The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1894-05-13
AMADMAN'S MYSTERY

into the life just opened to it have
heard persons wonder what the little
brain is thinking about, what it secs
and how its new surroundings affect it.
I know what life seems to a newborn
child, for l was but us newborn child
when awoke to life, and opening my
mouth cried out involuntarily to attract
the attention of the woman at the win
dow.
She arose from her chair and came
hur-iedly to me.
"Ah, said she i'll q sweet, low voice.
cat last you live. Rest now. Try to
sleep. You will get we'll. "
did not understand her words at the
time, but they filed me with satisfied
feeling, desire to close my eyes and
sleep. I lay half unconscious for some
time, teaching myself object lessons,
and soon could name the various arti-
Giles saw about me. But, try KS 1
would. could not remember my namo
or anything about myself.
became strong enough to get up from
my bed, and to sit at the window, and to
look out upon the SHOW covered ground,
and to watch the gray and the blue in
the ocean, and to walk about the room
One morning 1 determined to see
whether the nurse knew anything about
me, SO | called her to my bedside
do you know my nanle?'' nsl1ed
her.
She looked at me IN surprise md
wonder
NO" she said.
"Well, do you know anything about
me?'
She looked even moro SURPRISED.
Nothing she said, nothing. ca
cept that two months ago sonle of our
people found you on the beach apparent
ly dead. We have nursed you back to
life. Don't you reuember anything
about yourself at alp
had to admit that did not.
We'll. will you tell mewhere amp
l asked lier.
You are i'll the town of Astinc, Oh
the coast of Nova Scotia" she replied
"Astine, the word seemed familiar
to me-"Nova Scotia" also familiar,
but l could not tell when or where I
had heard the words before.
About week after this occurred my
nurse came to me and told mo thnt tho
village doctor had said that could 20
out for u walk. She offered to 90 with
me. GLADLY accepted her companion
ship, and together we walked ont into
the cold, fresh, life giving air and down
toward the ocean.
u. c11
ing
what is this"' l asked her.
1.-The ruins of the house where tire
Ayraults lived. "
"The Ayraults-havc you ever men
toned that name tome bcforcr' / asked
her suddenly.
NO" she answered. why 10 y,n
ask"
''Oh, do not know, except that the
name sounded familiar to me- as if l
had heard it many, many times Why,
even when you spoke it thought-how
foolish Of me-that You had spoken my
name. Who We're they?'
They lived here for many years III
this old house. The son and mother
We're drowned years ago. The father, 1
believe, is still alive. He lost his mind
and every now and then is seen wander
ing about here looking for his son, who,
he says, will return TO him SOME day
Why, look thercl There he is now!"
But | heard 10 more that the woman
said. l but saw an old man, white
haired, with wild eyes, staggering to-
ward me.
| looked at the sea
Once more the world became dark.
And thcn-maybc l dreamed, maybe
it WAS picture / saw, maybe it was my
memory come back to me.
Il stood at the window looking ont
upon the sea, partly hidden from my
sight by Il fine white mist, which could
plainly sec coming in, sweeping along
before the wind over the water up the
hill toward the house. The sea roarcd
sullcnly, and the waves dashed angrily
up over the rocky beach, occasionally
the spray leaping higher than the mist,
suspended for second above it, spar
Killing in the moonlight.
II opened the window, and us 1 did
so the thick mist, which had now come
up over the hill, came pouring into the
room. Despite the cold stood entranccd,
amazed, looking out upon the wonderful
beauty Of the night The wind grew
fierccr, the sea dashed the foam from its
lips up above the blanket of the white
mist. The moon for moment shone
down upon it, transforming it into so
much fiery silver. Then the fonm sank
again down deep into the mist
suddenly there came boom, fol-
lowed by glare across the heavens.
81 knew what that meant.