"Well, here"s a dollar for the trouble I"m making you," and Martine"s face flushed with shame at the act, so divided was his impression about the man.
Yankee Blank took the money readily, grinned, and said, "Now I"ll chin till mawnin" ef yer wants. .h.i.t."
"I won"t keep you long. You remind me of--of--well, of Captain Nichol."
"He must "a" been a cur"ous chap. Folks all say I"m a cur"ous chap."
"Won"t you please tell me all that you can remember about yourself?"
""Tain"t much. Short hoss soon curried. Allus ben in hospitals. Had high ole jinks with a wound on my haid. Piece o" sh.e.l.l, they sez, cut me yere," and he pointed to a scar across his forehead. "That"s what they tole me. Lor"! I couldn"t mek much out o" the gibberish I firs"
year, en they sez I talked gibberish too. But I soon got the hang o"
the talk in the hospital. Well, ez I wuz sayin", I"ve allus been in hospitals firs" one, then anuther. I got well, en the sojers call me Yankee Blank en set me waitin" on sick uns en the wounded. That"s what I"m a-doin" now."
"You were in Southern hospitals?"
"I reckon. They called the place Richman."
"Why did you come here?"
"Kaze I wuz bro"t yere. They said I was "changed."
"Exchanged, wasn"t it?"
"Reckon it was. Anyhow I wuz bro"t yere with a lot o" sick fellers. I wuzn"t sick. For a long time the doctors kep" a-pesterin" me with questions, but they lemme "lone now. I "spected you wuz a new doctor, en at it agin."
"Don"t you remember the village of Alton?"
The man shook his head.
"Don"t you--" and Martine"s voice grew husky--"don"t you remember Helen Kemble?"
"A woman?"
"Yes."
"Never yeared on her. I only reckerlect people I"ve seen in hospitals.
Women come foolin" roun" some days, but Lor"! I kin beat any on "em teekin" keer o" the patients; en wen they dies, I kin lay "em out. You ast the wardmaster ef I kant lay out a stiff with the best o" "em."
"That will do. You can go to sleep now."
"All right, Doc. I call everybody doc who asts sech a lot o"
questions." He shuffled to his cot and was soon asleep.
CHAPTER VIII
"HOW CAN I?"
Martine sank into his chair again. Although the conversation had been carried on in low tones, it was the voice of Nichol that he had heard.
Closer inspection of the slightly disfigured face proved that, apart from the scar on the forehead, it was the countenance of Nichol. A possible solution of the mystery was beginning to force itself in Hobart"s reluctant mind. When Nichol had fallen in the Wilderness, the shock of his injury had rendered him senseless and caused him to appear dead to the hasty scrutiny of Sam and Jim Wetherby. They were terribly excited and had no time for close examination. Nichol might have revived, have been gathered up with the Confederate wounded, and sent to Richmond. There was dire and tremendous confusion at that period, when within the s.p.a.ce of two or three days tens of thousands were either killed or disabled. In a Southern hospital Nichol might have recovered physical health while, from injury to the brain, suffering complete eclipse of memory. In this case he would have to begin life anew, like a child, and so would pick up the vernacular and bearing of the enlisted men with whom he would chiefly a.s.sociate.
Because he remembered nothing and know nothing, he may at first have been tolerated as a "cur"ous chap," then employed as he had explained.
He could take the place of a better man where men were greatly needed.
This theory could solve the problem; and Martine"s hospital experience prepared his mind to understand what would be a hopeless mystery to many. He was so fearfully excited that he could not remain in the ward.
The very proximity to this strange being, who had virtually risen from the dead and appeared to him of all others, was a sort of torture in itself.
What effect would this discovery have on his relations to Helen? He dared not think yet he must think. Already the temptation of his life was forming in his mind. His cousin was sleeping; and with a wild impatience to escape, to get away from all his kind, he stole noiselessly out into the midnight and deserted streets. On, on he went, limping he knew not, cared not where, for his pa.s.sion and mental agony drove him hither and thither like a leaf before a fitful gale.
"No one knows of this," he groaned. "I can still return and marry Helen. But oh, what a secret to carry!"
