The Washington times., 1912-11-14

AVl tie. Newhaven:
Dear Lord Wilmersley:
Lady Wilmersley showed signs of re-
turning consciousness at half-past Ave
yesterday afternoon. I was at once sent
FOR. but when l arrived she had fallen
asleep. She woke again at 8 o'clock,
and this time asked where she was. She
spoke indistinctly and did not seem to
comprehend what the nurse said to her.
When | reached the patient / found her
sitting up In bed. Her pulse was irregu-
lar, her temperature subnormal. / am
glad to be able to assure you that Lady
Wilmersley is at present perfectly ra-
tional. She is, however, suffering from
hysterical amnesia complicated by
aphasia. but l trust this is only tenn
porary affection. At first she hesitated
over the simplest words. but before |
left she could talk with tolera BILE
fuency
Il asked Lady Wilmersley whether
she wished to see you. She has not only
forgotten that she has husband. but
hiss no very clear idea as to what a
husband is. In fact, she appears to
have preserved no precise impression Of
anything. She did not even remember
her own name. When ! told 1t to her
she said II sounded familiar. only that
she did not associate 1t with herself. OF
you. personally, she has no recollection,
although | described you as accurately
as | could. However. as your name Il
the only thing she even dimly recalls,
hope that when you see her you will be
able to help her bridge the gulf which
separates her from the past.
''She seemed distressed at her condi-
tion, so l told her that she had been III
and that 1t Is not uncommon for conva-
lescents to suffer temporarily from loss
of memory. When / left her she was
perfectly calm.
'Gha OIL lag+ i,,h
morning she has no difficulty In ex-
pressing herself. but do rot allow her
to talk much. as she Is still weak.
Il quite understand the delicacy of
most deeply. Although am anxious to
try what effect YOUR presence will have
on Lady Wilmersley, the experiment
can be safely postponed till tomorrow
afternoon.
Il trust the inquest will clear up the
mystery which surrounds the late Lord
Wnmersley's death.
believe me;
Sincerely yours.
"A STUART SMITH.1
Cyril stared at the letter, r~hast. II
the girl herself had forgotten lcr Iden-
uty. how could be hope to find out the
truth? lie did not even dare to insti-
gate secret inquiry-certniniy not iii
the Geralton mystery had been cleared
Up. And she believed herself to be his
wife! 1t was too awful!
tyrll passed sieepless night, and the
next morning found him still undecided
as to what course TO pursue. II was
therefore, pale face and q preoccupiaj
mien that he presented TO the inspection
o. the county. which had assembled I'm
He sorce 70 attend his cousins funeral.
Ne'er N the memory of nan had such
an exciting event taken place, and the
great ran IN which the catafaldue had
oten erected was thronged with men Of
all ages and conditions %
IN the state Irn
and received the coincidence and faCod
rrne cCIosltt OF the county magnaics
d me ordeal was almost over, when the
butia TI was again thrown open, and the
Lady Upton"
Leaning heavily on poId-bo,do,
cane Lady Upton advanced ma iesti"aIi,,
ceeded o "e h room, A sudden hush sue
r!vited upon her. She seemed. how
EVER, superbly Indifferent to the rt,ri
bouS . sIe aroused. and one felt some
hut u~ Ina, anat she was not only Indifferent.
she was tall woman-taller. although
sne stopped little. than most of he
men present. Notwithstanding her
great age. she gave the impression Of
extraordinary vigor.
Her face was long and narrow u,i,h
stern. hawklike nose, straight. nm
compromising mouth and protrudinr
.nln. her scanty white hair was draw
dean ddsm''y yrrs PACK from her high forehead; ii
tt!epro~s and gave an added tierceness
10 her small, steel-colored ewes An
ahtiGuated bonnet perched perilously on
nmi,o ond oaek OF her head; her dress was
coulo Tor a moment have mistaken her
Tor anything but a truly great lady
DisreEarding Cyrirs outstretched
hand' she deliberately raised her Iorg-
nrette. and looked at him for a moment
In silence.
Well, you are a Crichton. at anv
rate she said at last.
Having given vent to this ambiguous
remark, she waved her glasses. as II to
sweep away the rest of the company.
and continued;
" wish. to speak to you alone"
Her voice was deep and harsh and
she made no effort to lower II.
so this was Anita Wilmersley's
thought Cyril.
1T is almost time for the funeral to
start" he said aloud, and he tried to
convey by his manner that he, AT anv
rate, had no intention of allowing her
to ride roughshod over him.
reass snoT these she psntIe%sn snnIpped & "so hurry
us"
"Certainly."
"Of course"
We will wait in the hall"
Cyril heard them murmur; and such
ality that youths and Graybeards los
tied each other In their anxiety to get
Que OF the room as quickly as possible.
Get me chair" commanded Lady
Upton. mo. not that one. ! want TO
sit down: not lie down"
with her stick she Indicated high
straight backed chair which had been
relegated to corner.
Having seated herself. she took n nair
of spectacles out of her reticule and
proceeded to wipe them in the most eIs-
urely manner.
Cyril fidgcted impatiently.
Finally, her task completed to her
own satisfaction, she adjusted her
glasses and crossed her hands over the
top of her cane.
mo news OF my granddaughter.
suppose?" she demanded
None. I am sorry to say"
ANITA Is n fool, but am certain, alb
solutely certain mind you, that she did
not kill that precious husband OF hers.
though I don't doubt he richly deserved
IT,"
II am surprised that YOU, of all peo-
pie, should speak OF my cousin In that
fppa nj pl ha