The daily banner. (Cambridge, Md.) 1897-2008, 1913-02-11


change might come while she happen
ed to be among strangers and might
be attended with unfortunate conse-
ouenees. Bertha felt they were right
about this. and her own judgment told
her II would be far better for her to
remain under the care Of her mother
than to run the risks attending the
establishment Of a home of her own
She therefore told her lover that she
had decided to remain with her par
ents.
Atwood for q 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 az 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 If backed by that of
her parents. 1t required great deal
of time to obtain this consent. and
when finally MIR. and Mrs. Mansfield
Welded 1t was rather Il permission than
q conversion. and only on condition
that the engagement should be a long
one.
Mrs. Mansfield succeeded in prolong-
ing the betrothai 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 a fever. She gew worse every
day till the disease eliminated. and the
doctor said one evening that she woulc
not live till morning. But during the
night there came change for the bet
fer and she fell into light slumber
From this she awoke ut dawn while
her mother was bending over her.
"Oh, mamma" she said In a fa1n'
voice. how much better feel"
Her mother caressed and encouraged
her and sent nurse to tell the Others
that Bertha showed signs OF grea
Improvement, then turned again to TIT
patient
Mamma said Bertha. "has Pau
been here to ask for me since | hav'
been illY'
In moment it flashed through thu
mothers mind that the first Bertha hat
returned, the Second-w well. she did no
know what would become Of the sec
ond
"Paui?' she said to gain time.
Eyes. | know he was away at col
lege when I wax taken Ill. But surel.
he has sent to learn as to my condi
don"
Paul Drury had been graduated no
only from college. but from law
scheoi and had just been admitted t
the bar.
Mrs. Mansfield saw at once that thi
return to previous existence must no
be broken to the invalid in her preSen
condition. She said that Paul Drur!
had sent frequent inquiries as to BEL
tha's condition. and. giving the nurs
instructions not to talk with the pa
tent till her return. slipped ava! t
apprise the household of the transfer
nation.
The matter Of informing Bertha a
TO her ioss nf and return to her mem
ory Of the past WAS put off "a long
possible. hut when she saw one OF ne
sisters. who had been child. grow
TO he a woman, an explanation mus
be given. When George Atw""d hear
cd I'm nv
mer identity and that her first act wa
| to ask for Paul Drury he determine
after a struggle that II would he hes
for himself and all Others concerne
that he should not see her again
Later ne sailed for South America
>tseIf. and he never returned.
The meeting between Paul Drur
and Bertha was singular one. Fa,
had often seen her and she had see
him. hut not to remember him IA he
youthful lover She found 1t Difficult
to connect the man Of twenty thre
with the hoy Of eighteen. But tn
germs Of former love were not deaC
Az Mrs. Mansfield had not told he
daughter after her loss Of memory O
her 6rst lover. so after her recover
she refrained from telling her of tn
second
George Atwood was not resigning tn
girl he loved. That girl had been
twin. who was dead. or. rather. a cor
tinuancp for few years of Il new eS
istpnre In 'thp same body as the fo'
mer. 1t was like loving one who ha
been born into the world at tftre
and passed away without goir
through the death process after al eN
:atencea Of half dozen Years.
Paul I,rurv and Bertha were ma,
RED Paul was assured by the ds
tors that his wife was not especial
liable To- an experience similar to tn
tirst. hut he never felt sure that sb
would not