The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1917-04-19

De married IN ABOUT Six weeks time.
Miss Digby has never shown any signs
Of abnormality except that she is
given to what is called 'day-dream-
ing Frequently she falls into brown
study which lasts a couple of min
utes, and during that period she is
entirely oblivious to what is taking
place around her. But that is of no
significance"
Pardon me; it is of the greatest
significance" replied the Doctor. ut
| is a true trance condition, of limit
ed kind. 1t is a process Of auto
hypnosis se.f-hypnotism, that is to
say-which may reveal great deal
to the specialist. But proceed"
II had grown accustomed to these
states, which do not occur with great
frequency" continued Morton, "but
yesterday I was a little piqued that
one should occur at time when she
had given me reason to believe that
well. that she thought good deal
of me. And so I shook her gently, to
bring her out of it."
MY dear Mr.. Morton! You might
have done serious harm. And then
she made that astonishing statement
to you?"
She turned around and, without the
slightest expression of shame or
guilt, informed me that she was mar
| ried, seven years ago. in the Harmony
Hall, low sort of dance hall across
the Avenue, to a man called Ira Hop
kins."
What, Hopkins, the corner gro
cer?" shouted Tarrant, leaping out of
his seat.
eyes," answered Morton, overcome
tastic. An instant later she came out
of her reflections and gravely told me
that she loved me with her whole
heart. / made some excuse, hurried
out of the room, went home, and wrote
that letter to you."
And you have not seen her SINGER
mo. I have written saying that
was called out Of town on urgent
business. What can l do, Doctor?
feel that shall go mad"
Have you spoken to this man Hop
kins?" asked Tarrant.
"Of course not, you idiot!" answered
Morton angrily. "Why, confound you
he has wife and three children"
Have you examined the marriage
records?" asked Emmanuel.
James Morton scratched his head
in perplexity. 81 never thought Of
that" he muttered shamefacedly.
"It is common, among hysterical
/ persons, for them to accuse them
selves of all kinds of things" contin
ued the Doctor kindly. Nov don't
you rush off to the marriage bureau
Go out of town at once, as you have
said, and stay away for week. AT
the end Of that time come back nd
you shall know the truth"
"a week." cried Morton. 81 can't
wait day. Why, you can find out
in an hour"
Hardly that" answered Emmanuel
quietly. 1.-THE old records are at AL.
bany, you know"
Three days, then"
81 said a week." replied the doc
tor infexibly. IF you cannot accept
my proposal"
"You promise to have the whole
problem settled when I come back,
them"
Zone week from tonight" replied
the Doctor. And after rather pain
| full scene Tarrant and I got the poor
fellow out of the room and took him
| to his home.
l heard nothing more for I think
five days, except that Tarrant called
me on the telephone the following
morning and told me that he had
stayed the night at Morton's house
and had seen him off to the country
early the next morning. On the eve
ming of the fifth day, however, re-
ceived a telephone message from I'M
manuel, saying that Tarrant had been
| dining with him and asking If could
| join them that evening. found them
| talking earnestly together in the con-
sulting room. But when / spoke of
| the case Emmanuel seemed slightly
| embarrassed.
1.-THE fact is" he admitted, "all de-
ponds upon the result of this eve
ning's work; that is why asked you
to come in as a witness. I have had
the marriage records examined and
there is certainly none of such pre-
posterous union as is supposed to have
occurred. But, as you may know,
some of the records were destroyed
in the Capitol fire, and it is possible
that this was among them. I have
made the acquaintance of Hopkins.
He is a nervous little man with a
placid wife and three lively children,
and betrayed no embarrassment at
the casual mention Of Miss Digby's
name. Then, too, I took the liberty
of visiting Miss Digby, representing
that was her fance's physician, and
l think l have discovered the secret.
| The story of the marriage was totally
false-but it is. in sense, true. Lit
orally 1t is false. Morally it is true.
Legally she is not Hopkins wife.
Actually, she is. Her personality, as
| it appears in Its present incarnation,
repudiates all knowledge of the little
grocer. But the wider personality,
the real Miss Digby, is married to
| him"
"You mean that she was his wife
| in her last incarnation" / asked,
startled.
Heaven forbid" answered the
Doctor fervently, and Tarrant replied
'Amen!"