The Montgomery tribune. (Montgomery City, Mo.) 1892-1910, 1903-08-21
"Yon lave been siek for a month.

nave NHH'Ifb u lH1st % mtlnuls
sick" | repeated, Gully.
"les. At one time we Cespaired Of
your life. Your brain seemed on five
ana you were filled with all sorts Of
queer fnncies. Nou did not know me
nor Rose"
"Rcse."
"Ycs: YOUR haurc."
"My GGnr"! Why. man, I never saw
her bcfore.'
lie smiled. q little sadly. and snid.
gently. a. he might to n child: "Nor
have been very sick. and you have for
gotten many things. You have beet
engaged to my sister for nearly siS
months. aud you set to-day for youi
marriage. Can't you rcmcnbcr?'
pressed my hand over my achini
head.
NO" ! said. 'Docs she expect me 70
marry her to-day" | nodded toward
the other room. and though, of the
laughing black eyes and the hair that
smclled Of flowers that bloom In the
s%pringtimc.
"Of course" he said. "lou see. sh,
wishes to be your wife. even u you
can't remember all that has hap
pencd."
! said nothing was mad with love
for the girl. and yet I felt | had ne
right to make her marry q man who
had lost all memory of having known
her in the past.
Docs she want thcccrcmony to TAX,
place." ! asked.
Does she? Why. man. can't got
see the love light In her eyes, and the
passion IN every move she makes;
Cant you feel II when she takes your
hand In hers? Don't you know IL 10y
her very ~prcscncc""
"Thcn." | said. looking him full In
the face. then all the men In Christcn.
dom can't keep III from becoming hus'
band and Wife"
Jack" he cried. ~ nm proud oi
you. There Isn't another man in the
whole world I'd rather have for a
brothcr.in.law. I'll get the preacher
at onrc. and We will have n quiet ccre'
mony here in the pnrlor."
Rose came In from the other room
just then. Straight TO me she walked.
and placed her two hands c%onfdingly
IN mine. The man leaned over ~ with
a God bless you, children" and then
slipped out into the hall,
The preacher. wlitc.haircd md
sanity. came back with him. ara w
stood up. ready "a bc married.
don't remember when | heard the
noise first. think ! was watching
Roses brother. and that his frightened
trouble. Then I heard a tramp 81
many feet. and n knocking on our door.
threw my arm proteciingly about the
girl.
"Comc in" I shouted.
Before I had spoken the words. the
door opened. The first man To enter
was my brother. After him came TIVE
bury officers ~ he law.
"My God. Jack" he cried. as he saw
our position. at isn't loo lntr?"
"Too late for what?" I demanded,
white with anger NJ the interruption
"You arcn't-nrcn't married."
"No." | said. "bui I will he In five
minutes. Stand back, and let the cere.
mony proceed"
He sprang forward. "You will never
marry that woman" he declared.
"Cnn't you see, you fool, that she il re
~ wife for you?"
"But shc loves me-" 7 said. weakly.
seeking an excuse.
ayes" he snccred: "she loves YOU NJ
she loves any man who will bring her
money. And YOU. with your inheri'
lance ~ u%nclc's. will make a capital
husband for her"
MY inheritance" I repeated. push
ing away the girl To look At her; "my
Inheritance"
Then. like n Fash. II all came back "a
me. I had beea notified ~ the death
~ my uncle. with n will that left an
% his rich property 10 me. I had
heard Of II only yesterday was II
last year,
"What day Of the month Is ,his?"
demanded.
June %, 1909" answered NY
brother,
Then I snw the trick. II hnd al been
MANNED. from the smallest detail. In
some why they had learned Of my In.
hcritancc. had calmly kidnapped me
from my own lodgings, and had put ur
the c~ock-nnd-bull story Of my sickness.
after drugglng me with some mem.
ory.destroying concoction. The plan
WINS 50 bold tina, II had almost sue.
ceeded.
Hooked at the girl, The brown eyes
leercd at me Inadvertently, the red lip.
and the pink cheeks were plainly