Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-07-17
BRAINERD'S
RECOVERY.
Being a Complication In a
Love Affair Which Was
Very Embarrassing.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

A'os,
in the hall at the Fishers the night
they gave 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 room for gal
lants to stand behind chairs.
"How do you mean, sad?" | 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" l said.
"Why"
"Why? Why, because it's clear
case of paresis," said Cobb, speaking
In a grave undertone.
'And the symptoms?"
Symptoms enough. Hes forgotten
everybodys name-almost. I'm aw-
fully sorry for poor Jennie Fisher, l
must say"
But l said, "Drainerd'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
few names Remember, he hasn't
lived here all his life, as you have"
MOI NJ al, iy,o fnh
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
name"
"AIixed her up with her COUSIN
Elsie" said Cobb. "And you know
those two girls are not bit alike"
This certainly did seem conclusive.
AS l had always liked Jack Bralncrd,
ever since he came to live and ~ 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.
lie 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 girl as any in our community,
and that is saying much. 1t would be
a terrible stroke of III luck if her life
should be blasted by this aflliction, all
the more so at this time, when she must
have been locking forward with the
keenest delight to her tiance's return.
While | stood thinking sadly over
what Cobb had been telling me-he
had left me to go back to the supper
roonl-Nlrs. 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 grand piano and
big palm that stood in the bay window.
"Now tell me-" she went on. what
have you noticed about Mr.. Blainerd?"
"Ths evening?'
eyes. Or any time since his return
from Colorado"
But he only reached this city Mt
this afternoon, as understand"
"And you had not seen anything of
him until you came here?"
mo" l said. "And since then have
only noticed that he looks rather the
better for his trip"
''Rotbnr mora than a trim wasn't IL 2
Two months? Burt how better?"
"Well," | said. "stronger-bcttnr COM
pleNion-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 'brecziness.'
"Hm," she said. "rhat's all. is it,"
Nothing more than that. | haven't
said more than passing word to him."
ooh, you haven't talked to him. then?
Did he know YOUR
81 think he did. WhyT'
"Did he know your
"He 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
Their crazy--or intoxicated-to me-"
impossible" said. "Branerd
doesn't drink. you know. Mrs. Fisher.
And as for crazy
"well," she interrupted me impa.
tiently, che seems to have forgotten
poor Jennie or forgotten that they
were engaged. He has attached him
self all the evening to Elsie
tried to smile ut Mrs. Fishers anX-
icties and talked commonplac-s of phi,
losophy to her. telling her that these
little eccentrcltips of lovers Should not
be dwelt upon too seriously. IF you
will only give him time" | said, you'll
see that it is some little tiff sprung up
since he went west. Haven't they been
corresponding"
Constantly. But Jennie herself
seems to take it seriously; otherwise l
wouldn't care one iota. Mr.. Brainerd
may 90 to Jericho for all care"
But Mr.. Brainerd seemed not in the
least inclined to go in that direction
just mt that time, for as Mrs. Fisher
spoke he walked in from the supper
room with Elsic-not Jennie-Fisher on
his arm. Elsie had u preoccupied look
on her face--iA fact. | may say, an en-
barrassed look In one hand she held
rf N ~ IL, H~.. Ii