The Washburn leader., 1916-08-04
A Forgotten
Existence
B, ELEANOR MARSH

:
was travelling on a railway train.
Suddenly I felt a sharp pain in my
head. Then lost consciousness. When
came to myself saw several persons
standing about me, one, q woman, with
bottle of smelling salts in her hand.
I tried to recall where was going. l
could not Then tried to recall from
where had come. l failed in this too.
Doubtless I appeared dazed to those
about me, for woman said:
She'll come all right presently. Give
her chance to collect her faculties"
After l had been asked a few ques.
lions I gave those about me to under
stand that I wished to be left alone,
and one after the other they went to
their seats Then to my horror found
that l didn't know my own name. I
didn't know my parents name nor who
they were. Everything beyond the
present was lost in oblivion.
Would it all come lack? believed
it would. But it did not. looked in
my purse and found tickets to city
and bank bills to the amount of $24,
besides some silver. searched among
few slips Of paper hoping to see my
name. There was not word to sug-
gest who was.
Not caring to go into large city in
such condition got of at suburban
station. 1t was springtime. l passed
a snug cottage, in the grounds Of
which were two little girls playing.
craved some one to speak to and pre-
ferred these innocents to any one else.
The gate was open, and l entered the
yard, calling to them to come to me.
They did so. and I put an arm about
each Of them. l talked to them and
they to me. cared not what was said,
l felt comfort in their company.
"Papa!'
One Of the children looked up at
some one entering the gateway. fol-
lowed the direction Of her glance and
saw man about to enter. There was
something so kindly in his face that
felt impelled to tell him my trouble
and ask his advice as to what I should
do. He listened to me. asked me few
| questions, then said:
"Come into the house and we will
see what can be done for you"
His household was run by an elderly
woman. There was also a nurse for
the children. He told the former to
give me a room for the night, and he
and and the children dined together.
After dinner he informed me of steps
he proposed to take on the morrow to
discover my identity. suggesting that I
examine my clothing to discover if
there was mark that would help us.
After dinner went to my room and
made the examination. There was
nothing to give any clew.
Mr.. Seagrave, the gentleman. tele-
phoned an advertisement to newspa-
per in the city describing me and the
incident connected with me. He said
he thought my relatives would be on
the lookout for such a notice and I
would hear from them very soon. He
also gave me permission to remain in
his house till was claimed or my
memory returned. had enough mon
ey to pay my board for two or three
weeks. but after that would he penni-
less.
Time passed and no one claimed NE.
1 wondered If I had any relatives. I
Judged that was about twenty -one
years old. Had been married? II
so my husband would doubtless move
heaven and earth to find me.
When three weeks had gone by ten
dered Mr.. Seagrave my $24 for my keep
and told him that It was all had. He
offered to discharge the nurse and
make me the governess Of his children.
I gladly accepted.
A doctor who was called in to see
me said that he was of the opinion my
loss of memory had been occasioned
either by former sickness or trouble.
I showed no sign of having been i'll.
| and there was no evidence Of q past
| trouble.
What l had been l knew not !!
knew that I was very happy in Mr..
Seagrave's home. I loved the two lit
tie girls. and grew to love him. A
widower he naturally pined for wo-
mans companionship. had not been
in his house year before he asked
me to mary HIN.
Alas! l knew not whether or no I
was free to marry any one. There
was a long struggle between my de-
sire to be his wife and to mother his
two dear little girls He seemed to
have made up his mind to take the
chances himself. and at last consent
ed. We were married. He, and the
children were happy.
About two years after my marriage
awoke one morning after long sleep
my former self. It was a horrible
awakening. I had married a man who
had treated me brutally. and after a
terrible scene I had caught up what
money there IVES In the house and left
him. He had married me in opposition
to his parents will and had thus given
up fortune.
told Mr.. seagrave that my men,
ory had returned. that our marriage
was not legal. He bade me be COM
forted. that all would come out right.
gave him information to guide him.
and he proceeded to look up the case.
One day soon after this he came
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