The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1906-08-02

again, and that l have restored the
mind Of the insane-and because was
the machine which did the work, l
will have to let them say it. But 1t
will not be true. And So" he contin-
ued, Il have come to say that you are
the one who accomplished 1t all.
had given him up; but you did not.
With any other surgeon you might
still have succeeded; but /, without
you, would have been helpless"
Again he stopped abruptly, but Miss
Sherman made him proceed.
What is it," she persisted. That
was not what you came to say"
No, it was not. That was merely
the pleasanter part. The rest-the
rest" he repeated doubtfully, lis hard
er, and | do not know how to say IL
But you remember that in his delirium
be seemed to think you two women
or at least another woman. he did
not connect your name with that other
woman; but, nevertheless, he seemed
to identify your presence with her.
So we thought that perhaps his MEM
DRY of you was confused and that you
really were the one he kept asking for.
But, my DEAR" the surgeon went on,
hurrjedly, and as a man who would
finish an unpleasant task, he did not
know that you were the one who had
come, and he was not asking for you.
There is another who has taken your
place in his thoughts. He thinks only
Of that girl, and he supposes that she
has been with him all the time. That,
| think, is the complication"
And when you told him it was II"
I'VE have not told him yet. He Is
very weak, and it is better that he
should think that the girl he loves
and upon whom he depends is the one
who has been with him and will con-
tinue to be at his side"
AS he finished an attendant hurried
in.
IF Miss Sherman is ready" he said,
had you not better bring her in?
Your patient, sir, is very restless"
Without waiting for a reply the
other FASTENED away; SO the surgeon
turned to the girl beside him.
Il lave sent for the other woman"
he continued, as if he had not been IN
terrupred. she is Eleanor Clayton, OF
New York. | believe you know the
family. She cannot be here for four
days. During that time his eyes will
remain bandaged. His recollection will
not De acute; and as he will not see,
he need not know that she is not or has
not been here. He depends upon her
so much that it would harm him to
know the truth. There are only four
days more before Miss Clayton may
arrive-and he must not know yet"
He half put his arm about her to
support and comfort her in case She
should need it; but she shook him
off 1t was she, not himself, who led
the way into the room where the sick
man lay.
And then, on the fourth morning,
when they unbandaged his eyes and
Eleanor Clayton arrived from New
York, Miss Sherman broke down COM
pletely. For the last few days, only
lup IOICG Vi Htl Will hCpI up InO
strength impaired by the weeks Of con-
slant anxiety. And now, as she real
lied that she was to see him no more,
and that he, who owed his mind and
sight to her, would not see her, 1t was
more than she could bear. Accord
ingly, she went to her little apartment
near the ward where she had watched,
and waited for new strength for her
solitary journey home.
Yet, as she approached the hallway,
strange cry stopped her, so that she
stood still and heard all. There had
been a confusion of sounds. and voices
wher the other woman entered, but al
most at once a bewildered cry came
from the officers lips.
What is it," he cried, wonderingly.
What rs the matter? My eyes! My
ewes, Yes-Yes. They are all right.
| see. | see again. And | see that
Won are here. You are here" he re-
peated, and yet there was strange
inCreiulity in his tone. But when /
did not see you it was so different.
| can see you now and know that you
are here; but-but when | close my
eyes, why, is it that | cannot feel that
YOU are here as before?"
He passed mis- hand confusedly over
his eyes. Yes, | see. l see. | have
regained my sight; but what-what Is
it that | have lost?''
The woman beside him bent nearer.
What is it, my dear? Can do
nothing?"
Again he passed his hand YEARLY
over his brow.
why has my sight changed every
thing?" he demanded, almost fiercely.
"Oh, no, no! l didn't mean that l
am sick, and perhaps l do not know
what say. see you at last. and
| know that you are here, and have been
| with me through it all. Some day when
| | am stronger, | will know how to
| thank you l suppose am very weak
| and tired, and-and Think think
i want to be alone"
| He closed his eyes. and sinking oack
| exhausted, he seemed to fall asleep
| Eleanor Clayton, at sign from the
| .ou.o, o,,iotlv withdraw and for a