The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-04-10

eneered the DOCTOR! 4 our mother was COM
mitted TO my asylum in accordance with the law
made and provided for such cases. Any lawyer
will tell You that no one can give you a permit
to see a mad woman, when her physician de-
clares she must be secluded"
Eddy felt the hopelessness of his case. He
had no powerful friends-no money. And he
felt sure that Mr. Burgoyne and DR.. Bullet were
his enemies, and that some terrible mystery was
connected with his mother.
II am only boy, Doctor" said Eddy at last
sorrowfully, but with brave look shining In
his eyes, but have mans courage. You may
hear from me again."
o. He bowed gravely and went ont.
v With heavy heart, he moved down the
gravelled walk to the gate.
He was determined not to abandon his
mother, let her madness be as dangerous as 1t
might; but how could he compass his object?
He bad nearly reached the iron gates, and
was moving with lettering step, when he
looked back at the grim asylum. No one was
looking out at him.
Taking advantage of the opportunity thus af-
forded, Eddy slipped into by-path, and sought
the shelter of some shrubbery near the wall
Here he flung himself upon the ground, to wait
patiently the coming of darkness.
1t was now about six o'clock of the long sum
mer afternoon.
How the twilight lingered Eddy peering
out, cav one of the keepers lock the great iron
gates at an early hour, but the old town clock
at Riverton had struck the hour of ten before
the lights and the noises died out of the asy-
lum.
It was nearly eleven o'clock when Eddy
cramped and tired, crept out from his conceal
meDt.
He moved slowly around the building again
and again, scanning the upper windows. No
light cleaned from them, no sound ef life, save
now and then moan, came from within those
dreary cells
"Can 1t be she is not up there?" thought the
boy, cold sweat starting to his brow. "Can
they have put her into q dungeon?"
Around and around the building he slowly
circled, wild prayer in his heart that If his
mother were in one of the upper rooms, some
providential impulse might lead her to look
out.
His prayer was answered. He who answers
prayer directed his restless steps to her grated
window. slender figure suddenly appeared, a
pair of hands were clasped upon the window
ledge, and pale face, half hidden by q mass of
floating hair, was pressed against the iron bars
looking upward at the glowing star-lit sky.
Eddy's heart gave one tbrob and through his
pale lips quivered the Words
"My motherl"
The vision fingered but moment at the open
window, then Withdrawing itself. At its disap-
pearance Eddy sprang up.
she did not look dangerously mad, he whis-
pered. II must see her-epeak to her."
He dared not call to her, and bring discovery
upon him. He must work quietly.
Marking the window at which the vision had
appeared, he saw that oneiof the heavy branches
OF a tall pine-tree swept close against its bars.
He crept to the tree, climbing its trunk like
squirrel, and gaining the shelter of its densest
branches. he was soon upon level with the
second story of the asylum.
A moment more, and he was clinging to the
lowest bar of the window.
What a sight it was that met his gaze within!
small, whitewashed cell, that might have
belonged to prison. An open grating in the
door, and the sound of footballs in the corridor,
told Eddy that supervision was exercised over
the inmates by night as well as by day.
her prayers. The soft starlight drifted in
upon her. She looked sad, but the fair, noble
face had in II no token of unthroned intellect.
Perhaps she has quiet spells, thought Eddy.
and the doctor said she was 'raving maaiac.
How am / to attract her attention without
alarming the sentinel In the hall!"
He moved upon the branch. The rustling
aroused the kneeling woman, and she raised her
head The next moment her head dropped again,
lower than before.
Eddy, grasping the bar with one hand, softly
tapped on the window ledge.
In an instant the head was uplifted with the
eagerness of a startled deer.
Eddy gently raised his head within view.
"Motherl" he called softly-so softly that
his voice might have been taken for the
murmur of the wind. 'Mother Hush 1t Is
Eddy !"
The whispered words of Eddy penetrated
to the hearing of the inmate of the lonely
prison cell. She started to her feet, and looked
wildly around.
81 must be going mad indeed" !" she mur-
mured pressing her hands above her heart, as If
10 ttlll lLb LnTOODluRS.
Again the boys fingers tapped softly upon the
lowest grating, and again Eddy's voice called
softly:-
Mother! 1t is really I-your own Eddy !!
Come to the window !"
A low cry broke from the lips of Mrs. Burns.
Then she pressed her face close against the
! rough iron bars.
! The boy shrank back among the branches.
4 eddy! Oh, Eddy Are you here?"
i 81 am here, mother" he said. "Don't cry
| out or some one will hear u.s."
he crept nearer to her, and pressed his face
| against the bars, his cheek touching hers.
| She caught at Eddys hand; she kissed his
| quiveripg lips again and again.
80 my brave boy" she whispered. II never
expected to see you again"
"Dear mother !" said Eddy. "You might
have known would come to you If they had
taken you to Madagascar" The above we
publish as a specimen chapter; but the continua.
lion of this story will be found ia the New
York Ledger. Ask for the number dated April
90, which can be had at any news Office OF
book. store. If you are not within reach of a
news Office, you can have the Ledger mailed to
you for one year by sending three dollars to
Robert Bonner, publisher, New York. The
Ledger pays more for original contributions
than any other periodical in the world 1t will
publish none but the very, very best. 1t:
moral tone is the purest, and its circulation the
largest. Everybody who takes ii is happier fol-
having 1t.