The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1908-12-30
CHAPTER XVIII.
Continued.

SO CudTlIdple. IS uiu uOI Sdy moSa
about it, but he felt in his own
heart that he never could have liked
the fellow under any circumstances.
Yet he did what he could for him,
nevertheless, and on this evening in
particular he worked with rare tact,
first fixing Mr.. Soames' mind on the
subject of delusions generally, then
gradually showing how any one of
the three then present might at that
moment be laboring under a delusien
quite patent to the other two, but
never suspected by HIMSELF and final
ly making the application personal
by remarking in a casual way: Il
suppose, though, nothing would make
you believe that you are travelling 'un-
der a delusion, Mr.. Soames?pT 81
don't know" he answered, rufling
his hair up from behind and forcing
a laugh, though it was easy to see
that the subject affected him seriously
for some reason or other. He shook
the impression of, however, and
asked, in a bantering tone: What
form OF del1sion should YOU say ]
was suffering from, doctor?", '"Well,"
Dr.. Mansell answered, 81 should say
that you were under the delusion
that you we're all alone in the world,
with no one to care for you, while all
the time you are bound by the nearest
and dearest tie q man can have. ]
should say that you wer3 attacked by
this delusion quite suddenly vone day,
and having lost the sense of your
own identity you wandered off under
the impression that you were some
body eIse-some friend of yours, say
leaving a lady in a horrible state
of suspense, not knowing what had
become Of yon, and "a little child"
HAh, by Jove!" Mr.. $Soames ex-
claimed, slapping the table. "Who
told you that story, doctor? Was j
drunk last night? I remember hav-
ing her in my mind, but I thought ]
had been dreaming. Was I talking
about her? I do talk sometimes
when I'm drunk, but it's taking a
mean advantage, you know, to round
on a fellow that way" He became
thoughtful for a little. cit all hap
Ysned a long time ago." he pursued;
,!sbut I know now what a fool. T was
to desert her. I've never come across
her like again And I'll tell:you what
1t is, doctor, If I knew where she was
at this moment, and she'd have me,
I'd do the right thing by her yet,
and by the child; Iswould, indeed.
And I'm not drunk now. I know
what I'm saying"
@My poor fellow" Lord Wartfe-
bury said, soothingly, 'Ayou fancy it
was a long time ago, them"
"And wasn't it," Mr. :Soames
asked, suspiciousfy.
@tTry and recollect."
He puzzled his brains for a little,
then gave 1t up, or came to a conclu-
sion, it was impossible TO say which,
with a toss Of his head and "a laugh.
ooh, come now" he said, '".you are
trying to draw me-" .
DR.. Manseli smiled. ave were
talking about delusions," he said.
@Now, suppose I told you seriously
that you. were not Lawrence Soames
at all, that your real name is Leslie
Somers-"
Leslie Somers?" he 1nterposed.
Vt know that name. But"-after "a
pause-"I cannot for the life of me
remember how I know 1t or what I
know about it. However, for the
sake Of argument, tn suppose I'm
Leslie Somers. What them"
Leslie Somers," DR.. ManseTl storid-
ly pursued, "is a barrister, a well
known man, whose name appears con-
tinually in the daily papers. At the
beginning of this summer he began
to suffer from the effects Of over
work, and was obliged to take a holt
day. He'went with his wife and child
to a quiet little seaside place to re-
cruit, and seemed to be recovering;
but one day, without any warning,
he became the victim Of a delnsion.
He imagined that his name was Law
rencerSoames, that he vas accredited
British Consul to San Francisco, and
after careering about the Continent a
little in an erratic way and never
doubling the reality Of his impress
sion he set off for America quite pre-
pared to enter upon his new duties"
What would happen, then, when
he got to America and found out his
: mistaken" Mr.. Soames asked.
"Ah, that is difficult to say" the
doctor rejoined. "But I haven't fin
:ished the first part of the plot yet.
Il must tell you that his wife had
followed him all through his wander
'ings with great courage and devotion,
that she had traced him with rare in
telligence, and nearly lost her life on
three occasions in her eagerness to
,overtake him, and that at last she
actually embarked on the same snip
that he did for San Francisco, but re-
manned concealed, %'nervously dread
ing the shock Of seeing him and find
ing herself forgotten. After a time,
however, it vas found Impossible for
matters to remain so, and useless,
too, if he vas eve to be restored to
his right mind, and it was therefore
deemed advisable to prepare him for
I'm interview, and to endeavor if posi-
BILE to rouse his recollection by setting
the past before him. SO as to enable
him to realize his own plight"
Lord Wartlebury here nodded .ap-
.Droval, but Mr.. Lawrence Soames