The Washington times., 1894-06-03
a Madman'S Musferg.

I have seen q newborn baby in its crib, with
its eyes wide open. peering into the life just
opened to it. I have heard persons wonder
what the little brain is thinking about, what
1t sees, and how its new surroundings affect
it. I know what life seems to a newborn
child, for 1 was but newborn child when l
awoke to life, and opening my mouth cried
out invoiuntarily to attract the attention of
the woman at the window.
She arose from her chair and came hur-
riedly to ne.
"Ah," said she in a sweet, low voice. "At
last you live Rest now. Try to sleep. You
will get WELL"
1 did not understand her words at the time,
but they filed me with a satisfied feeling. a
desire to close my eyes and sleep. I lay half
unconscious for some time, teaching myself
object lessons, and soon 1 could name the
various articles l saw about me. But. try as
/ would. could not remember my name or
anything about myself.
l became strong enough to get up from my
bed and to sit at the window. and to look out
upon the snow-covered ground, and to watch
the gray and the blue in the ocean. and to
walk about the room.
One morning determined to see whether
the nurse knew anything about me, s -, I called
her to my bedside.
"Do you know my name?" asked her.
She looked at me in surprise and wonder.
mo-" she said.
"Weil. do you know anything abou. me?"
She looked even more surprised.
'Nothing," she said. nothing. except that
two months ago some OF our people found you
on the beach apparently dead. We have
nursed you back TO life. Don't you remember
anything about yourself at all?"
l had to admit that did not.
We'll, will you tell me where / amp I
asked her.
s'You are in the town of Astine, on the coast
OF Nova Scotia she replied
"Astine"-:he word seemed familiar to
me-"Ncva Scotia also familiar, but l could
not tail when or where had heard the words
before.
About a week after this occurred my nurse
came to me and told me that ths village ooc-
Tor ,iad said that I could 90 ont Tor g walk.
She offered TO SO with me. gladly accepted
her companion ship, and together we walked
out into the cold. fresh, liIe-giving air and
down toward the ocean.
We came upon III Old ruined building.
'sWbat is this?" asked her.
'.The ruins OF the house where the Ayraults
lived"
"The Ayrauts-have you ever mentioned
tnat Ndile 10 iHe petofe! aSReu nef Sud-
denly.
ss"No." she answered. "Why do you ask?'
"oh, do not know, except that the name
sounded familiar 10 me. as If 1 had heard it
many, many times. Why, even when you
spoke i. thought--how foolish OF me--that
You had spoken my name. Who were thew"
'They lived here for many years in this old
house. The sou and mother were drowned
years ago. The fathcf, believe. is still alive.
He lost his mind. and every now and then is
seen wandering about here looking for his
son, who, he says, win return to him some
day. Why, LOCK there There he is nowi'
But heard no more that the woman said.
but saw an old man, white haired, With
wild eyes. staggering toward me
looked at the sea.
Once more the world became dark.
And then-maybe dreamed, maybe it was
n picture / saw, maybe it was my memory
come back to me.
81 stood at the window looking out upon
the sea. partly hidden from my sight by a
fine white mist. which l rould plainly see
coming in. sweeping along before tine wind
over the water up the hill toward the house.
The sea roared sulIenly and the waves dashed
angrily up over the rocky beach, occasionally
the spray leaping higher than the mist, sus-
pended for a second above it, sparkling in
the moonlight.
II opened the window, and as did so the
thick mist, which had now come up over the
hill, came pouring into the room. Despite
the cold I stood entranced, amazed, looking
out upon the wonderful beauty OF the night
The wind grew fiercer. the sea dashed the
foam from its lips up above the blanket Of the
white mist. The moon for q moment shone
down upon II, Transforming it into 30 much