New Britain herald., 1927-01-19
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0D26 MIA SERVICE NC
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WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE

To the home or Prof and Mollle Elwell in Camdenville, Ind. one night in October of 1898, is brought a woman who had tainted on a train. That night twin girls are born to her and she dies without reveal ing her name.
 The story then moves forward IS years. The twins have been adopted and named Margaret and Elizabeth. They are called Rusty and Betty.
 Jim Elwell, the son, enlists in the World War. He then discovers that one of the twins loves him.
 He is shells shocked at Sedan and reported dead. Much later he is identified in a New York hospital, where his parents find him with his speech and memory gone. He is like a living dead man. The day before he is to be taken home he wanders away from his in Bellevue hospital with his skull fractured. expected to die. He had been hit by a truck.
 The twins are in Indianapolis at the home of their uncle, wealthy John Clayton, the mystery of their identity having cleared while Jim was away. Some time later Molie writes that Jim will live but his memory is forever gone. She tells them she is bringing him home, and the twins and Martha Dalton, their old nurse, go to Camdenville to greet him.
 When the Elwells arrive home, the scene is tense as the twins face the blank-minded Jim. NOW BEGIN THE STORY CHAPTER XIV Lets go into the parlor," Martha 1 Dalton said gently, and took hold of Jim's free hand, pressing it gent ly between both her own. Betty. who was still clinging to Jim's other hand, let go, and Rusty threw an arm around her waist. Martha Dalton led the way with Jim into the other room and to & big chair, away from the merciless glare of the lights. There she helped him to sit down.
 He was apathetic, looking at no one. He was dressed, the girls not ed. in a light, English tweed, gray suit and wore low collar with a | black bow tie.
 "Now," said Martha calmly, well ! just sit down and talk while an let Jim an Mollie get rested. You girls just sit still till you get-get accustomed to things q little better. I won't have you going to pieces i here.
 MT. Hennegan." she called to Mike, who moved swiftly into the room at the sound of his name, I've heard how wonderful you've beeh and I want to thank you.' ITS all right" said Mike, bash | fully. Jim and I were buddies, you see. That's how I knew him."
 Mollie and Prof seated themselves close to Jim and Martha. Betty took the chair next to Jim's mother but Rusty remained standing. They could not. it seemed, keep their eyes away from Jim's face. but things were beginning to adjust themselves 1 in a measure.
 Martha Dalton was fighting for time. She wanted to smoothe over the next half an hour, if possible, to break the tension and let the twins accustom themselves to the sight of Jim's expressionless face.
 "Tell me-" she said to Prof, "dld vou have a nice trip. Are you tired I have a kettle on the stove and wei have tea. Did you eat dinner"
 They had. he told her. But lo be obliged for cup of tea-if you don't mind, Martha. Mollie's tlred' l know"
 "A little," Mollie confessed.
 The old nurse went to the kitchen and returned presently with tray of teacups. Molie drank gratefully
 linn, too. was served with tea. He watched Mollie drink and then slow ly slipped himself. The girls refused, "No thanks, Daily, dear Ihelr voices. Martha noticed thankfully were calmer now. Perhaps she was thinking, they were safe now.
 Presently Rusty moved over De- eide Jim's chair. She tried to look into his eyes, but they were hidden by the lowered lids.
 Prof said. gently. T think Jim IS tired. too, dear.'
 Rusty nodded. She reached down and took one of Jim's hands and be- gan to stroke it slowly.
 After a minute or two she looked over toward Betty. Come here' sister," she said, "and let's both talk to Jim as we used to in the old days here in this room.'
 She turned to Mollie to explain; "I think I'm all right now, Mollle. 1 Betty and l will be careful
 Mollie nodded. "Just so you don't upset him too much, dear.'
 The two girls seated themselves each on an arm of Jim's chair and started in, as Rusty expressed it, Ito get acquainted with Jim.'
 But this Jim was difficult young man to get chummy with. He simply would not respond. His eyes opened
 but he would not look at them
 Rusty, finally. tried to raise his chin
 to look into his eyes and did get a good look at them. He was crying
 "Oh." she gasped. startled. Betty's lips began 10 tremble a little and
 her sister whispered something ir
 her ear.
 After moment Rusty again
 turned to Mollie
 "Mollie dear" she said, trying
 hard to keep from breaking doWr and crying. 'I've asked Betty to ge
 her harp from the next room-w'
 drought it over specially-and sing
 to Jim. It may--oh, Mollie, it-i
 may" she StopDed her dark eve,