Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-12-30

an older person would shun. Feeling
that life without the girl he loved
would be undesirable, he resigned him
self to accept with her whatever the
future might bring forth.
Bertba'S parents were bitterly op-
posed to their daughters marriage with
any one. They considered that she
was liable at any time to recover her
former identity. and if such change
should occur it would be infinitely bet
ter that she should be at home and I'M
der their care They dreaded lest this
change might come while she happen
ed TO be among strangers and might
be attended with unfortunate conse-
quenceS. Bertha felt they were right
about this, and her own Judgment told
her II would he far better for her to
remain under the care of her mother
than to run the risks attending the
establishment OF home of her own.
She therefore told her lover that she
had decided TO remain with her par
ents.
Atwood for time endeavored to aC-
QuieSce in the decision. but the wish
being father TO the thought after think
ing the matter over, he came to the
conclusion that if Bertha as his wife
should return to her former self she
could get used to her husband and
children as she had done in the case
of her fathers family. He returned to
pressing his suit and finally persuaded
Bertha to marry him. But her consent
was given only II backed by that Of
her parents. 1t required great deal
of time to obtain this consent, and
when finally Mr.. and Mrs. Mansfield
yielded it was rather a permission than
q conversion. and only on condition
that the engagement should be a long
one.
Mrs. Mansfield succeeded in prolong-
ing the betrothal despite the fact that
Atwood made several attempts to have
a wedding day set Bertha was TWEEN
ty-one years of age and had not yet
been married when she was attacked
by fever. She gew worse every
day till the disease eliminated, and the
doctor said one evening that she would
not live till morning. But during the
night there came a change for the bet
ter. and she fell into a light slumber.
From this she awoke at dawn while
her mother was bending over her.
"Oh. mamma she said in a faint
voice, how much better l feel!'
Her mother caressed and encouraged
her and sent nurse to tell the others
that Bertha showed signs Of great
improvement, then turned again to the
| patient.
Mamma" said Bertha, has Paul
! been here to ask for me since l have
been illT'
In a moment it flashed through the
| mothers mind that the first Bertha had
! returned. the second-well, she did not
| know what would become of the sec
| ond
"Paul?" she said to gain time.
YES | know he was away at col
/ lege when l was taken Ill. But surely
! he has sent to learn as to my condi-
! ton"
! Paul Drury had been graduated not
only from college. but from law
school and had just been admitted to
the bar
| Mrs. Mansfield saw at once that this
return to previous existence must not
be broken TO the invalid in her present
condition. She said that Paul Drury
had sent frequent inquiries as to Ber-
tha's condition. and. giving the nurse
| instructions not to talk with the pa
tient till her return, slipped away to
apprise the household of the transfer
nation.
The matter of informing Bertha as
to her loss Of and return to her mem
ory of the past was put off as long as
possible. but when she saw one of her
sisters. who had been a child. grown
to ke a woman. an explanation must
be given. When George Atwood heard
that Bertha had returned to her for
mer identity and that her first act was
to ask for Paul Drury he determined
after a struggle that ii would be best
for himself and all Others concerned
that he should not see her again.
Later he sailed for South America.
where a business opening presented
itself. and he never returned.
The meeting between Paul Drury
and Bertha was a singular one. Paul
had often seen her and she had seen
him. but not 10 remember him as her
Youthful lover She found it difficult
to connect the man of twenty-three
with the boy OF eighteen. But the
germs Of a former love were not dead.
As Mrs Mansfield had not told her
daughter after her loss OF memory OF
her first lover. 50 after her recovery
she refrained from telling her of the
second.
George Atwood was not resignng the
girl he loved. That girl had been
twin. who was dead. or. rather. a con-
tinuance for few years of new ex-
istence in the same body as the for
mer II was like loving one who had
been born into the world at fifteen
and passed away without going
through the death process after an ex~
istence of half dozen years.
Paul Drury and Bertha were mar
ried. Paul was assured by the doe
tors that his wife was not especially
liable to an experience similar to the
irst. but be never felt sure that shs.
could not.
r. 90 -