The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-11-26
Up the River With a Lunatic.

Alf Dixon, Tom Giffard. and 1 had
gone up the river camping out; we had
done our second days work. 1t was
early morning on the third day, glorious
weather. Twas in the boat, getting the
steering lines in order; Gifard and
Dixon were on the bank talking to DR..
Rawle. As I understood it, the doctor
was at the head of a private asylum for
lunatics. He was Gifard's friend, not
mine. He had been taking a constitu-
tional when he happened. to fall in with
u.s. just as we were sitting down to our
open.air breakfast; the chance meeting
led to Giffard inviting him to share our
gypsy meal. He did.
He was pleasant fellow. not too old
and not too young. liked him exceed.
incly. We talked of things in general,
and oflunatics in particular. Something
led to his mentionirg-I think it was
speaking of the cunning ofa certain class
of lunatics. and the difficulty of keeping
them within four walls--the fact that
one of his inmates had escaped day or
two previously, and had not yet been
rctaken. This was the more singular rs
it was tolerably certain he had not gone
far, and search had been made for him in
every direction.
AS Giffard and Dixon were saying
goodbye, preparatory to getting into
the boat, the doctor laughingIy said:
|; SHOULD you happen to come across
him, l shall consider you bound to bring
him back safe and sound. He's man
OF forty-four or forty-fve, tall and bony,
iron-gray hair. and has curious habit
of showing his teeth and winking his
left eye. Don't look out for raving
lunatic; for on most points he's as right
rs you and I. He's wrong in two things.
Whatever you do, don't let him lose his
temper; for whenever he does. though
ever SO slightly, he invariably goes in
for murder-he's all but done for two
keepers already. And don't talk to him
Of England or Englishmen; for if he
should get upon his native land, he'll
favor you with some observations which
will make you open your eyes,"
We laughed. Alf and Tom shook
bands with him, and got into the boat.
We promised, if we should happen to
meet him, we would certainly see him
returned to safe custody. Alf stood up
and showed US from the shore; we sang
out q last goodbye, and left the doctor
standing on the bank.
1t was a beautiful morning. The
river was delicious, clear as crystal
we could see the bottom and every
stone and pebble on it; just a gentle
breeze tanning the surface of the waters
into a little ripple. we lit our pipes
and took it easily. I am good bit of q
traveller, know many lovely hooks and
crannies in foreign lands; have lived
abroad as much as at home; but / will
match the higher reaches of Father
Thames for beauty and for charm against
any scenery in Europe. And on an early
summer morning, n spell of glorious
weather, it is in all its prime; the water
so cool, 50 clear; the banks 50 green,
so charming; the stately trees on either
side; The mansions seen over the
meadows, or peeping out among the
trees. You may choose your Rhine,
your Garda, or your Maggiore. or your
golden Bay of Naples, but leave Cook.
Fam and old Father Thames to me.
Presumably we had come for river
beauties and tLe camping-out-presuma.
bly,; but as a matter OF fact there was 8
young lady lived not so far ahead, s
mutual friend, Lillian Travers. Sepa'
rately and jointly we had a high opinion
of Miss Tra1ers. not only of her beauty
but of other things as well; and having
come so far, we hoped we should moi
have to return until at least we had 8
peep at her. Unfortunately, though VIZ
knew Miss Travers, we had no acquaint'
ance with Mr.-there was no Mrs. W.
had met the young lady at severa
dances and such like; but on each occa
sion she was under the chaperonage o.
old Mrs. Mackenzie. Apparently Mr.
Travers was not party man. But Lii.
ian had promised to introduce us to him
whenever she geta chance, and we were
not unhopeful she would get that chance
now. So you see that little excursion
riverward had more in it than met the
eye. :.
We went lazily on. just dipping thu
oars in and out; smoking, watching tht
smoke circling through the clear air
All thoughts of the doctor and his part
ing words had gone from our minds
We talked little, and that little was O
Lillian a1d the chances of our meeting
We had gone some two or three hundred
Yards; we were close to the shore. AL
could almost reach it by stretching ou
his oar. We were dreaming and lazing
when suddenly some ore stepped ou
from among the trees. He was close Il
us-not dozen feet away.
He was q tall man, rather over thai
under six feet. He was dressed in .
dark brown suit of Oxford mixture; h
had a stick in his hand, wore billy
cock hat, and his coat was buttOnet
right up to his throat. He had igh
whiskers, heavy dropping mustache
hair unusually long, iron-gray in color
He might be q soldier retired from nj
profession, or an artist out painting; n
certainly looked gentleman.
We were passing on, when he ralse'
his stick and shouted out, "Stop"
It was regular shout, as though W
were half mile from him. We stopped
although it was an unusual method
calling attention.
"Gentlemen," he said, still at the to-
Of his voice, II should be obliged if yo1
could give me seat. Ihave a long wa
to 20, and am tired"
We looked at him and at each other
It was a free-and-easy style of asking
favor; but he seemed gentleman, an
an elderly one too. Common politenes
dictated civility.
lam afraid" said ALT, eve hav
hardly com; she's only built for three.
"Oh that doesn't matter.n he said