The evening world., 1912-08-05
The Man in the
Brown DerbV
e4 Great Sumn,er Story OF Nev Yo,G
By Wells Hastinss

brilliant patch on the old-fashioned.
lowered paper OF the wall. In . room
near by some one was singing. singing
softly that could not hear the words.
but only the happiness and lifting cad
ence OF It, closed my eyes again to
listen. thought II very sweet and
wondered languidly who was the
singer.
As I wondered my mind harked back,
with memory struggling for some solid
event to lay hold upon. but for . long
time all mental effort was blocked by .
solid wall OF nightmare. I had dreamed
and dreamed badly. that I knew. IT,
tanic. murjerous struggles swayed and,
leaped before me. furious and futile
combats. shadowy. unendlng. useless
give and take OF blows, chasms OF dark
ness or panels OF brilliant light. striped
and tortured with bars. reached infinite
~ before my mental vision. and through
II all like "A wicked undercurrent ran
the rhythmic jogging and the regular
lron-shod hoof-beats Of n horse, the Jolt
and Jar OF IA broken sprlnged carriage
with tho poignant throb OF exquisite
pain.
But with the memory OF that pain
came the faint lndescribable scent Of
lavender. and fainter still. the sweet
fragrance OF orange blossoms, the touch
OF soft arm about mo- and beneath
my cheek warm resting place Of satin.
] drew long breath and opened my
eyes; for memory had returned to mo.
Nancy cried out. and tried
weakly to sit up In bed.
The shout which had Intended
sounded weak and faint. but she heard
IL; for the singing abruptly stopped,
and ] turned my head slowly to ind
her by the bedside. She put her hand
to my face and gently s.ooped ana
KISSED No and as she did so. a tear
Tell on my check.
What Is III" whispered anxlously;
what Is IT."
ness, giadness to find you So"
II am all right" / answered "T
remember everything perfectly now.
Nancy. At least. I think'---and broke
on. obsessed by a sudden fear
What ls IT, said Nancy gently.
we were married yesterday, weren't
weT' asked. we really were mar
ried. and everything Is all rishtf
know we were. remember all about IT,"
Nancy kissed me again.
Certainly We were" she said; beau
should talk any more"
Certainly | can talk" I said. Il re-
member It all now. He shot me. didn't
her That's why I feel n little weak this
morning. but I'm feeling quite strong
again now. and I want to tank"
And. indeed. with Nancy close beside
me. my fallen strength seemed to come
surglng back over me again like . wave.
II don't think you should" Nancy said
m nj ma he IN $50
TO go to sleep"
Sleep" I repeated: why. I've slept
all night and had bad dreams. I GER
tainly do not want to sleep any more.
] want you 10 tell me about n. DID he
go AWAY"
She bowed. 7 suppose. TO the inevitable
Yes. dear" she said quietly: he got
away. lie thought he'd killed you.
think, and was frightened at what he
had done: for he turned and ran before
anybody else came up
well. how did get here7' asked.
People came" Nancy said. and I
sent some one for 4 carriage"
Yes. | remember" ! replied: AN aw-
full. Jolting carriage, and you held me.
Nancy: held me all the way home. Az
you not tired to-dayf'
Mason" she said. You've been very
sick and have had a fever"
oh" replied blankly. Then at last.
How long ago was Il? Don't be afraid
to tell me, | want TO know"
1T was nine DAYS ago, Mason"
lay and pondered upon this for q
while. Once I tried TO raise my hand %
take Nancy's, but | could not do II. and
she stopped with a gesture
mo" said Nancy, you are 10 keep
very quiet. The doctor WAS insis,ant on
that" "a
What does he know about it?" asked
fretfully. Little country doctors are al
ways fussy"
But he isn't little country DOCTOR
said Nancy. Hes one OF the greatest
surgeons In America. That attack on
you got into the papers. Mason, an
the next morning some friend OF yours,
signing himself 'Ogilby, telegrsphcd
from New York that he vas sending "a
surgeon down, ana in the afternoon the
surgeon came. | do want to tell you
something so. only I promised not 10
until hs has seen you again
AN ! want you To tell me Is that you
love me. You must keep telling mo
that. Nancy. II you expect me to get
well quickly
Nancy laughed happily. and told me
In very effective way,
1T seems hardly right" I said. TO be
so absolutely happy. oh, know II Is
right. the rightest thing IN life. but
can't help being sorry for the rest of
tho world. l wonder l asked. stirred
by q sudden uneasy thought what has
happened TO all those poor people We
left behind Us In the sanatoriumr'
(TeNPs Continusd)