The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1916-05-12
Forgotten
Existence
By ELEANOR MARSH

standing about me, one. woman, with
a bottle OF smelling salts In her hand.
tried to recall where was going. !:
could not Then tried TO recall from
where had come, failed in this too.
Doubtless I appeared dazed to those
about me, for woman said:
shell come all right presently. Give
her CHARGE TO collect her faculties"
After had been asked few ques-
lions gave those about me to under
stand that ] wished to be left alone,
and one after the other they went to
their seats. Then to my horror found
that 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 1t all come back7 believed
It would But II did not looked In
my purse and found tickets to a city
and bank bills to the amount Of S24,
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 10 go into a large city in
such condition got or at suburban
station 1t was sprtngtime. ] passed
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 ] entered the
yard. calling TO them TO come to me.
They did so, and put an arm about
each Of them. ] talked TO them and
they to me. | cared not what was said,
felt comfort in their company.
Papa:
One Of the children looked up at
some one entering the gateway. i fol-
lowed the direction of her glance and
saw man about to enter. There was
something so kindly I'm his face that !
felt impelled TO tell him my trouble
and ask his advice as to what ] should
do. He listened to me. asked me a 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 nurse fol
the childr-n. BE told the former &c
give me a room for the night, and he
and and the children dined together
After dinner he informed me Of step:
he proposed to take on the morrow tt
discover my identity. suggesting that
examine my clothing to discover i
there was mark that would help us
After dinner / went TO my room ant
made the examination. There wal
! nothing to give any clew.
Mfr. Seagrave. the gentleman. teie
phoned an advertisement to newspa
per in the city describing me and thu
incident connected with me. He SAID
he thought my relatives would be OF
the lookout for such n notice and
would hear from them very soon. Ht
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 be PENN
/ less.
Time passed and no one claimed me
I wondered II had any relatives.
| 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 S24 for my KEEP
and told him that II was all had he
offered TO discharge the nurse and
make me the governess Of his children.
1 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 a former sickness or trouble
! I showed no sign OF having been i'll
and there was no evidence OF past
i trouble.
What I had been knew not.
] knew that was very happy in Mr.
Seagrave's home. loved the two lit
tie girls. and grew to love him. A
| widower. he naturally pinned for wo
mans companionship ! had not been
I'm his house year before he asked
Il
me TO marry him.
Alas. knew not whether or no
was free to marry any one. There
was long struggle between my de
sire to be his wife and to mother his
two dear little girls. He seemed &c
have made up his mind to take the
chances himself. and ut last consent
ed. We were married. He. and the
children were happy.
| About two years after my marriage
awoke one morning after long sleeT
my former self II was horrible
awakening. had married a man WHO
had treated me brutally. and after a
terrible scene had caught up what
money there was 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 mem
DRY had returned. that our marriage
was not legal He babe me be ROM
forted that all would come ont night
| gave him information to guide him
and he proceeded to look up the case,
One day soon after this he came
home and took me in his arms. evil
IDENTIFY very happy. He told me that
my former husband had died and that