''Thc next knew was living upon n bel
In my old familiar chamber, aud mother sat
at my side. And then my mother told me
how, more than ten years before, hal fallen
in 1t, andbrain fever had st in: how one
night when the watcher my father, was mo-
menfarily absent, had arisen and stolen
away FROM the house.
"'Oh, my son. how wc searched for youl
Father blamed himself, and nearly all he had
he sient In sending detectives and letters all
over the land. He died, Arthur. trembling
with age and sorrow, at 80. But. God bs
praised! you are come back TO usr | lay
stunned and mute under this tragic intclli.
gcnce. God In heaven, was r. Years OF ace.
and vet had lived but TWENTY-FIVE That ten
years was one long drcamlcss night! When
became stronger nskci the question had
held In my heart and dared not ask. asked
Of Agnes. NV poor i,oy,' sobbctl INV mother.
Agnes married five years ago She remained
true 10 you and waited five long years. and
YOU never camcr What became III me after
that night, how I came home again, and why
l had no memory Of all those wears. these
have been mysteries. have visited tho
asylums If the state and homes of all
kinds. have sent circulars 10 asy-
lums Of all the ncishboring states
asking IL they ever had a patient answcrinr,
Ia my description. l am completely baf-
flctl in every direction. Again and acain
have gone over tho mysterious circumstances
Of my return. No scrap OF paper was upon
my person, and my clothes were neat and
clean. Ny shoes were new, hut lctrayc,l
walking. My brain was numb and veal;
AMI refused to control my limbs. and was
very hungry, but my muscles were firm an,.
my body in good health. Ny hands wcrc
slightly bronzc,l, but not callousc,l 10y labor.
had not been earning nv way by manual
labor, neither did look like ono who had
been In confinement Ny only tcnabc the
ory is that after leaving my l,cil that niyht
hal wandered away or been carried TO a
great distance and kept IN some asylum for
insane or inyalitls, and there remained for
ten years. Escaping at last, u subtle in
stinct led me. l am always haunted
by tho thought that with the cun-
ming Of a. madman took upon
myself some character different from
tho one in which was advertised. and thus
eSC.uINSt uctectlOu, teflNllS i ltctl Tree anil
unfctterc,l, PERHAPS a mcnial, workin. Mt
base duties. and pcrhaps-a thief. With nil
nv iourncyin.,. with all | havr done. and
with all the l,est detectives can do, not one
ray Of light has ever penetrated tho dark
ness OF that soundless night. You see before
you man old and white ut "a. am n man
without n hopc and without n motive save
These have named. My Agnes is los, To- mo.
saw her once with her happy childrvtl
around her, and kept aloof that the chill; nnl
damp OF my life might not touch her. She
while live. Nv return has been lcr.; II
secret in my native place. Ny love for my
hooks and study is gone: NY motives for my
former reading have died. lam stulyins. rs
you sec, hut only on cases bearing likeness
TO mine. am possessed OF the almcst in
sane desire Of piercing the iniJenctral.l.
glouni. l study the reports Of the inSan,
and invalid asylums in the vain hope that |
may find n clew Ny mother ani SISTER
plead with me TO give up my search and H.
resigned, hut it cannot Ia. Strangers think
me still n,aL. Think what il is 10 stand nj
the very gateway Of life, a fair girl ready 10
walk at your side, ambitious plans opening
In your heart, vistas OF delight stretching
away To the future; then to have n sable
hand reach from the unseen shadows and
sniite you with n thundrrbolt, covering Your
life with the blackncSs of IN eternal night