The Portland daily press., 1897-12-17

Dr. Collins has examined his linen, -
said the girl, thinking that it would
very probably have been marked with his
name. But none of his undertaking
bears anything more than the mere init
ialS, G. r."
"And have you nothing in your pockets
old letters, visiting cards, a watch with
arms or monogram upon it-that would
be likely to furnish a clue to your indi-
viduality'? asked the captain.
'Ihe doctor has looked but found moth
ing, said Miss Marston, answering for
him.
"Oh, WE'LL" exclaimed the skipper,
panied by t&e blank expression of dismay
upon the roor fellows face, ''even if we
knew your name we should still be prac-
tically as much in the dark as we are by
knowing only your initials. And as to
I fancy there will be but small difficulty
in doing that on the ships arrival at
Sydney.
You see, fortunately, we have got the
name of the vessel your boat belonged to-
Nothing will be easier than to discover
who were the owners of the Lady
Godiva, communicate with them, get
list of names of all the people ON board,
and fit the letters G. r. to the one which
corresponds with those initials. But, in
deed, let us hope that there may be no
necessity for that. AS you grow stronger
it is not at all improbable, the doctor
says, TINT your memory may =. return to
you"
''That is what am constantly telling
him. said the girl. II cannot help
thinking that the mere fact Of his being
able to give their proper names to things
as soon as everahe set eyes upon them is
the best proof possible that the organs of
recollection are really unimpaired."
''Dr. Collins has explained to me that
it is case in which the memory Of all
past events has been rendered moribund
by acute physical suffering" continued
the commander. "He calls 1t species of
paralysis of the faculty OF recollection,
which may prove to be only temporary
His own ideas upon thefsubject are valua
BILE as tbs opinion of qualified medical
man. He says that his belief is this: If
the horrors which this gentleman has I'M
dergone in that open boat had not
affected his mind in the form we see, no
would most probably have been totally
bereft of reason-awakened to conscious
ness as stark, raving Iunatic; driven
mad by thirst, hunger, anguish of body
and soul. Andswhat can be more terrible
than exposure in an open boat at sea
Only sailor can realize the terrible sig
nif1canceof the situation. Imagine an
oil-smooth surface of ocean stretching
bare and unbroken to the sky line on
every hand; the sun striking down al
most directly overhead, fierce as fur
mace; not a drop of water to drink for all
the liquid wilderness around; not so.
much as a crumb of mouldering biscuit
to gnaw upon; the glass-clear brine briIn-
ming nearly to the gunwales of the boat
smuggling and stagnant as the water at
the bottom of a we'll; with never a cats
paw of wind to watt featherlike CLEAN
OF sail above the deadly eyel circle of the
horizon. have gone through it myself,
and know what such an experience
MEANS
The invalid watched him with child
like stare Of w0nderment whilst he spoke,
but his face showed that, although he
followed the captains description, the
hearkening to him had touched no chord
of realisation.
'.We shall have to call Mr.. C. R.. by
some zame whilst on board, Captain, %
said Miss Marston. "What shall we
ohristen him?"
sob, as he is SO entirely your PATIENT
said Captain 1Sturgess, smiling, II think
1t only fair that you should have the
privilege of naming him. At all events,
l am pretty sure he will not rebel against
your choice.
The girl laughed and slightly blushed, |
whilst the sick man fixed bis fine blacks
eyes upon her face with a look which
must have set her heart palpitating hadl
WELL said she, 'sas am to have the
choice. suggest that we call him Charles
Rawlings. This will be prescribing his
initials, and at the Same time giving him
the name of a character which very
much admired, who figures in story I
have recently been reading"
"tThat will do, said Captain Sturqess.
"One name is as good as another. As a
mere matter of convenience it will be-
necessary that you should have some more
distinctive and briefer appellatfon than
THE shipwrecked gentleman, "The gen
tleman we picked up, This gentlen an
who has lost his memory, and SO forth.
You will not, therefore, object to being
known as Mr.. Charles Rawlings?''
'sNot the least in the world" answered
the patient. ''Indoed, who is to say that
tmight not be my real name?"
"TRere is no telling" said the skipper.
Then looking at his watch. he said ii
would very shortly be eight bells, and that
he must leave them TO SO and shoot the
sun.
"By the way, tell me one thing" he
exclaimed, pausing as he was moving off.
"Do you remember everything which has
happened since your resoueY'
II can recall all that has taken place
since / returned to consciousness, was
the answer.
"Humphp' calculated the captain, and
away uo iudTCAcd, Soou uoet1 troubled
by the depressing reflections of how won
derfully and feaMully we are made.
elm what part of the sea are we nowP''
presently inquired the invalid.
"We are off the Cape of Good Hope, so
heard Mr.. Rogers saying this morning,
and heading as true as the compass points
for Sydney now
1.-The Cape of Good Hope-Sydney %
exclaimed the man, knitting his brow as
he locked at her.
"Those names-do q they recall any
thing2"
II 1aust have heard them before: thew
seem quite familiar Sounds he an
swered, YEARLY passing his hand over his
brow. Yet could not tell you where
they..are. Where is Sydney?'
"Sydney-New South Wales-is one of
the greatest cities in Australia
Australia OF counsel Sydney is in
Australia. And that Is where we are
goingf"
Eyes. But this ship will not arrive
there for many weeks yet. and in that
time you have grown strong again, and
must hope to have recovered your mem
Org"
81 was,found ina little boat. you tell
me. Was it like that?" said he, pointing