The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1893-01-11
Iact is, Madeleine--Miss Farnuhar, mean

almost inconcsivably distressing. What
wish to ask Of you is sympathy and advice"
"If you are really serious, Mr.. Jones,
ask your pardon. My sympathy you may
be sure Of, and such advice as can offer Is
at your service"
mo man, Miss Farquhar WAS ever In
greater need of both than am at present.
Until have had n chance to fully explain
myself do not indulge surprise that !
should appeal to you, who twelve days ago
became acquainted with me for the first
time"
1--WE have come to know each other vel.
since then, think" said the girl, with
touch of softness In her voice.
"You have been most good to me. But
although we have reached wonderful and
to myself most happy intimacy In that
time, you know nothing about my PERSONA
affairs and circumstances You are even
ignorant as to who am. To you am bu5
a stranger, received within your gates
through the kindness and hospitality of
yourself and your brother"
III cannot permit you to call yourself
stranger to us, Mr.. Jones. You have won
your own way with us, and both myself
and my brother have come to be greatly
interested in you and to entertain high
regard for you. With your private con
Germs we have nothing to do, and it has
never occurred to us to make inquiries ,e
speeding them"
But what should you say, Miss Far
quhar, If told you that myself do net
know who amp
81 would say that you were speaking in
riddles, Mr.. Jones'"
81 am stating the simple and actual fact
Miss Farquhar. Did you ever read in the
newspapers one of those accounts which
sometimes are printed of people who turn
up after having disappeared for years.
during which they forgot all about their
former lives, and took up new existence
without any recollection of the old? For
example, you may remember the case re-
ported in the public prints not long ago of
a business man in Connecticut town who
vanished, and, as was subsequently found,
resided for six years in another community
in the same state, having no remembrance
whatever of his former abode or family"
Now thai you speak of it, | do recall
that very curious story, which interested
me ut the time"
"Well, Miss Farquhar, am in position
to sympathize with that man, for | find
myself at this moment in circumstances
precisely similar"
Good heavensl Surely, Mr.. Jones' you
cannot be in earnest"
THAT is the solemn truth. found my
self twelve days ago here in Boston on the
street, without the slightest notion as to
how and whence had arrived. Further.
more, though my memory in many respects
was perfect, concerning myself it had
| lapsed entirely. | could not remember my
own name. In short | was a person with
out an identity | signed the first name
| that occurred to me on the hotel register.
| Jones is not my name, Miss Farquhar. /
! do not know what my real name is | am
a lost man."
AS ne said this, with a half sob in his
voice, the unhappy fellow buried his face
in his hands Obeying the womany i'm
/ pulse to console, the young girl laid her
hand lightly on his shoulder, while tear
stood in each of her great blue eyes.
'Do not despair, Mr.. Jones'" she said
| gently. 1T must be only brief and TEN
porary aflliction. Surely it must all come
right soon"
He shook his head.
Never, fear" he replied. Il hoped SO
at first. but there is no change-no return
I of that part of the consciousness relating
to the ego, which seems to have vanished
/ But feel Infinitely easier in mind now
that have told you all Hitherto | have
felt that our relations Of friendship were
based upon false pretenses on NV part.
But now you will not blame me Say that
you will not"
"Dlame you! How would that be DOS.
sibe? We shall be all the better friends
now that this confidence is established be
tween us. But, tell me. have you no recol
lection of places other than Boston,"
every distinct ones. But respecting PEG
pie have no clear memories. know New
/ York well, and it was my intention to 20
there on the day after first met YOU"
"And why did you not do SOP"
"Can you asks Miss Faruuhar-M
leine it was because had seen you and
could not go away. You must know tina,
| love you. | have loved you from the first
moment that saw you. This confession
had not meant to make to you in words,
because it i'll becomes a man without an
identity to ask the loveliest creature on
earth to marry him. Besides"-
Besides whatp" quered the girl, with
roguish glance, permitting him to retain
The little hand which he had taken posses
zion of.
Suppose" he said, with a look of sud.
den and intense anxiety, that should be
married alrcadyl / have no recollection of