The Somerset reporter., 1899-08-24
BRAINERD'S
RECOVERY.
Being a Complication In
Love Affair Which Was
Very Embarrassing.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. o&oAot


SoAoAoAoAoAoAoAoAoAoAoAoS
Say, isn't this sad about poor
Brainerd?' said Bog Cobb, meeting me
in the hall at the Fishers the night
they gave a fancy dress party.
Both Cobb and | had been dancing.
and had just left our partners to be re-
freshed in the supper room at the
back. where there was no room for gal
lants to stand behind chairs.
How do you mean, sad?" | asked.
"He seems well enough. In fact, |
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 heY'
"Yes. But have you talked to him?"
"Only a passing word" said.
"Why?'
"Why? Why, because it's clear
case of paresis." said Cobb, speaking
In grave undertone.
"And the symptomsY
everybody's name-almost. I'm aw-
fully sorry for poor Jennie Fisher, l
must say
But" said, "Brainerd's been away
from here quite two months, hasn't
he? Well. and he's been having a
busy time out there. | 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
tor
did he forget Jennie Fishers
nameY'
"Nlixed her up with her cousin
Elsie" said Cobb. And you know
those two girls are not bit alike
This certainly did seem conclusive.
AS had always liked Jack Brainerd,
ever since he came to live and ts 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, felt sure. And. then,
Jennie Fisher, the girl to whom he was
supposed to be engaged, the daughter
of our hostess that evening, was as
sweet a girl Is any in our community,
and that is saying much. 1t would be
a terrible stroke of i'll luck if her life
should be blasted by this aliIcton, all
the more so at this time, when she must
have been looking forward with the
kecnest delight to her fiance's return.
While | 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.
Il 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.. BrainerdW p
This eyeningY
"Yes. Or any time since his return
from Colorado"
but he only reached this city at 4
this afternoon as | understand
And you had not seen anything OF
him until you came here?'
NO" said And since then have
only noticed that he looks rather the
better for his trip"
Rather more than a trip, wasn't It?
Two months? But how betterF'
We'll" | said, "stronger-better com
plexion-and then there's swing and
a way of O. FRYING his shoulders as II
he'd been drilling out there. Perhaps
It's just western 'breezineSs.'"
Him" she said. That's all. is itY'
Nothing more than that | haven't
said more than passing word to him.
"Oh you haven't talked 10 him, then?
Did he know youf"
81 think he did. Why?"
did he know youT'
ole seemed to- Come to think of it,
he didn't call me by name, But why
do YOU ask ?"
simply because he seems to be Ell
ther crazy-or intoxcated-to me"
"Impossif =" said. "Brainerd
doesn't drinh, you know. Mrs. Fisher
And as for c"azy'-