The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1902-02-15

For one moment he stood as if turned
to stone, and then, like an enraged tiger,
he dashed upon me, and deadly strug-
gle commenced Down among the fra
grant tropical plants we went together,
rolling over and over, startling the birds
from the branches overhead and sending
them, with screams of fright, away into
the darkness. Suddenly | found we were
on the very edge of the cliff, and one false
move would precipitate us on the rocks be-
low He also discovered this, and made
an attempt to force me over. A bunch of
loose earth and stones gave way beneath
our feet, and fell with faint echo on the
rocks below He made another desperate
attempt to throw me over, but lost his
footing and fell over the cliff, dragging
me after him. Down, down into the
abyss, then darkness ss-nothing!
Slowly | became conscious of existence.
felt sharp pain in my head. | opened
my eyes and gazed about me in dazed
sort of way. | was in a strange place.
Strange faces bent over me, and strange
voices spoke in whispers. Where was / !?
What had happened? could remember
nothing of the past just then. | made an
effort to speak, but hand was laid gently
on me and voice said:
''You must be quiet. You have been
i'll a long while; you will be better pres
entity
Some one gave me something to drink,
and fell asleep. When | awoke | saw
two strange men in the room.
'sWhere am y | asked.
ssYou must not talk till you are better,
voice said, and I remained quiet
began to remember something of the
past; but, strange to say, could remem-
ber nothing of what had taken place in
the garden had vague remembrance
of going into the garden, but everything
that had happened after that was blank
to me.
1t was several days before | was per-
mitted to talk, and then, as the past began
to grow more vivid to my mind, became
impatient and would listen TO nothing till
they told me of the past.
Then the grave man, who had remained
with me continually, and who appeared to
be physician, said:
ave have thought it best to keep you
quiet for few days, for yor have had a
painful operation performed on you, which
has resulted gloriously. To begin with,
you were found at the base of the cliff,
near the old Don Miguel hacienda, in man
gled condition Underneath your sense
less form was found the body of Don Ma
riano Garcia, knife sticking through his
heart
At the mention of Don Mariana the
memory of the past rushed back upon ME
and overwhelmed me.
Oh, where is she sIercedes r | asked,
in despair.
'sShe is dead he said, sadly. "She
was found in the garden above, knife
wound in her heart
| moaned aloud in my agony.
s'You were brought to the city by the
frightened poems, he continued, "who
told the story of the ira ,edy at the hacien-
da. You were placed in the st. Marie
| Hospital. You soon recovered yoar
strength, but all memory of the past had
left you. You did not even know your
own name. Your mind seemed totally
gone. | was travelling through this coun
try, and, being physician, became in
terested in your case, and. obtained per-
mission from the officers of the hospital to
perform an operation on you which be
lieved would restore your reason. How
have succeeded, you already know.
held out my hand to the physician.
Il thank you sincerely, said, ''fol
all you have done for me.
ssIt was great success, he answered,
'sof which shall ever be proud. .
"How long have | been in this placer
/ asked.
ssHave you no idea how long it has
been p he replied
"T cannot tell, [ answered. ''It
might be a day or week, for aught
know.
"You must not be surprised if it is Ion
ger than you imagine, he said. ''lt has
been very long time. =
elbow long?' | asked, eagerly and i'm
patiently.
"Twenty years, he answered. ''This
is the year 1865.
Twenty years My God ! My GodF'
| exclaimed, and, overcome with emotion,
| wept like child.
could never describe my feelings.
Great Heaven Twenty years | was
fifty years old /! There was no mirror in
the room, but glass of water sat near me,
and hastily grabbed it and looked at my
reflection. My hair was as white as if |
was seventy, and my face pallid and
wrinkled.
sOh, Godr' | cried, and buried my face
in my hands.
| was an old man, but my love for Mer-
cedes was as strong as it was the night |
met her in the garden All through those
long years that were blank to me, that
love had lived fresh and green, ready to
burst into new life at the first touch OF
memory.
Why could not have died? 1t would
have been more merciful to me to have re-
mained forever forgetful of the past.
When at last | was able to leave the hos
pital, [ found that Mercedes had been
buried near the row of stately palms yonr
der, where she still lies Don Miguel had
disappeared, and had never been heard OF
since the burial of Mercedes. The old
hacienda went into the hands of strangers,
and was subsequently, plundered and burned
by band of insurgents that infested the
country soon after.
Finding myself old and gray-haired,
without friend on earth, | became an
exile from the world, and came here to
spend the remainder of my life. Enough
of this old building was left by the flames
to afford me shelter, and here | AIN con-
tent to remain, far from the troubles that
vex the outer world.
Here the old hermit story ended, and,
finding it late in the night, | took my
leave. As | passed down the. space that
had once been occupied by the beautiful
gardens of Don Miguel, and which had
been the scene of the awful tragedy, |
caught sight of marble shaft cleaning in
the moonlight, and, STOPPING down | read
! tho mama ssMercedes y then below the