The Van Buren press. [volume] (Van Buren, Ark.) 1859-1914, 1877-08-28
MISCELLANY.
MARGARET.

A corridor at the end Of one wing Of
large rambling house in the Forth Of
England, barred window and closed
door. In the passage fair haired girl
wtrh the light of indcscribable pity in
her dove like eyes. K6eeiias "g',r ! 'i,s
boards, aud pushing biscuits and sweet
meats underneath the i'll fitting door,
which disappeared as fast as they were
placed there, showing that there were
human hands to seize them on the other
side Within, another gill AS young as
the frst-not twenty, certainly grovel-
ing on the floor like a wild beast, with
dark. asheveled hair almost hiding the
spark Of insanity that desecrated her
glorious eyes, and devouring the precious
morsels that her visitant placed within
her reach with the avidity of a hungry
child. The room in which she crouched
was not comfortless, but bad evidently
been prepared for the reception of such
inmates, and the carefully guarded win
dow and cushioned walls showed what
the mansion in which it was situated was
occupied by one who made it the bust
ness Of his life to receive such unfortun
ates into his professional care. In plain
words, a private lunatic aeylnm.
my poor Leah" whispered the fair
haired girl outside, "do you knew thai |
am here, and that love youy
The soft clear voice was not unheard,
for Leah raised her head for moment,
and sat listening, with the dark cioud of
tangled hair thrown back from the low
forehead and deeply shade eyebrows.
But the look of attention passed away
almost as rapidly as it had come, and in
another moment her head was down
again on the floor, and the softly set
lips, that seemed made only TO shape
loves whispers, murmured stupidity and
hungrly: more, more!'
N am going now" said the soft voice
again, "but | will come and ZEE you this
evening, with the nurse. Do you hear
Do YOU understand
There was nothing but an inarliculate
murmer in reply, though she listened in
vain aud the fair haired girl rose with
sigh from her knees. ana passed from
the desolate corridor into the more hab
table and cheerful part OF the house
in which the physician and his family
lived. having learned from habit to look
| lightly on tue empty human shrires of
reason that were sheltered beneath the
same roof.
"She is so beautiful y said the girl to
to herself as she went dawn the stairs.
III hope God does not let her know
what she is now, or she would die, as |
should do
my dear Margaret" said her mother,
looking up as her eldest child entered
the room, II hope you have not been
among the patients again.
IL have only been to see poor Leah
said Margaret Fenwiek, in the same soft
voice that was the greatest one OF her
charms II must do that, you know, il
it makes her less happy
"Let the child alone" said DR. Fen.
wick "She will do herself no harm. il
she does nobody else any good. But
YOU did not work upon Brokers feel
ings to give you the key, hope, Marga-
ret? The door was locked. of course 7"
~ talked to her through the door,
that was ALL" answered Margaret sim.
lply. Papa, do you think she will ever
be like other people again? 1t was only
last week she was sitting here with us
ALL and l was teachi & her to play the
accompaniment to her songs"
81 know all that said the physician,
"but she is suffering from acute attack
of dimentia now. She is very young,
and may get completely over it,. but then
she will be always liable to relapse
A sudden trosble would do it at any
time"