The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1913-07-31

placed about her mead. Her hand was
as cold as marble in Johns feyerish
one.
When do you expect her to recover
consciousness? asked John of the
nurse.
AT any time" the woman answered.
To-day, tomorrow, or tomorrow week.
We can't ten-we must just hope
"Qr-neyer?" he asked, and Miss
Anderson turned away without an
swering.
1t was not until the third afternoon
that consciousness returned. John
had watched continually at his wife's
bedside, hardly suffering himself to
be torn away for the hastily snatched
meals and the brief intervals of sleep.
And all the while Mary had remained
in the same position and her hand was
as icily cold in Johns
1t was about three o'clock in the af-
ternoon when she stirred and spoke.
A light of consciousness came into the
eyes; she turned them upon John and
knew him. She smiled at him, and
the smile was like that which she had
worn upon their wedding morning.
"Dearest-where am II" she asked.
AT home" said John, thrilling at
the faint clasp of her fingers. AT
home, never to go away again
But why should l want to go away
from you, my husband?" said Mary,
smiling. 'T feel so weak. Have
been ill?'
You have met with an accident"
he answered. But thank God you are
getting well Now you must lie still
and sleep"
She smiled up at him obediently and
for the first time the tired eyelids
futtered down upon the eyes. Mary
slept. Her hand in Johns was moist
and warm. The nurse came in and
saw the change.
"She will live, Mr.. Cleaye," she said
"You didn't expect it, then?"
NO." said Miss Anderson.
"She spoke to you, you say?' in-
CURED the doctor of John that even
ing. "She knew you and spoke and
6SSll0u IdltOudlt
Absolutely rational" answered
John Cleave, and turned away. He
went into his room and on his knees
thanked God for the chance that was
to be his. His prayer was answered.
How long have we been married,
John?" Mary asked next day. 1T
seems such long time, somehow, and
yet l know that it can't really be an
entire year as that calendar on the
wall seems to show"
John looked at the calendar. 1t was
an old one of the preceding year, and
it had remained on the bedroom wall,
as old calendars are apt to do when
they have become familiarized by
time
ct is June" said Mary, "and we
were married in June. Is it a whole
year, dearest?
John dared not tell her that it was
two years.
Dearest" she whispered presently.
'Put your arms round me and let me
tell you something. Do you know, al
the time I was lying here this morn
ing, I have been thinking how unlzind
have been to you, and how unhappy
have made you. I want you to for
give me, John. And | believe you can
| forgive me, because the memories of
this year of our marriage have been
so dear"
ut is you who must forgive me,
dearest" said John, humbly.
That night the doctor explained the
situation to him.
"Your wife," he said. "is on the high
road to recovery. Her mind IS az
sound as it has ever been. The brain
trouble which / anticipated amounts
simply to this: The whole of the past
year has slipped out Of her memory.
Has she had any great trouble that
could account for this?"
Eyes," answered John, humbly, and
the doctor shot keen glance at him.
"Then that is the explanation" he
said. "Her mind was troubled; she
wishes to forget the episode, whatever
it was. It is necessary for her to for
get it in order that she may get well.
The group Of brain cells which regis
tered those memories have, so to
speak, isolated themselves from the
remainder. We could possibly awak-
en- those dormant memories, but it
would be highly inadvisable to do so.
Are you prepared to let her 60
through life with no memory of that
one year?"
Indeed, I am" said Cleave, "espe-
ciaIly since you think it is for the best.
But how can she adjust herself to con-
ditions? Will she not be constantly
perplexed by discrepancies in dates?"
Happily not" the doctor answered.
'In such cases the mind meets all
these problems and solves them in
it's own way, and to its perfect salts
faction You have very charming
wife, Mr.. Cleave," he added Guard
her and care for her-and let the past
bury It's dead"
And Jcnn, kneeling at Mary's bed
side thanked God that his chance had
come, and renewed his vows, never
more to be broken.
Copyright, 1913 by w. G. Chapman)