The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-10-21

someone is pursuing MIN.
He discuiscs himself After that he remem-
hcrs no more. Sensbility comes to him years
afterwards i,y degrees lie finds himself in a
comfortable, large dwelling, where there are
many queer people. He seems 20 be well taken
care OF. and is visited by kind man, who asks
him bis name: but when he cannot remem Der,
leaves him as if in anger.
Qniiman finally remembers his mast life; he
is harassed by thoughts of the fate of wife and
child. lie resolves not to betray his identity
90 the physician or others. He realizes that
he is in an insane asy lum. The doctor strives
IN many shrewd ways 10 find out who he is.
CHAPTER Y.
In few months, I had linked the pres
ent firmly with the past. had gone
slowly and cautiously, for ] knew the good
Doctor was watching me. Soon after nv
resurrection. he had given me work in his
Office, and / went wherever l choae without
restraint. In the library, 10 which i had
cons ant access, were bound files of several
great daily newspapers, extending back for
a period of 90 years. / consulted them
cautiously, taking care that the attendants
notice was not attracted 10 the particular
year of my demise. Indeed / began to
read several years anterior 10 that date and
restrained my burning desire as l waded
with apparent interest through volumes in
which every incident reciied was as clear in
my memory as on their pages-aye, clearer,
since the pages were already growing dim
with age.
Wood pulp paper is q treacherous thing
30 entrust with the record of the past.
Even q tottering intellect is - safer deposit
tory.
At length I came to the very day Of my
demise. 1t was not mentioned in the Jour
mails of the succeeding day. On the next
there was mere notice of the disappear
spce, and a hint Of anxiety. On the day
following the item had grown TO the i'm
Portance OF prominent paragraph, and on
abe fifth day afterwards, had reached the
dignity of display headlines and first page
position.
I read all about myself-ny wife, my
home, my financial troubles, my disappear
ancc. No ole had seen me since / locked
my Office door that Summer afternoon 10
years before. There was no trace of me.
A body had been found upon the ninth day
floating in the river. 1t was thought it
might have been mine; but the eyes of love
could not identify it, and there was nothing
On il to give certainty.
from belief in the grim suggestion of
identity it was given decent burial. was
glad for the other poor fellow who had
stepped ous of life simultaneously with me,
shat his poor mortality had at least met
with kindness. There was nothing more !;
occasionally in the years that followed, !
found reference to the man who had been
who bore tie name was entitled to resume
If chose to DO SO. Now and then found
slight references to my wife in some recent
years my daughter had been mentioned !;
she had been graduated; had become an
artist
How kind and appreciative all the notices
on my disappearance were! How they
CLOSED over my faalts and magnified my
virtues! Journals which had referred
harshly TO me when alive seemed illsd
with respect at ms untimely taking off.
And IN all ailueions TO my wife and daugh-
Ser there wac touching undernote of SYM
psthy. / could see that they gave the girl
kindly greeting out of regardful memory of
the father abe had lost
L should have wept "a I read had not /
feared 10 attract the attention of the attend
ant, who seemed always to be watching me-
1t may have been fancy, but / was deter
mlnec 10 give no clew by which my identity
might he traced. Many nights unused and
wspt as j thought over these kindly utter
ances while looking through the barred win
dows OF my little room ~ the moonlit hills
beyond the silver stream. Decidedly. the
word improves when one looks back At il
from the farther shore
never read these messages of goodwill
Again. iest should awaken suspicion, but
shali place an order with q "cipping bu-
rsau which will cover them all, if circum-
stances should permit. lam sure shall feel
kindiier toward many for knowledge of the
sympathy they expressed for one so little
deserving.
That was about ali could learn. 1t was
enough TO relieve MY anxiety, bat not to
show me course i Ought TO take. Ny health
had steadily improved. The drag in NV
gait had almost disappeared. Sometimes /
forgot The cane on which / had leaned so
hong. -:imcst every day had ridden out
on horseback. it eas au exercise of which
1 WAS passioAaioiy fond, and lis effects had
proved sery ben. Gcenf
My werk in he SuperinteDdent's Office
had grown IN importance. and on the whole
my .iie was pleasant one. had just de-
termlned on my future course when was
summoned one dag 90 the Doctors office.
Neli, A2smiih," vas his cheerful greet
ing, the t ne has come when you must lie
discharged rs cured.n
have expected it," replied.
hes. ne continued; there is DO trace
OF alteration about you now, except vaur
foolish attempt TO preserve tho secret of
your identity"
il has been successful 2" suggested.
fes; lsttiaily, at least. do not know
who you are, brt / do know in part what
VOC have besn.- Fox instance, you served in
the STmy. aDd have besn accustomed to
commend"
pn Mat do you base these ccnelu-
sions?n
%. j don't know-a Thousand things.
IL SHOWS IN yonr face, ear tone, your seal
III the Saddle, AID especially in Your knawl-
edge oil military matters aud the history of
she war. f"H know wc have been much
tore'her. and | have been on the watch.o
So ] supposed
DO s,n Know -our stnbbornness has ex-
p1sSd roa 10 some dangeT-or at least an
ncysnce?n
Ia hat ay?"