Then his heart pleaded. "This is not the lover she lost--only a horrible, mocking semblance. He has lost his own ident.i.ty; he does not even know himself--would not know her. Ah! I"m not sure of that. I would be dead indeed if her dear features did not kindle my eyes in recognition. It may be that the sight of her face is the one thing essential to restore him. I feel this would be true were it my case.
But how can I give her up now? How can?--how can I? Oh, this terrible journey! No wonder Helen had forebodings. She loves me; she is mine. No one else has so good a right. We were to be married only a few hours hence. Then she whom I"ve loved from childhood would make my home a heaves on earth. And yet--and yet--" Even in the darkness he buried his face in his hands, shuddered, moaned, writhed, and grated his teeth in the torment of the conflict.
Hour after hour he wavered, now on the point of yielding, then stung by conscience into desperate uncertainty. The night was cold, the howling wind would have chilled him at another time, but during his struggle great drops of sweat often poured from his face. Only the eye of G.o.d saw that battle, the hardest that was fought and won during the war.
At last, when well out of the city, he lifted his agonized eyes and saw the beautiful hues of morning tingeing the east. Unconsciously, he repeated the sublime, creative words, "Let there be light." It came to him. With the vanishing darkness, he revolted finally against the thought of any shadows existing between him and Helen. She should have all the light that he had, and decide her own course. He had little hope that she would wed him, even if she did not marry Nichol in his present condition--a condition probably only temporary and amenable to skilful treatment.
Wearily he dragged his lame foot back to a hotel in the populous party of the city, and obtained food and wine, for he was terribly exhausted.
Next he telegraphed Mr. Kemble:
"Arrived last evening. The wedding will have to be postponed. Will explain later."
"It"s the best I can do now," he muttered. "Helen will think it is all due to my cousin"s illness." Then he returned to the hospital and found his relative in a state of wonderment at his absence, but refreshed from a good night"s rest. Yankee Blank was nowhere to be seen.
"Hobart," exclaimed his cousin, "you look ill--ten years older than you did last night."
"You see me now by daylight," was the quiet reply. "I am not very well."
"It"s a perfect shame that I"ve been the cause of so much trouble, especially when it wasn"t necessary."
"Oh, my G.o.d!" thought Martine, "there was even no need of this fatal journey." But his face had become grave and inscrutable, and the plea of ill-health reconciled his cousin to the necessity of immediate return. There was no good reason for his remaining, for by a few additional arrangements his relative would do very well and soon be able to take care of himself. Martine felt that he could not jeopardize his hard-won victory by delay, which was as torturing as the time intervening between a desperate surgical operation and the knowledge that it is inevitable.
After seeing that his cousin made a good breakfast, he sought a private interview with the wardmaster. He was able to extract but little information about Yankee Blank more than the man had given himself.
"Doctors say he may regain his memory at any time, or it may be a long while, and possibly never," was the conclusion.
"I think I know him," said Martine. "I will bring physician from the city to consult this morning with the surgeon in charge."
"I"m glad to hear it," was the reply. "Something would have to be done soon. He is just staying on here and making himself useful to some extent."
When Martine re-entered the ward, Yankee Blank appeared, grinned, and said affably, "Howdy." Alas! a forlorn, miserable hope that he might have been mistaken was banished from Hobart"s mind now that he saw Nichol in the clear light of day. The scar across his forehead and a change of expression, denoting the eclipse of fine, cultivated manhood, could not disguise the unmistakable features. There was nothing to be done but carry out as quickly as possible the purpose which had cost him so dear.
He first telegraphed his uncle to dismiss further anxiety, and that his son would soon be able to visit him. Then the heavy-hearted man sought a physician whom he knew well by reputation.
The consultation was held, and Nichol (as he may be more properly named hereafter) was closely questioned and carefully examined. The result merely confirmed previous impressions. It was explained, as far as explanation can be given of the mysterious functions of the brain, that either the concussion of the exploding sh.e.l.l or the wound from a flying fragment had paralyzed the organ of memory. When such paralysis would cease, if ever, no one could tell. The power to recall everything might return at any moment or it might be delayed indefinitely. A shock, a familiar face, might supply the potency required, or restoration come through the slow, unseen processes of nature. Martine believed that Helen"s face and voice would accomplish everything.