The Portland daily press., 1897-12-16
tALL RIGHTS REsERvEnl
(Chapter I'D
THE CURTAIN OF MEMORY.


THE CURTAIN OF MEMORY.
"Who am II Where am L? How came
here? What has happened?'
Thus ran the thoughts of a young man
OF about eighty -and-twenty, pale and
emaoiated by suffering, black and grizzly
for want Of shaving, his unkept hair
lying in mat upon his brow and
temples, but with lineaments of stamp
TO Indicate that he had been more than
commonly handsome fellow before his
cheeks grew hollow and his eyes turned
dim and lustreless from days Of horrible
anguish. such as one cannot but marvel
that human beings should endure and
survive. Consciousness was struggling
In him with recollection. He felt that he
had just awakened out. of a slum ber, how
deep and long he could not then realize.
All seemed sheer blank-a dull, impene-
trable confusion of ideas, fitting shadow
| like across the dusky vista of his brain,
and not more determinate to his reason
than are the unearthly visions which fit
through the reeling minds of men in de-
lirium, or the fading phantasmagoria
seen by opium eaters passing from the
state of dreams into that of death like
drowsiness. This much he could perceive
and prehend-that he lay Eupon his
back in narrow, coffin like place, which
was ceaselessly rising and falling beneath
him with lulling ~movements; that just
above his head, in the wall against. which
he lay, was small circular window,
through which the sunshine slanted in
q bright shaft of haze, in whose rays he
could see myriads of dusky particles float
ing; and that upon the white PAINTED cell
ing, which was little more than arm S
reach above him, was puZZling flicker.
ing of light. as though some hidden per-
son with a reflector were constantly
L. ~1~1-~
he saw and understood as he lay motion
less upon his back, staring upwards and
wondering; but nothing more At times
a half CLEAN of intelligence breaking in
upon thesdarkness of his mind would set
him froWning in an effort to recall but
the mere shade of thought fitted and van
ished ere 1t could take shape or form, and
the expression of his eyes lapsed again
into the same blind, fixed, vacant stare
Suddenly he became conscious of the
shadow of figure standing close beside
him, and slightly turning his lead he be-
held young girl half bending over him,
with very wistful expression in her large
grey eyes. He gazed upwards at her for
some moments in silence, whilst she con .
tinued to witch him. Then comprehen-
sion came feebly to him for the first time,
and he gave faint smile, such as plays
upon the face of a sleeping baby.
So you are awake at last?" said the
girl, in soft voice, which sounded
strange and uRreal to his ears.
Where am I2'' said the young man in
husky, hollow tones, the growing power
OF his understanding manifesting itself
in his increasing air of bewilderment.
"You are in a cabin on board the ship
Strathnairn, answered the girl, viewing
him compassionately.
The expression of his face showed that
her answer. conveyed no meaning to him.
''Do not you remember being rescued
from the boat the other night9' she in
quired.
He looked at her for minute, and
then shook his head with q chiidishness
pitiable to watch in man
What is that light up there'? he In
quired, his eyes wandering to the cease
lessly fitting beams of radiance upon the
ceiling of the little apartment.
sThat Is theire6ection of the white foam
passing outside the porthole, - answered
the girl. "The ship is sailing very fast,
morning. Does her pitching trouble you
much?"
He made no answer, either not hearing
or not understanding her.
cam in a coffin?' he suddenly asked
with startled look coming into his deep
sunk eyes.
"No," she answered. 'You are in a
ships bunk" The girl vanished a
moment, then re-appeared holding wine
glass in her hand. Drink this said
she, putting her arm under his head to
raise 1t up.
The man swallowed the draught and
sank back again.
Now lie still, and do not attempt to
talk. Shut yoar eyes and try to 60 to
sleep again. You will be stronger when
you wake up"
bo 10 L.
could not zee her without turning his
head, and stood watching him. He closed
his eyes with implicit obedience, and be-
fore long his regular respiration showed
young girl then noiselessly stole to ths
! cabin door, opened it, and passed out
DIR. Collins, the surgeon Of the Strath
nairn, was playing at deck quoits with
one OF the passengers-ship's doctors in
the old days Of tacks and sheets had very
little else to do as rule than kill time
between the ports, when he heard his