Arizona republican., 1901-06-06
having forgotten that he had forgotten

having forgotten that he had forgotten It.
 There was a sound of steps on the stone floor of the quaint little passage that led down to his study, and turning from the window he saw that his wife had entered the room and was locking at him strangely.
 Jack" she said in low voice, what Is the inatte ?"
 His eyes were burning out from under his shock of hair with a fierce ress that beied his feeling of simple surlrise.
 Nothing is the matter" he an | swered. Why do you ask?" She seemed immensely concerned, but she was visibly endeavoring to hde her concern a. we'll as to abate t. '1 thought you acted lueerly." He answered, Why no. I'm not act 1 Ing queerly. On the contrary" he added. smilingly, I'm in one of my most rational moods" | Her look of alarm did not subsde. She continued to regard him with the same stare. She was silent for a time, and did not move His own thoughts had quite returned to contemplation of a poisoned lover and he did not note the manner of his wife Suddenly she came to him and laying a hand on his arm said: Jack, you are ill." Why. no, dear" he said with a first impotence. 'I'm not i'll at all. never felt better in all my life" And his mind, beleaguered by this pointless talk. strove to break through to its old | contemplation of the poisoned lover. Hear what I have written" Then he read.
 The garlands of her nalr are snakes. Black and bitter are her hating eyes; A cry the windy death hall makes O. love. deliver ua
 The flung cup rolls to he, sandals tip His arm
 Linton said. "I cant seem to get the | lines to describe the man who is dying Of the poison on the floor before her. Really, I'm havig time with it. What Q bore! Sometimes I can write like | mad. and other times l don't seem to | have an intelligent idea In my head"
 He felt hi. wife's hand tighten on his arm. and he looked into her face. It Was 70 alight with horror that it brought him sharply out Of his dreams.
 Jack. she repeated tremulously, you are ill."
 He opened his eyes in wonder. "In! l III? No; not in the least"
 "Yes, you are i'll. can see it in your eyes. You--act so strangely" l Act strangely? Why. my dear. what have I done? I feel quite well. Indeed l wa5 never more fit in my ! life"
 AS he spoke he threw himself In n large wing clair and looked up at his wife. who stood gazing at him from the other side of the black oak table upon which Linton wrote his verses Jack, dear" she almost whispered 'i have noticed it for days" and she leaned across the table to look more intently into his face. "Yes, your eyes grow more fixed every day--you-you-- your head, doen 1t ac he, dear?"
 Linton arose from his chair and came round the big table toward his wife As he approached her an expression akin to terror crossed her face and she drew back as if in fear. holding out both hands to ward him off
 He had been smiling in the manner of a man reassuring a frightened child; but at her shrinking from his out rtretched hand he stopped in amaze ment Why, Grace. what is 1t? Tell me?"
 She was glaring at him, her eyes wide with misery. Linton passed his left hand across his face. unconsciously trying to brush from it that which alarmed her.
 "Oh. Jack. you must see some one. l am wretched about you. You are i'll. |"
 Why, my dear wife" he said, q am quite, quite well. am anxious to finish these verses. but words won't come somehow. The man dying"
 "Yes, that Is 1t, you cannot remem- Der; you see that YOU cannot remember. You must see doctor. We will 20 up to town at once" she answered quickly.
 'Tis true, he thought. that my mem ory ia not as good, as 1t used to be. I cannot remember dates, and words won'b fit in somehow. Perhaps I don't take enough exercise, dear. Is that what worries you?' he asked.
 Yes. yes. dear. you do not 20 out erough," said his. wife You cling to this room as the ivy clings to the wall but We must go to London. You must see some one! Promise me that you will go, that you will go immedi- ately"
 Again Linton saw his wife look at him as one looks at a creature of pity The faint lines from her nose to the corners of her mouth deepened, as if she were In physical pain; her eyes open to their fullest extent, had in their expression the dumb agony of mother watching beside her dying babe. What was this strange wall that had sud denly raised itself between them? Was he i'll? No; he never was in better health in his life. He found himself