Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1915-10-01

two hours the patient opened his eyes
He scanned his environment in a
blank meaningless sort of way. Mar
cha spoke to him, but the man only
stared. He did not speak, he did not
even seem to hear when he was spo-
ken to.
The doctor came next morning. In
the meantime, with a pleased smile
the patient had accepted bowl of
cruel frc7 Marcia. AS she moved
about the room he followed her en-
cessantly with his eyes. The express
sion of his face was a pleased calm.
a luxurious WEAKNESS, and he only
stared when she spoke to him.
The doctor had bad news 20 i'm
part; some delicate part of the mans
mental machinery had been Jared
rudely. He might remain in his pres
ent situation for weeks-perhaps al
ways. Again he urged Mr.. Gibson to
try to learn the identity of the man.
To this task Mr.. Gibson devoted
himself for three days, but with no
results. The man was a stranger,
probably on walking tour. Aunt
Marcia beckoned to her brother-in-
law as he returned one evening from
his fruitless quest.
Il have searched his Clothes" she
said, "and have not found scrap of
paper to indicate who the man is, or
where he came from-nothing, except
this
Mr.. Gibson uttered vivid cry of
amazement. Marcia had opened a
drawer in the bureau in the sick room
and haG taken out a pocketbook. AS
she exhibited its contents great heap
of bank notes showed There were
hundred dollar bills, fifties, twenties.
Altogether there must have been over
two thousand dollars in the broad,
long receptacle.
Mr.. Gibson's eyes dilated, eagerly,
hungrily. How much good that money
would do them in their present dire
emergency AS he lifted his gaze he
flushed guiltily, for he met the clear
steadfast eyes of Marcia.
"a sacred trust, brother" she said,
locked the drawer and handed him
the key.
In the same daze the patient re-
NAMED for a week. Then he was able
to be up and about. Always he had
attention for Marcia, and only for her.
When she played on the piano, or
sang. he would listen raptly When
they gave him seat in the garden, in
a species of dull lethargy all day long
only when Marcia was near him would
he seem content or compromising.
It got to be question of urgency
as to what disposition should be made
of him as two weeks came to an end.
The county institution was the only
local refuge offered. It's officer had
come to suggest that they relieve Mar
cia Of the care of their patient. They
sat discussing the case in the garden.
Near to them sat the patient. Very
decidedly Marcia refused to consent
to casting out on the cold charity of
the world a person whom fate had
sent under their roof She told of
the pocketbook, she suggested that
they advertise for the friends of the
stranger.
A sharp gasp caused her companion
and herself to start violently. A new
expression in his eyes, the patient con-
fronted them. He had heard all-and
comprehended all.
Noble womani" he said brokenly,
and took her hand and kissed it rever-
emily.
A rich lonely bachelor recovering
from a f1t of sickness, in strange
place his accident had happened to
him. But it had brought him a faith
full nurse, and later sweet, charm
ing wife, and the troubles of the Glib
son family were all ended.
Copyright, 1915, by W. G. Chapman)