Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-05-16

the head sufficient by itself to have pro-
duced this result My idea of it is that
there was some structural or functional
trouble i'll the brain prior to the acct
dent. Then the shock alone may have
had a good deal to do with it. y
''Then it is possible that this is the
effect of terror"
Possibly. -
POSSIBLY How conservative and cold
blooded you are! Candidly, can't med
ical science nnravel this mystery and
tell the why and wherefore of this mat
ter?''
''Not at the present stage Of the case
and in the present state of medical sci
ence''
"What pretentious humbug science
Is anyway fumed Ma1ey.
1.-THE best wish I can have for you is
shat you will live to see the absurdity
Of that remark, my boy. Science is I'M
pretentious and real. People who have
the most to say against it know the least
about it. If you hear Il man berating it,
ten to one it has disturbed some old pet
fancy of his. Science wouldn t suit you
because you are too impatient. It works
slowly, my boy-slowly, but surely"
Dr.. Lamar said all this calmly and
dispassionately as he rose to assume his
outer garments. Maxey had opened his
lips to reply when there came a knock
ing at the door. He stepped into the
hall and looked out. On the threshold
stood the brave fellow who had been
lowered from the edge of the bluff at
The ropes end to rescue an imperiled
life week before.
Maxey was so surprised that he seemed
at first to be in danger of forgetting his
hospitality, but in moment CT two he
recovered himself and invited his visit
Or in.
mo, thanl1ee," said the young man
awkwardly, taking off his hat and
glancing around him, "but my little
brother found this on the beach in the
snow underneath where the young wom-
an hung, sir, and we thought, between
US, that maybe, as it might be of some
use, maybe I'd better put on my hat and
coat and run up"
Run up! 1t was eight miles.
Maxey took bit of soiled and damp
folded sheet of writing paper and con-
tanned these words, traced with pale ink
in feminine hand:
SOMERSET, Dec. 8, 1884.
DEAR ANNETTE--I have never forgotten you
during all our separation, and to my astonish-
ment and delight yesterday learned a matter
of the deepest Importance to yourself An
nette, you have been deceived as to your par
entage. Your real father and mother are
known to me. want to tell you all about it
at once, but there are good reasons why I
should not go to the house. You will under
stand this fully when you see me. l am stop
ping out in Somerset at present, but there are
other reasons why you shouldn't be seen there.
have thought up a place that will be con-
venient for both of US. Annette, you remcm-
Der the hotel at Cliffs Head where you came
with your mother two years ago. Just across
the road there is seat, you will remember.
Why can't you come out on the train and walk
up the road and wait for me there about
O'Clock tomorrow Tuesday) night? If this note
seems hasty and very, very strange to you,
Annette, believe me there are strange things
to come, which will tell you of. After you
know what I know you need never go back
again unless you wish. After all the troubled
have been to in this matter, and for your sake,
have no fear Of any failure on your part to
be at the place named. Your very true friend,
Mrs. AGATHA G.. HAPGoOD.
p. ST. may be a little late, but shall not
fail to keep my appointment.
Maxey read this remarkable epistle
aloud in the presence of the doctor, who
had joined him in the hall. The excita-
BILE artist was aglow with enthusiasm.
Here is something tangible at last!
Here is woman with name! You did
right, my good man, to bring this docu-
ment here. You were right i'll believing
it important. You have done us all
great service. Tell your little brother,
my good man, that if he will bring me
the envelope this letter was contained in
be at the bottom Of this affair yet or my
names not MaXay. An unexpected good
fortune, Lamar, don't you think, and
one that will throw much light on this
obscure matter?'
Lamar frowned and replied cautious
ly: II am not detective and I have
not studied the letter, but it strikes me
the wording is peculiar and the sigma
ture extraordinary. The nane is explicit
enough in all conscience. A woman
writing confidential letter like that to
a friend does not often take so much
pains to get in her full name, as if she
were signing will. Take care that
some crafty fellow hasn't thrown this
letter i'll your way for the purpose of
putting you ON the wrong track
Maxey looked little bewildered, but
he seized his hat and coat, without
making a reply, and darted down the
stairs.
"What very excitable people these
Mazeys are!" thought the philosophic
doctor as he went away. "And what
deal of interest they do take in this case!
I wonder where Miss Ellen went to?
How pretty she looked when her blood
was up! There would be some satisfac-
ton in crossing such woman just for
the picture one would get. But, bah,
what am I thinking about? What is
this to me?''
Nevertheless he sighed as he went
back half heartedly to his work again.
Till very recently this work had been
his pride and his life Now as he took it
up it seemed like a task, almost bur-
den. There was a woman's face-a
handsome but not welcome face-be-
fore his eyes night and day. Something
was wrong with DR.. Lamar, something
wrong with him, something
from which even his science might not
save him.