The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1897-12-02

ROYAL BAKING POWDER
'Why, sir, this picture is the very
Image of him." replied the stranger
Where havs you seen bim7" asked
l. my heart beating high with hope
"On board a steamer bound fol
America" was the reply.
"Here in the dock?" asked I.
mo, sir; on the ocean. You s-e
the vessel had broken something
about her machinery which disabled
her, and as we came along the cap
tain hoisted signal of distress, and
We hove to, ran alongside, and re-
NAMED in her company for upwards
of an hour, until the necessary re-
pairing had been attended to: and
while we lay there l went on board
the disabled steamer and saw the
young man whom his associates call
ed by the odd name have mentioned.
l asked one of the seamen why he
was so called, and he informed me
that he did not appear to know his
name, home or country. In fact, the
past, until about week back, is, as
he expresses it, an unaccountable and
imprenetable blank"
"My Godw exclaimed I, as a fear
that my dear friend had become de-
ranged filled my mind. Then asked
the age OF this strange person, and
the probable age corresponded pre-
clsely with that of Oscar Marshfield.
l would have overwhelmed him
with questions in regard to my lost
friend, but an acquaintance of his
coming up at this moment, he said he
must be off, and remained only long
enough to give me the name of the
vessel on which he had seen 'Lost
Identity"
was now eager to start at once for
America, and my first move was to
ascertain what fast steamer would be
the first to leave for the New World,
and an hnnr afterwards l WIS aboard
as passenger, having first written to
my patron, Mr.. Marshfeld, acquaint
ing him with all the facts.
l landed at Castle Garden, New
York, and at once sought among the
shipping at the piers for the West
phalia, and after couple of hours
search found her. She was undergo
ing repairs, and most of her crew
were scattered about the city enjoy
ing their enforced holiday.
From those on board 1 learned that
Lost Identity was lodging in a
house On Murray street, and thither
L instantly repaired, and found him
sitting IN his room smoking a clay
pipe, a habit Oscar had never con
tracted to my knowledge.
oscar, my poor friendr cried 1, as
L saw him regarding me as an utter
stranger.
"Hey?" said he, in response, as he
carefully laid down his pipe. "What
was that you called me?'
''Good heavens! do you not recog-
nize your life long friend, James Old
feld?' cried l, in agony at his calm
demeanor.
Cant say that 1 do was the re-
ply; "in fact, if you are over a month
old I'm sure l have never seen YOU
before to my knowledge" added he.
but what name was it you called
me7" asked he, with great earnestness.
oscar Marshfield."
'Oscar Marshtield," repeating it
slowly; II do not remember having
heard the name before Are you
positive 1T is my name?" asked he,
anxlously, 'for strange as it may ap-
pear to you, know literally nothing
about myself save within a month
past, and, IN fact, nothing else, either.
| am an infant that has reached his
majority" and here he smiled; bnt O
what smile! There was depth of
sadness in it that cannot be described
in words.
1 then acquainted him with all the
particulars of his mysterious disap
pearance, his fathers anxiety, his
mothers grief, and the story brought
tears to his eyes. urged him to en-
deavor to break through this dark
cloud which enshrouded his memory
but he sadly shook his head, saying
he had endeavored to do so, and cud
gelled his brain until it we'll nigh
crazed him, but of no avail, and he
came to conclusion to let things &c
by chance; perhaps in that way be
would recover his identity as quickly
as in any o her way he could devise
Iproduced the pencil picture oi
himself, and he gazed at 1t with evi
dent interest; then asked, in the man
ner child might ask:
"Was this taken for me?'
'My poor Oscarw exclaimed l, in
fearful accents, your memory is in
deed gone astray, since you do no,
remember that you gave it to me no,
two years ago."
Did Is' responded he, innocently
then fell into a deep study, from
which / did not disturb him, but sa
gazing on the we'll known face of hin
who no longer knew me. himself OF
anything.
When l finally proposed that ht
should return to England with me
he at once agreed, adding: ''Strange
that I should have left my home
without being aware of it, and cross
the mighty ocean," he added.
"Tell me what is the first thing yor
remembers' asked /. as a thought
struck me that his answer might pos
sibly furnish me with clew of some
kind.
"The first thing l remember wa.
awaking out of a sleep on board ,
vessel. / was lying in berth will