New Britain herald., 1927-01-20
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WHAT HAS GONE BEFORE


 To the home of. Prof and Mollie Elwell in Camdenville, Ind, one night in October of 1898, is brought a woman who had tainted on train. That night twin girls are born to her and she dies without revealing 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 shell-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 living dead man.
 The day before he is to be taken home he wanders away from his nurse. Late that night he is found in Bellevue hospital wiht his skull fractured expected to die. He had been hit by a truck. | The twins. meanwhile, had been identified as the nieces of the wealthy John Clayton of Indianapo- 1 lis. Their father is dead. | Molie writes, saying Jim will live but his memory is gone for ever, and they are to bring him home shortly.
 i When the Elwells arrive, there is scene and suddenly one of the grief-stricken twins cries that she l is Jim's wife.
 NOW BEGIN THE STORY CHAPTER NLVI Mollie Elwell fell backward into the chair beside Jim. The sobbing girl threw herself on her knees in front of her and buried her head in the woman's lap, her slim young body shaken, trembling in passionate abandon. Prof Elwell's expression was strangely lacking in surprise con- sidering what he had just listened l to. Instead of exclaiming, he half l nodded to himself.
 But Martha Dalton, standing be- side the portieres that covered the | doorway between the rooms, gasped | and looked all around her as if eX- | pecting that an explanation would !! come from the air
 After a moment the excited girl | began to speak again. gaspingly, her l words broken by choking sobs; but | Mollie and the others heard and | understood.
 "You-you said IT have no-no right, Mollie. But I have the right | of wife and of-of my love for him."
 She faltored a moment, then went | on.
 i've always loved Jim, Nollie- ever since-ever since we were ba- bies. And then one night out there in the yard l told him so-and he | told me he loved mo. IT promised | him when he went away not to tell | about our marriage until he came | back. He-he thought it best for | both sister and me. And only sister knew about it. Mollie-she was with | us that day we were married-the | ueiy We "tlll lO NI1CdSO.
 She promised not to tell, too. We thought it fun then. But-but now he is back, Mollie, and he-he can't ! tell He can't tell; he cant speak | and tell you the things he'd be | wanting to tell you if he could re- member.
 "Oh. My God" Martha Dalton cried softly, and covered her face with her hands.
 'So,' the girl went on. q had to | tell, because I want him. Mollie- he's mine. l want to help him 10 | live again-to get back his memory again if possible; if not, then-well, to love him and to help take care of , him. Do you understand, Mollie?"
 Mollie nodded. unable to speak | for tears. The girl seemed calmer now-her voice was not breaking. She turned and looked full at Jim [ as she resumed.
 That's what I want to do. Mol lie, take care of him and love him. What else do you suppose I care about?What do I care for money or for the things money can buy-with- out Jim? What do I care for society or--or anything, without Jim? He loved me before this-this awful thing happened. want to make him love me again-to make him happy. Oh, Mollie, Mollie, you must let me stay with him. You must let me help Jim. IT."
 She stopped. While she was look ing at Jim an unbelievable thing had happened. Half blinded as she was she saw it, and what she beheld stilled the words on her lips-seem- ed almost to still the very heart in her body. A stifled cry escaped her.
 Then gradually, like the slow breaking of dawn. a radiance began to creep into her face. A light, glori- ofs and splendid, famed in her dark eyes. She appeared to gather her self-to lift herself up.
 "Oh, Jim" She screamed the name wildly, and rising with swift movement she literally threw her trembling body into his out stretched arms.
 "Oh, Jim." she cried again. My Jim! You know me. Jim, dear"
 Martha Dalton. had looked up in swift alarm. "What's happened to the poor girl? Prof, take her away; can't you see she's"
 "Mollie! Mollie." cried the excited girl, Jim knows me. He remembers me. Mollie, dear-Prof-oh-
 The words died away on her lips and Jim Elwell felt the slender form relax for an instant in his arms. But only for an instant. Thesbody grew vibrant again. She raised her head and smiled up at him.
 "Oh," she cried, God is good. God is so good. Jim"
 Jim Elwell was looking at her now with eyes that saw-eyes that held in their depths the look of