Ashtabula telegraph. (Ashtabula, Ohio) 1874-1880, 1879-07-04

lgQs MIS-. EBIg uSOu anu mOSG OF l6T
guests had been amusing themselves
with croquet, and now, warned by the
gathering darkness, were hurrying up
their game with the usual amount of
laughing and disputing inseparable
from the pastime. Tom Ferguson had
retreated to a rustic seat at some little
distance from the players, where he was
Joined directly by Nugent, who had
been waiting for this opportunity all
day. Now, as he lit his cigar, he asked,
carelessly:
"Where does Miss Romaine live,
Toms very striking beauty, isn't
she?''
"Lives in New York. She's a great
pet of Laura's and mine, too," an
swered Tom, between his puffs. "By-
the-way, Charlie, l should think you
found her striking beauty, and no
mistake, for you seemed to be struck
dumb when I introduced you this morn
ing. What allied you, 1 should like to
knowPr
"Ailed meP Why, nothing-noth-
ing at all; but was perplexed for a
moment. You were shOwering all your
introductions on me at rate that took
away my breath. So you've known her
a long timeP'
"0h yes, knew her before 1 met
Laura, who was a schoolmate of hers.
/ say, Charlie, why don't you fall in
love with Edith Romaine? Think you'd
make match team, and Laura would
be delighted. You're well up in her
books, you know, and she'd speak a
good word for you. Come, it's time
you were thinking of getting married."
and Tom was evidently very much in
earnest.
"But-the fact is, want to ask you
q question, Tom, and it is about Miss
Romaine herself. Isn't she a little
well, queer at times? Now candidly,"
said Nugent, watching the graceful
white-robed figure as he spoke, and
hoping that his friends answer would
be an Indignant denial. Butinstead of
that Tom Ferguson hesitated, pondered,
and then said, slowly:
Charlie, you astonish me! How
could you have seen that in such
short time? When Laura first men,
toned it to me, Just after Edith's re-
turn from Europe, I only laughed at
her. I couldn't see anything, at least
not at first; butsince then I've watched
her carefully, and must confess she is
UeTy queer at times. But only at times,
you knoW, and Laura insists that if she
could only find a true, devoted lover it
would cure her. Such a pityr'
''Yes, indeed, a terrible misfortune.
But why do not her friends resort to
medical treatment at once? Such a
state of things is inexeusable, was
Nugent' reply, in a panied voice. Tom
was evidently surprised at his manner,
and began to laugh.
''Don't look so doleful, old fellow"
he went on, presently. "There's no
great harm done, after all. Edith Ro-
maine is in no need of doctors, and be-
side, YOU remember the old saying
about 'ministering to a mind diseased
don't you? Well, Pm certain you could
minister better than any M. d." and
jovial Tom slapped him on the shoulder
with another laugh.
NUgent shook off his hand impatient
". "What heartless jesting this isr'
he exclaimed. "She ought to see a
physician at once-some one who has
made insanity a speciality. Whoknows
but she might be fully restored to rea-
SonP You might use your influence"
But Toms burst of laughter was so ex-
plosive that the young man was inter
rUpted. He stared, while his friend
shook with absolute cOnvulsions Of
mirth, vainly attempting to explain the
cause of his merriment, and falling into
a fresh paroxysm whenever he got as
far as, "What made you"
At last, however, he managed TO
gasp; "Oh, whata sell! Edith Romai2e
crazy! Won't Laura scream when 1
tell her? What put such an absurdity
into your head, Nugentg Edith lu-
naticp'
"Do be quiet, csn't you, Toma
they're all coming this way, and Miss
Romaine will hear" was Nugent's
vexed remonstrance, and Tom sprang
up and dragged him away just in time.
''Tell me, Charlie, what made you
think of such nosenseP'' he asked again,
when they had reached the shelter Of
the stables; and Nugent made answer
in a faint tone:
"Why, you did. You talked about
her being queer yourself, and about
watching her carefully, and all that,
and of course you misled me. Nothing
so very funny in It, either"
'fBut the idea of our asking crazy
girl to visit US! Oh, Charlie, you must
have been fool to dream OF such a
thingr'
"What did you mean, then, by the
change in her, and all that nonsense"
' Merely this. Ever since Edith
came home last fall she has been sub
ject to fits of depression, almost mel
ancholy, which excited Laura's suspi-
cions that she had had some unfortu-
nate love affair. Add to this her
capricious treatment of the men
sometimes all smiles to some devoted
admirer, the next moment as frigid as
the North Pole-and you can see what
I meant. But she's as sane as you are,
Charlie; more so, l should say,
finished Tom, with a quizzical look.
"Pm sure Pm delighted to hear ii, }"
said Nugent, fervently; but promise
me one thing, Tom: don't tell your
wife about this, for she IL tell IL 10 MISS
Romaine, and then we shall never be
friends. Come, promise not to men
ton it."
"Weu, I WON'T" assented Tom,
after a moments reflection. Then,
Frightening; "I won't tell her until
you're gone, Charlie; but couldn't
keep it any longer than that, for Laura
will laugh So"
Nugent was obliged to be content
with this conditional promise, and
would now have willingly changed the
subject, but Tom Ferguson resumed it
suddenly by saying:
"See here, Charlie, it was you who
started this idea about Edith, and not
1, after all. What did you mean, old
fellow, by your first question-just tell
me thatP"
But Nugent had already made up bis
mind to say nothing to his friend OF his
morning sinterview with Miss Romaine,
but to wait until time or another meet
ing brought some explanation Of the
strangeness. So now he parried the
question as best he could. "Ohi