memory of his past life would
sooner or later return, and it was this hope alone which at that time
saved Darrell from total despair.

Aside from his professional interest in so peculiar a case, Dr. Bradley
had become interested in Darrell himself; many of his leisure hours were
spent at The Pines, and quite a friendship existed between the two.

In Mr. Underwood and his sister Darrell had found two steadfast friends,
each seeming to vie with the other in thoughtful, unobtrusive kindness.
His strange misfortune had only deepened and intensified the sympathy
which had been first aroused by the peculiar circumstances under which
he had come to them. But now, as then, they said little, and for this
Darrell was grateful. Even the silent pity which he read in their eyes
hurt him,--why, he could scarcely explain to himself; expressed in
words, it would have been intolerable. Early in his convalescence
Darrell had expressed an unwillingness to trespass upon their kindness
by remaining after he could with safety be moved, but the few words they
had spoken on that occasion had effectually silenced any further
suggestion of the kind on his part. He understood that to leave them
would be to forfeit their friendship, which he well knew was of a sort
too rare to be slighted or thrown aside.

Of Kate Underwood Darrell knew nothing, except as her father or aunt
spoke of her, for he had no recollection of her and she had left home
early in his illness to return to an eastern college, from which she
would graduate the following year.

With more animation than he had yet shown since his illness, Darrell
returned to the veranda. He was flushed and trembling slightly from the
unusual exertion, and Dr. Bradley, dropping down beside him, from force
of habit laid his fingers on Darrell's wrist, but the latter shook them
off playfully.

"No more of that!" he exclaimed, adding, "Doctor, I challenge you for a
race two weeks from to-day. What do you say, do you take me up?"

"Two weeks from to-day!" repeated the doctor, with an incredulous smile,
at the same time scrutinizing Darrell's form. "Well, yes. When you are
in ordinary health I don't think I would care to do much business with
you along that line, but two weeks from to-day is a safe proposition, I
guess. What do you want to make it, a hundred yards?" he inquired, with
a laughing glance at Mr. Underwood.

"One hundred yards," replied Darrell, following the direction of the
doctor