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

fully. "But my mother is in trouble"
'Sit down, boy. / can see that the news bas
been shock to you" said Mr.. Burgoyne, In
more affable tone. "You cannot imagine how
/ have suffered"
Eddy's heart softened towards him
''Is mother really so bad off, sir, as you stated
In your letter." he asked, In tatering voice
bad off, my poor Eddy She is raving mad"
EDDY shivered.
Don't you know what made her crazy?" he
asked.
''No; wish did We we're married in the
morning, and she came home with me. We
talked together, spending the day very plea
sanity on the verandah. In the evening was
called out on business. Julia went into the
library. The housekeeper Gays that no one
called during my absence, and that Julia saw
no one. Yet when / came in. hour later
my wife flew at me like wildcat She tried
TO kill me. The truth is, she did not know
me-"
mot know you sir ?"
"No. And she flew at Dr. Bullet also"
''lhen there was no positive cause for this
sudden attack, sir p
"None, unless the sight of the house to which
she came as a bride sixteen years ago. Every
thing is as Burns arranged 1t. The sight of her
old home where she had been so happy was, no
doubt, too much for her sensitive SOUL"
'sMother is at the private mad-house?" asked
Eddy, after apause.
''Yes l had to send her there"
81 suppose / can see her ?" asked Eddy.
"You must ask Dr. Ballet my boy. He can
judge best of the effect your presence would
have on his patient"
''Then will walk out to the asylum" declared
Eddy. 81 can neither eat nor sleep till l have
'Well, come back after you have seen her."
said Mr.. Burgoyne. But be sure to be back by
six, our supper time"
Eddy took his leave.
There is some mystery in all this" he
whispered. "Some dreadful mystery. And /
must know what it Is! Now for Doctor Bull
let's!"
About mile from the village of Riverton,
upon lonely country road, stood DR.. Bullets
private asylum for the insane.
The grounds were separated from the road by
high stone wall. The house-square, three
lighted within by narrow, grated windows-was
some distance from the road, in the midst of
small pine grove, which screened the asylum
from the glance of casual passers-by.
The double iron gates were open upon this
bright June afternoon, and Eddy passed unchal-
lerged into the grounds, and, with sinking
heart, he ascended the steps of the high porch
and rang the door-bell loudly.
Presently the bolts securing the door upon
the inner side were withdrawn, and coarse
looking fellow, one of the keepers of the insti-
tuition evidently, presented himself.
"Wel, what's wanted" demanded this per-
son roughly.
II wish to see DR.. Bullet" replied Eddy.
''To see DR.. Bullet, eh The Doctors busy.
He's got no time to waste on boys"
The keeper made a movement to shut the
boy slipped across the threshold and into the
hall.
"Tell DIR. Bullet 1 desire to see him." he
said coolly. 81 shall stay here until do see
him. You can give him my name-Edward
Burns"
"Burps!" repeated the discounted keeper
"Burns, eh? Well, I'll tell the Doctor. Seeing
you're inside, you can step into the reception
ROOM"
He closed, bolted and barred the outer door,
and sullenly ushered Eddy into small, dreary
waiting-room at one side of the hall. He then
hurried away in quest of the Doctor.
Nearly half an hour elapsed before any one
appeared. Now and then mufiled shrek or
long drawn moan reached his ears.
Unable to bear longer the suspense of waiting,
he touched bel-pull ard rang loud peal, the
japgle of which reached even his ears.
The noise had scarcely died away when
pompous, portly parsonage entered the waiting
room.
Eddy recognized him at first glance as DIR.
Bullet
lie was a hard-faced man, past middle age,
with keen. eyes, q low forehead, a cleanly enaVen
face rendered peculiarly unpleasant by sane
timonious expression which contrasted strangely
with his sinister features. The doctor had for
merly kept a private insane asylum in New
Jersey, but he had fallen into an ill-repute, and
it having been proved against him that sane
people had been incarcerated in his gloomy
cells, he had been obliged to abandon that field
of operations, and had re-established his asylum
at Riverton on the Hudson. He had now been
at Riverton some years, and was regarded 10 the
village an upright and honorable man, hay-
ing, 1t seemed, left his former reputation behind
him when he changed his residence.
'Ah, Eddy Burns!" exclaimed the Doctor in
his mild, bland voice, extending his hand.
"How do you do, Eddy? How you grow! Glad
TO see you, my fine fellow"
But Eddy did not seem to see the oatstretched
hand. He certainly did not offer TO take 1t.
There was frown on his brows, and his4ips
were set together In an expression which would
have rendered the smiling Doctor uneasy had he
seen ii upon an older face.
II have heard from Mr.. Burgoyne that my
mother is here, the boy said calmly. 81 have
come to see her, Dr. Bullet"
The expression on the Doctors face changed
to one OF uneasiness, which, swiftly as 1t passed
was not unnotced by Eddy.
''Yes, ah, yes, said the Doctor, smoothly,
''You have come to see your mother? Very
laudable-yery. l am sorry, though, Master
Burns, that / must refuse your request. Mrs.
BuTgoyne is in a critical state. Tue least eX-
element, such as the sight of you might occa-
sion her, might prove fatal"
''Would she know me 2" asked Eddy.
81 think not. She is a raying maniac
knows no one-has attempted to commit sui
! eide. But the sight of you might strike chord
| of memory, and L should not dare TO risk 1t.
| An, this is a terrible affiiction to Mrs. Bur-
"You think, then, Doctor, " he asked ''that
it would excite my mother If she were to see
me Z"
'Tbink2 know it. She might tear you tC
piecesl"
"Eyen In her madness, she would not harm
me-
''My judgment must decide the matter, Maste
Burns,p said the Doctor stifiiy.
II beg your pardon, Doctor" said Eddy
humbly enough 'but beg you TO let me lool
| in upon her through the grating at her door.
! nnlv af ma har