Connecticut western news., 1894-07-26
AMADMAN'S MYSTERY

 AMADMAN'SMYSTERY A have seen a newborn baby in its crib, with its eyes wide open, peering into the life just opened to it. have heard persons wonder what the little brain is thinking about, what it sees and how its new surroundings affect it. I know what life seems to a newborn child, for 1 was but as newborn child when I 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 in a sweet, low voice. "At last you live. Rest now. Try to sleep. You will get well"
 I did not understand her words at the time, but they filled me with satisfied feeling, a desire to close my eyes and sleep lay half unconscious for. some time, teaching myself object lessons, and soon could name the various arti- cles saw about me. But, try as l would, I could not remember my name 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 snow covered ground, and to watch the gray and the blue ill the ocean, and to walk about the room. One morning I determined to see whether the nurse knew anything about me, so called her to my bedside.
 ''Do you know my name?" asked her.
 She looked at me in surprise and wonder.
 No" she said.
 "Well. do you know anything about me?'
 She looked even more surprised
 Nothing" she-said, nothing, ex- cept that two months ago some of our people found you on the beach apparent ly dead. We have nursed you back to life. Don't you remember anything about yourself at all?'
 had to admit that I did not.
 ''Well, will you tell me where amp asked her.
 ''You are in the town of Astine, on the coast of Nova Scotia" she replied.
 "Astine, '-the word seemed familiar to me-''Nova Scotia" also familiar, but 1 could not tell when or where l had heard the words before.
 About week after this occurred my nurse came to me and told me that the village doctor had said that I could go out for walk. She offered to go with me. gladly accepted her companion ship, and together we Walked out into the cold, fresh, life giving air and down toward the ocean.
 We came upon an old ruined build ing
 What is this?'' asked her.
 ''The ruins of the house where the Ayraults lived"
 ''The Ayraults-have you ever men, tioned that name to me before?" asked her suddenly.
 ''No." she answered. ''Why do you ask?'
 "Oh, I do not know, except that the name sounded familiar to me, as if had heard it many, many times. Why, even when you spoke it I thought-how foolish of me-that you had spoken my name. Who were they?'
 "They lived here for many years in this old house. The son and mother were drowned years ago. The father, 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 therel There he is now'' But heard no more that the woman said I but saw an old man, white haired, with wild eyes, staggering to- ward me. .s. looked at the sea. Once more the world became dark And then-maybe I dreamed, maybe | it was picture I saw, maybe it was my memory come back to me.
 ''I stood at the window looking out upon the sea, partly hidden from my sight by fine white mist, which I could I plainly see coming in, sweeping along | before the wind over the water up the hill toward the house. The sea roared sullenly, and the waves dashed angrily up over the rocky beach, occasionally the spray leaping higher than the mist, suspended for second above 1t, spar kling in the moonlight.
 "I opened the window, and as I did SO the thick mist, which had now come up over the hill, came pouring into the room. Despite the cold stood entranced, amazed, looking out upon the wonderful beauty of the night. The wind grew fercer, the sea dashed the foam from its lips up above the blanket of the white mist The moon for a moment shone down upon it, transforming it into SC much fiery silver. Then the foam sank again down deep into the mist.
 Suddenly there came boom, fol lowed by 8 glare across the heavens.
 "I knew what that meant.
 "A vessel ashore I cried, fin that surf, on those rocks. God have mercy or those on board.
 "There came loud knocking at my door.
 "'Who is there?' asked.
 Ut is r. came the voice of my father Open, beg of you.
 ''I went to the door, raised the latcl and admitted him. By mother was witl him They were fully dressed.
 'Boomp came through the whit mist from the vessel pounding upon tn beach.
 "Yes. now could hear the vessel a she beat her brains out. 'sThsu the heavens were tllnntnsd b