The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1913-09-19

80
nothing. She lay in a stupor; there
was not the smallest movement; she
might have been a figure of marble.
Her beautiful hair had been clipped
short and hung like a ragged fringe
under the bandages that had been
placed about her head. Her hand was
as cold as marble in Johns feverish
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 telI--we must just hope"
"Or-neveT?' he asked, and Miss
Anderson turned away without a
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
md all the while Mary had RENAME
in the same position aud her hand wa
as icily cold in Johns.
1t was about three o'clock in TIE at
ternoon when she stirred d spoke.
A light of consciousness came into the
eyes; she turned th 10 upon John ana
knew him. She smiled at him, and
the smile was like that which she had
worn upon their wedding morning.
"Dearest-where am -" she asked
"At home" said John, thrilling a.
the faint clasp OF her fingers. AT
home. never to 60 away again"
"But why should ! want to go away
from you, my husband?' said Mary,
smiling. 81 feel so weak. Have l
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
luttered 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.. Cleave," she said.
you didn't expect it, them"
NO." said Miss Anderson.
"She spoke to you, you say?" in
quired the doctor of John that even
ing. "She knew you and spoke and
seemed rationale"
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. ut
seems such a 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. It was
an old n 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.
1T is June" said Mary, land we
were married in June. Is 1t a whole
year, d~earest?"
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, all
the time l was lying here this morn
Ing, l have been thinking how unkind
l have been to you, and how unhappy
l have made you. l want you to for
give me, John. And l believe you can
forgive me, because the memories OF
this year Of our marriage have been
so dear"
ct 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 as
sound as 1t has ever been. The brain
trouble which l 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 thls?"
"Yes,' answered John, humbly. and
the doctor shot a keen glance at him
"Then that is the explanation" he
said. "Her mind was troubled; she
wishes to forget the episode, whatever
It was. 1t 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, 30 tc
speak, isolated themselves from the
remainder. We could possibly awak
en- those dormant memories, but II
would be highly lnadvisable to do so
Are you prepared to let her &c
through life with no memory OF thai
one Year,"
Indeed, l am" said Cleave, "espe
cially since you think 1t Is for the best
But how can she adjust herself to con
ditions7 VIII she not be constantly
perplexed by discrepancies in dates?'
Happily not" the doctor answered
I'm such cases the mind meets al
these problems and solves them IL
its own way, and to it's perfect salts
faction. You have a very charming
wife, Mr.. Cleave," he added. "GuarC
her and care for her-and let the pas