The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-07-30

My poor little Dorothy! | have been to
hard upon her. Suppose-just suppose
should die without being able to tell how
ashamed l am of having been such brute ~
1t was not the dry bread that choked
Nathan Tripler just then-it was the hu-
initiating sense OF his own sins and short
comings.
Next morning it was bread and water
again. Nathan thought of Dorothy's de-
spi~ed coffee and grumbed ut steak
''I'vc deserved IT, thought Nathan;'
there's no mistake about that. Poor, dar-
ling little Dorothy. how her heart is aching
for me now. | wish | could stroke down
her hair just once. ''Oh, its hard to be
treated so, even though | know Pm served
exactly right. If | ever yet out of thiS
hole alive, Dorothy will find Inc changed
man.
The confused current of thoughts was just
eddying vaguely through his mied when
there was sound or steps and voices in the
long CORRIDOR without.
Il suppose they're going to put on a
strait waisteoat now," thought Mr.. Tripler,
with resign d air "We there's nothing
left for me but to endure. Idon't think IN
mad {; but how long l shall hold out sane
under these interesting concatenation of cir
cumstauces is rather a doubtful question"
But Mr.. Tripler was mistaken about the
strait waistcoat-it was his keeper instead,
accompanied br two or three gentlemen
all profuse in apologies and sympathetic
ejaculations.
'Such a mistaker - said one old gentle
man, with g bald head.
$50 awkward for you, my dear sir ~ said
Roman nose.
"But entirely unintentional, I assure you,
SIR" chimed in third
While Mr.. Tripler looked vaguely from
one to another he said, -
'Thcn I'm not mad, it seems?" he de-
mandcd.
mot a particle. sir!'' cried the three
committee men in chorus.
"Ohr' said Mr. Tripler, Vim glad to
hear itr''
Then the committee proceeded to inform
their involuntary guest how the mistake had
happened by which his identity had been
confounded with that Of his mysterious ac-
quaintance of the woods.
"We are very sorry" said the first conf
mittee-nfan, shaking Mr.. Tripler's hand as
if it had been the town pump.
$50 am IL said Mr. Tripler, laconically.
''Iiere Is your hat and coat. SIR" said the
second Committeeman. "We had great
difficulty in getting them away from our poor
Fl lend in the Ircurabie Ward, who fanciei
they We're the last dying bequc,t of President
Lincoln"
"And anything we can 90 to make any
atonement for the awkward mistake would
be pleasure" said the third while the
keeper eyed Mr.. Tripler obviously, as if not
altogether certain but that he was little
mad after all.
When Mr.. Nathan Tripler reached his
home, all was the widest grief and con-
fusion there. Dorothy had had the woods
searched, the river dragged. and the whole
vicinage ransacked. and was now in Mysteries
in the nursery Nathan walked straight in
and put both arms around her.
"Here | am, Do,tie," Dont cry any
more"
But Mrs. Tfiplcr cried more than ever.
Its only drcan,.' she sobjed forth
"Nathan Is dead
"No, I'm not dad said Mr. Tripler
with grim sense of humor, "only I've beer
mad" And auieting his @iie's Sobs after
n while, he told her all his adventures
"And now is dinner leady?' he asked, fol
Tam rs hungry as bear"
II haven'ta thing in the house fit to eat
Nathan DEAR" walled his wife.
81 don't care if it's nothing but dry bread
and moasSe>, Duttic,' said the husband
81 can tell you that asylum took some of the
nonsense out of me. | shall never grumblt
again, don't be afraid
And Dorothy Frightened up. 1t was the
first time he had called her ID Dottie," OF
spoken so tendery. since their honeymoon
was in its crescent glow.
lie adhered to his good resolhtions-h,
never did grumble again. The asylum had
done him genuine good