The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-07-14

RECOVERY.
Being a Complication In a
Love Affair Which Was
Very Embarrassing.


"Say. isn't this sad about poor
Brainert said Bog Cobb, meeting me
in the hall at the Fishers the night
they gave a fancy dress party.
Both Cobb and l had been dancing.
and had just left our partners to be re-
freshed in the supper room at the
back, where there was no oom for gal
lants to stand behind chairs.
How do you mean, sad?' l asked.
HE seems well enough. In fact, l
was thinking just now that he had
much more color in his face than he
used to before he started for Colorado.
Got back this afternoon, didn't he?
Eyes. But have you talked to him?"
"Only a passing word," I said.
"WhyT
"Why? Why, because it's a clear
case Of paresis," said Cobb, speaking
In a grave undertone.
"And the symptoms?"
Symptoms enough. He's forgotten
everybody's ~name-almost. I'm aw-
fully sorry for poor Jennie Fisher, l
must say"
But" I said, "Brainerd's been away
from here quite two months, hasn't
he? Well, and he's been having a
busy time out there. l don't see any
thing so wonderful in his forgetting a
few names. Remember, he hasn't
lived here all his life, as you have"
: "Nonsense. man." Cobb insisted.
You haven't talked to him. Do you
suppose a man in his senses could for
get the name Of the girl he's engaged
TOT"
"Did he forget Jennie Fishers
nameY
mixed her up with her cousin
Elsie" said Cobb. "And you know
those two girls are not a bit alike"
This certainly did seem conclusive.
AS I had always liked Jack Brainerd,
ever since he came to live and to make
money in our city, five years before, it
troubled me a good deal to think that
anything so sad as mental alteration
should come upon him so early in life.
He was not 80, l felt sure. And. then,
Jennie Fisher, the girl to whom he was
supposed to be engaged, the daughter
Of u hostess that evening, was as
sweet a girl as any in our community,
and that Is saying much. 1t would be
q terrible stroke Of i'll luck If her life
should be blasted by this atiiction, all
the more SO at this time. when she must
have been looking forward with the
keenest delight to her tiance's return.
While I stood thinking sadly over
what Cobb had been telling me-he
had left me to go back to the supper
room-Mrs. Fisher, in gray silk and jet,
came sweeping through the double
doors Of the room where we had been
dancing.
II want to talk to you," she said.
"The others are eating and drinking.
Come in here"
We went back to the dressing room
and sat between a grand piano and a
big palm that stood in the bay window.
"Now tell me-" she went on. "What
have you noticed about Mr.. Brainerd? %
"This EVENING"?
Eyes. Or any time since his return
from Colorado"
But he only reached this city at 4
this afternoon, al | understand"
And you had not seen anything Of
him until you came here"
mo-" l said. And since then I have
only noticed that he looks rather the
better for his trip"
Rather more than a trip, wasn't it?
Two months? But how better?"
"Well," said, "stronger-better CON-
plexion-and then there's a swing and
a way Of carrying his shoulders, as If
he'd been drilling out there. Perhaps
it's just western 'breeziness.'"
Him." she said. THAT'S all, Is itT'
Nothing more than that. / haven't
said more than a passing word to him"
"Oh, you haven't talked to him, then?
Did he know you"
II think he did. WhyY"
"Did he know your"
HE seemed to. Come to think of it,
he didn't call me by name. But why
do you askY
"Simply because he seems to be ei-
ther crazy-or intoxicated-to me-"
Impossible" l said. "Brainerd
doesn't drink, you know, Mrs. Fisher.
And rs for crazy
"Well," she interrupted me impa-
tiently, "he seems to have forgotten
poor Jennie or forgotten that they
we're engaged. He has attached him
self all the evening to Elsie.",
tried to smile at Mrs. Fishers anx-
ietiss and talked commonplaces of phil
losophy to her, telling her that these
little eccentricities Of lovers should not
be dwelt upon too seriously. III you